New Display Recommendations Please

As my FCP studio training continues I'd like to find a larger display to work on and need some recommendations.

Connected to my Early 2009 MP are a Dell 20" and a 23" ACD (main display). My card is an ATI Radeon 4870.

I'd like to have more real estate, 27" to 30". I've researched for the past couple of weeks and honestly, I'm now more confused than ever as it's hard to tell which manufacturer is fudging the numbers. This along with backlit, LCD, minidisplay port etc. etc., I'm about to pull my hair out.

I'd like to use my 23" ACD as a second monitor and a new larger display as the main.

I'm not sold on Apple, but I do like the craftsmanship. I can't afford an EIZO, but I would like to head towards something more professional and not to hamper my training. What would be a step up, so-to-speak and be under $1200? I'm not convinced that I HAVE to spend $1200. That's just my cap. Also consider that I'm not making money at this yet.

What would fit the bill for me?

You speak of "real estate" but for FCP work the monitor's inch size is probably less important than its pixel count. The good 30" monitors have 2560x1600 pixels. Your graphics card can support two of these.

I bought a Samsung SyncMaster 305T and wouldn't recommend it. The new one died within two years and the warranty replacement unit has a bad pixel and the lamp buzzes. The monitor has a difficult pushbutton gain adjustment and no other -- insufficient to properly apply the OSX visual monitor calibrator. I like the monitor's black framing but it wobbles on its pedestal.

There is speculation that the various 30" monitors are based on the same LCD panel. Even if so, the Apple monitor is clearly better built than the Samsung. It just needs to be painted black.

Some find it comfortable and handy to work with a single 2560x1600 pixel monitor. This is pretty good with SD but with 1920x1080 it limits the canvas and viewer each to 66% size, implying possibly undesirable scaling, and wastes screen area beneath. You can display one HD image at full pixels but then the other will be just 32% and the timeline will be squeezed down to 9 tracks total.

Dennis Couzin
Berlin, Germany

Dell came to your rescue today (a bit over your $1200 though)

[www.engadget.com]

Thanks, not a big fan of Dell but...
Is the U3011 30? the one you speak of?
As far as my cap, if it's something exceptional and will really aid me, I'm willing to wait a month for more funds, but I can't see stretching myself too far when I'm not making money at this yet.
Is this glossy or matte? Can't find it in the specs.