Dell UltraSharp U2711

Pros: Great color reproduction and sharpness. Excellent, intuitive touch-sensitive controls. Wide range of inputs.

Cons: 16 square inches smaller than the 2709W due to the different aspect ratios. Text can appear a bit fuzzy on white backgrounds (this is a slight effect). Height adjustment is limited, compared to some of Dell's earlier 24" monitors.

Summary: The U2711 is an amazing monitor for movies and "content" and for those that need high pixel density or color accuracy. For those looking for clear text and more viewing area, or if you are moving from another 27" monitor, beware that you may be disappointed. This monitor is the latest casualty of the 16:9 aspect ratio craziness sweeping the industry. A 27" monitor with a 16:10 aspect ratio-- the previous "standard" for 27" LCDs-- like the Dell 2709W (1920x1200 resolution), has 16 square inches additional viewable screen space than the U2711 (2560x1440). What does this look like? Imagine getting a monitor that is 5/8" wider while losing slightly more than 1" of height. You'd need a 29.2" diagonal 16:9 monitor to get the same viewing height as the 27" 16:10 monitor.