Gateway XHD3000 Monitor (30-inch)

The good: A truckload of connections and extras; impressive performance in sharpness and color tests; sharp picture quality with DVD and Blu-ray playback.

The bad: Built-in sound gets distorted at high volumes; its look is somewhat clunky with the speaker bar attached; a tad expensive.

The bottom line: Although it costs more than competing 30-inch LCDs, the Gateway XHD3000 goes a long way toward justifying its high price with a long list of features and outstanding performance.

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Description: The Gateway XHD3000 is a 30 in, flat panel computer monitor. Compared to other flat panel monitors on the market, it is expensive at around $1,560. Comes with a built-in USB hub. This unit features a 2560x1600 native resolution. Weighs 27.1 lbs.

Pros: Has 2560x1600 resolution, which is somewhat higher than some similarly priced monitors. Its wide viewing angle (176 degrees) is useful whenever the screen is being viewed by more than one person at the same time. Accepts DVI input, which allows for greater signal clarity than traditional VGA.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: Suited for those want a big display in a thin form factor. The 6 ms response time of this screen makes it ideal for fast-moving games and for watching movies.

Value: In general, this monitor's features are as expected for this price. However, the average price of flat panel monitors with comparable viewable size is considerably less -- right around $1,210.

Suggestions: (1) Before purchasing an LCD monitor, consider visiting your local store for a live demo to ensure that its overall image quality, color, and sharpness meets your expectation. (2) You can use the built-in USB hub to connect peripherals such as mice and keyboards, or a flash card reader. (4) For more help in deciding if this is the right monitor for you, visit the buying guide for monitors at CNET Reviews.