Let's take bets on what will be released first, the new Guns-n-Roses album "Chinese Democracy" or the Dell 2407 24'' LCD monitor. Supposedly it's been delayed...Again...Although I don't know that any "original" release date has ever been confirmed. Here's why we were anticipating it in the first place, lest we forget, which we may if this thing doesn't hit the streets soon...

The 2407 is a 24'' wide screen 1920 x 1200 LCD monitor based around a Samsung panel, which is the "updated" version of the popular Dell 2405. What's new? It's HDCP compliant, for one, but let's not open that can of worms to discussion right now. Windows Vista and GPUs will require HDCP to view HD video in native resolutions, so the monitor is only one piece of a presently murky puzzle.

The styling is different, look at the Dell 3007 (Dell, navigate to LCD monitors) for a preview:

At a little over 14 lbs., it also seems to be lighter in weight than its predecessor. The supposed gray-to gray pixel response time is down to 6ms, from 12ms on the 2405. The black-to-white response time is still 16ms though, so we'll have to wait and see what the technological reason for the improvement is. Its contrast ratio is 1000:1; good for an LCD, and brightness specs are at cd/m².

There are certainly other options for 24'' LCD displays, but Dell's pricing is a comparative bargain, as it has been for quite some time now concerning hardware. The rumor is that the 2407 will be priced near the 2405, which recently ran at around $1100 US dollars before sales and coupon discounts (check eBay for dell coupons). You can probably get one shipped for under $900 now, if you can't wait anymore...

It looks like I'll pick this one up if and when it's ever available, because the Samsung 244t is still priced at a premium along with many other 24'' LCD options. Let's hope all the sound and fury really does signify a great product at a reasonable price.