DellUltraSharp U2412M 24-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor, BlackEPEAT

Most PC monitors these days are 16:9, because manufacturers can steal the panels from HDTV makers for cheap. The problem is 16:9 is a terrible aspect ratio for computing - reading a web page or writing a Word doc is not the same as watching a widescreen movie.The Dell U2412M is a 16:10 monitor - a much more usable aspect ratio for general computing. Those 120 extra pixels really do make a BIG difference. But you usually only see this in more expensive professional monitors because these panels are not used in any other industry. The volume is lower, hence the prices are higher - and that means they're usually relegated to high-end displays.This is one of the few ~$300 16:10 PC displays, and it's a good one. No, it's not perfect - no monitor is, and let me dispense with the monitor's bad points first. Like the (16:9) ASUS PB238Q I traded in for this, mine doesn't have perfect uniformity - one side of the screen is ever so slightly brighter (and bluer) than the other. This is a common problem for LCD's, but most people would never notice it, and even a nitpicker like me only ever really sees it on a solid white or light grey background.The physical look of the monitor is pretty basic and isn't going to win any beauty awards - it has that mid-90's Dell style, with the rounded edges and silver accents they used to use. I actually liked the physical look of my ASUS monitor better, with its industrial style sharp edges and corners and darker black plastic and panel. The Dell doesn't look quite as "professional". But this consideration goes away as soon as you turn the monitor on and start using it.Most of these seem to have a little bit of corner light bleed and mine is no exception, though it's not noticeable at all except on a totally black screen. The only time I ever actually see it at all is when watching letterboxed movies. The bottom right (coincidentally where the power LED is) is the worst offender on mine, although oddly it goes away completely if I look at that corner dead straight-on. But then I'm looking at the rest of the monitor askew.Of course, as cheap as it is and unlike previous Dell UltraSharp monitors, this one is a 6 bit panel that uses interpolation to manage 16.7 million colors, and it's only got an SRGB color gamut. That's by design and not really a criticism, but just be aware of it if you're a photographer. Dell still makes other UltraSharp monitors intended for professionals - this isn't one of them, although it's good enough for me and it should be good enough for anyone not doing critical photo editing.Now for the good stuff.As mentioned, there's the aspect ratio. Already explained that.This monitor's also got an e-IPS panel and has basically plasma-like viewing angles - you can turn it any which way and it looks pretty much the same (except for the corner bleed on dark scenes). It's also *capable* of very accurate colors, although you'll need to calibrate it to get them.Matte screen, and the anti-glare coating is not grainy or otherwise noticeable. It's perfect. No glare, no reflections, no cross-hatch, no graininess. Insist on nothing less than matte!The stand, while not the prettiest, is functionally among the best I've ever seen. It's got height adjustment, tilt, side to side rotation and portrait/landscape rotation - you can basically move it on any axis! My ASUS PB238Q did this too (and so does the PA248Q), but they're some of the only monitors that'll do all this in the lower price ranges. It also feels solid and doesn't wobble, although it does sometimes get a little off-axis on its own, and you have to sort of re-center it.It's BRIGHT! IPS panels are often a little dark - my ASUS actually looked dim at 100% brightness with my blinds open on a sunny day. This Dell ships set to 75% brightness and it's already brighter than that. Most calibrated settings I've seen for this monitor end up with a brightness setting of around 35%.It's DARK! The black level is pretty amazing for an LCD monitor. Granted, the corner bleed kind of screws up the consistency a little bit, but I tested the black level side by side with my ASUS and it was really no contest. The ASUS did have a more consistent "black", with no corner bleed at all, but it was really more of a dark grey across the whole panel. The Dell does have corner bleed where some light comes through, but most of the panel is BLACK. That includes the area where you'd be watching movies or TV shows.Overall I'm cursing Amazon yet again for not letting me give half stars, because this is a 4 1/2 star monitor. It's not perfect and it doesn't have the wide gamut of the 2410 that preceded it, but then it's also about half the price so it's easier to overlook its flaws given all you get for the money. Find me a better 24" 16:10 monitor at this price and I'll buy it.

Previous to this I had run a pair of Dell 2005FPW / 2007FPW S-IPS monitors because I do amateur photography and some design work. Color shift and accuracy matters more than response for me, even though I do game sometimes.The Dell 2005 was dying, losing its sync until warm ....So I went off to find a new monitor. I really wanted a 24" this time vs a direct replacement for the 20.1". But I was worried that e-IPS was fine for most, but not someone who often returns monitors... ME.My 2007FPW works fine.. but after 5 years the CFL back-light is unable to reach the 120 luminance setting I use when calibrating.. besides that it is working well and I have been happy with Dell Monitors. Next year the other monitor will get replaced.. but not sure what size.So After reading all the great reviews and the few bad reviews.. I decided to go for it on the Dell UltraSharp U2412M 24"My concerns going in were:> LED Backlite being too blue> Coating being differing / worse than what I was used to> Viewing Angles being less than S-IPSI got it set up today....WOW!! I love the larger screen area...The controls are easy to use and the labels on the screen that come up make adjusting it in the dark easy..Even before I got it calibrated there were some things I noticed.The color was good and it didn't suffer from the intense blue tints some of the first LED backlit screens did which made me avoid them for years.I like the anti-reflective coating. If I put my face closer than 18 inches from the monitor I can see it, just like on my previous two monitors and then only on a white screen. I don't see it when working at my normal distance which my eyes are tuned for. (only distance I don't need glasses)I use a Pantone i1Display to calibrate my monitors..It calibrated perfectly... and am thrilled I wish the old monitor was as bright... but both are now color-temp and contrast calibrated to almost match.As you see I gave it 5 Stars..Here are the low points,(Note that on a $290 24inch IPS monitor these NITS are not worth more than a half star and I am rounding up.>E-IPS vs S-IPS Side to Side in landscape mode I see the same viewing angle.If I stand and look down, I see the new 24" dim faster than the older S-IPS so the top to bottom viewing angle is not quite as good. I probably wouldn't run ii in Portrait mode because of that. But I haven't tried.. When I do I will update the review.>When Calibrating the monitor the contrast, brightness and RGB settings were a bit coarser than I would like. This means that while my eye couldn't see a shift in brightness or contrast.. the calibration sensor would jump from just below perfect to just above prefect on the sensed levels. But I got it where I wanted and the calibtation curve as good as any Monitor I have owned.That's it so far.If you can't deal with the screen coating or sit the right distance from the screen and are used to clear screens.. I can see why some people might not like this.. But I have a Window and or a TV behind me in the office.. the Anti-reflective coating is a godsend.. I have NO reflections even from intense sources of light behind me.For Photographers and Designers looking for a good monitor on a budget, that can be calibrated this is a solid choice I have nor problem reccomending.(Though at this price is not able to display a full Adobe RGB Gamut.)Dell saved some money by dropping HDMI ( so did my HP notebook which also has display port)If neded the adapters are a couple bucks. A non-issue.But the image quality is top notch. And great for this use.