CTL LP2361 Black 24" 2ms HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built-in Speakers

Pros: First, the very reason that I bought the monitor: it has both DVI and HDMI inputs. This means I can hook it up to both a server and a desktop (or a computer and a gaming console), and easily switch between the displays without having to mess with cables (or putting up with a KVM switch).

Second, this display is actually pretty good, for being a TN panel. Colors seem crisp, there are no dead pixels, and it feels nice and sturdy.

See "Other Thoughts" for which monitors I'm comparing it to.

Cons: It's a TN, so it's not perfect. Blacks are, as expected, not black. Details in dark games or movies are impossible to see. The usual.

Other Thoughts: A direct comparison to some of the monitors I've owned recently:

Sony GDM-FW900: There's not much of a comparison, here. The FW900 is beautiful, whereas the CTL is adequate. I guess the CTL has the advantage in weight, though - weighing less than 90 pounds is a useful thing when moving.

DoubleSight 24" IPS Panel: While my experience with the DoubleSight was kinda horrible (dead pixels ... but not quite enough of them for DoubleSight to replace it), it was a decent display. I'd say that the color saturation of the CTL matches it (although I doubt the color accuracy does), though, and the black levels are better. Not better by a significant margin, but still better.

Asus 24" *VA panel: This is what I ordered when my FW900 went dead (it was a sad day). The CTL again appears to have comparable color saturation. My Asus has better black levels, but I've noticed problems with high action videos and games - but that's expected with a *VA panel.

Unless you're really looking for something that you can use for professional graphics, this monitor is actually a pretty good choice.

Pros: Monitor is bright, I'll give it that. Colors are dynamic, shows what an LED is capable of....

Cons: Icons are blurry on the task-bar. When using Zune I noticed that every other line was blurred or fuzzy. This monitor basically makes some things blurry and some things clear. Power button is slow and unresponsive when you use it. Using the menu is like tying your shoes with your teeth

Other Thoughts: I went into Fred Meyers to get some comparison prices on monitors, and found myself looking at this monitor and a Samsung that was the same size, same resolution, less contrast ratio, and same response time. This monitor was only $170 while the Samsung was still $250, so I of course bought this one. Took it home, hooked it up, and noticed right away that things just didn't look right. I've been using my 32" Samsung 1080p LCD TV as a monitor for the past few months now, which has looked great but is overwhelming for something sitting right in front of you--and gets uncomfortably hot...-- so I wanted to get a true "PC Screen" (monitor). The stand is sturdy enough in its own right, simply because it's non-adjustable, but feels very cheap. After you plug it in and load up your wallpaper you'll also notice that the cheapness has affected the picture quality too. Some things looks sharp and ok. As I type this text looks crisp and clear, but it doesn't make up for the very noticeable "smudgeyness" that is the task-bar icons. Starcraft 2 looks alright, but again has its blurry parts.

My advice is; if you want a cheaper monitor that will display most things clear and you just want to browse Faceboook, go ahead and buy this. But if you're a gamer or digital artist and want the most bang for your buck, stick with better brands like ASUS, HP, or Samsung. I had never heard of "ctl" until I purchased this, now I know why.

Pros: This is a GREAT monitor!!!

Absolutly TRUE P-N-P! (Plug and Play)

Cons: No cons so far!