HP LP3065

February 2009. Not every review source focuses on 30-inchers. Consumer Reports doesn't go any bigger than 24 inches, for example. We found the best review at PC World, which posts its thorough lab report with the review. We just wish you didn't have to hunt around to see that the HP LP3065 ties for the highest score among 30-inchers with the Samsung 305T. We found other good professional reviews at ExtremeTech.com and Mac World. There aren't a lot of owner reviews at Newegg.com and Amazon.com, but they are pretty balanced, giving pros and cons in most cases.

Reviewers say the HP LP3065 is a solid choice among 30-inch LCD monitors. One review says it performs better than the Dell 3007WFP (*est. $1,400), which costs about the same, but another writer grades it the same as the Samsung 305T (*est. $1,000), which costs less. Yet another review, this one aimed at Mac users, says the HP LP3065 is faster, more adjustable and cheaper than Apple's own 30-inch LCD monitor. Unlike those three, the HP has three dual-link DVI inputs that support HDCP (for receiving HDTV signals). Owner reviews are scarce but generally complimentary, although some decry the absence of an onscreen menu, and a couple users say the colors are too saturated for professional graphics work but fine for normal use. Just be certain that your graphics card will support the 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution.