Dell UltraSharp U3011 30" Monitor

PROS:2560x1600 top resolution1.78x more pixels than a 1920x1200 monitor for more work spaceClear, sharp, bright imagesWorks well at lower resolutions tooSwitches between inputs (without KVM switch)Smooth, flexible tilt and height adjustments in the standBuilt-in USB and SD/MMC Memory slotsCONS:(minor) I don't like the feel of the control switches and means of switching inputsThis is a sweet monitor if you can afford it and if you have room. I have pined for one for quite awhile and eventually decided to go for it for my home offce, because I work full time plus there. Although it is not inexpensive, prices have come down a bit, and I'm glad I took the plunge.Compared to my Dell 24" monitor at 1920x1200, this monitor, at 2560x1600, has 33% more resolution - in each direction. However, the best way to compare resolution is by the number of pixels, and this monitor has 1.78x as many pixels, a LOT more space to work in.IMAGE QUALITY / PRICE TRADEOFFIt is difficult to describe the image quality of the top-of-the-line Dell monitors without simply seeing them. Suffice it to say that two monitors of the same size and the same resolution will not look the same, and how well they display your work will have an impact on your efficiency and your fatigue, as well as your enjoyment.Granted, the quality comes at a stiff price premium. For graphics users, this premium is somewhere between worthwhile and essential. For others, it is more of a luxury, or something that makes it easier to work in longer stretches, or read and recognize more quickly.INPUTSThere are seven inputs, switchable via the front panel: VGA, two DVI-D, two HDMI, DisplayPort, Component. HDMI 1.3, DVI-D/DualLink and DisplayPort are capable of the full 2560x1600 resolution; I currently use one of each of these in full resolution for two different computers. VGA is capable of 2048x1280 maximum (have used it). I don't know what resolution is available for component input.CONTROLSThe power on/off switch is in the lower right corner, a subtle blue LED switch that turns amber when it is in powersave mode. You can't see the other buttons until your finger gets near the button just above the power, when it suddenly lights up. Touch it, and the on-screen display for the five buttons above the power shows up.: Menu, Input Source, Brightness/Contrast, and Preset Modes.The Preset Modes offers several modes, though so far I have mainly used Standard. As a digital photograher, Adobe mode is of interest, as is sRGB. Game, Movie, and Multimedia sound useful, Warm and Cool a bit less so, but it's nice to know they are there. I'll update this review when I get more experience with these modes.The Menu allows you to turn off the subtle menu beep. PBP (Picture By Picture) allows you to watch TV (HDMI1, HDMI2, or Component) in an window to the left of the current input; I would find it more useful if I could watch a second computer screen there, or a portion of two screens at full res better still. There are some assignable shortcuts that I want to learn how to use (and will update when I do).Now we get to my only complaint in the monitor. When you push a button, you have to push it enough that the whole monitor wobbles just a bit. After all, it's over 12 inches to the right of center, and that's a lot of leverage. I'm almost tempted to put a fixed object there as a back support to stop that. Also, changing input modes, even when the inputs are next to each other, requires 3 or 4 button presses; I wish I could do it with one press. Perhaps when I figure out shortcuts it will be better. What would be really cool is if the USB cable, when plugged into the computer, had a device that allowed controlling it by the computer... but you can see some obvious problems with that: which computer? Or if they gave us a simple hardware interface to build our own buttons... but most of the world is not hackers. Last, now and then, the buttons don't respond, and the easiest way to get it going is to switch the monitor off, then on. I think you can just wait as an alternative when it gets confused like this.But complaints around the controls are very minor, and I could only dock the review a half star at most. In practice, I tend to use one computer for a long stretch without switching a lot. And some day, my computers will all use the same kind of interface (probably DVI-D or DisplayPort) and I can use a proper KVM again, which is the best tool for the job. My problems are related to mixed technology during this transition.STANDLess expensive monitors tend to have stands with few adjustments. This monitor has the most adjustable height and tilt adjustments of any monitor I have had, definitely improved over my previous Dell 24" LCD monitor. It is smooth and has a great range of adjustments. Also built into the stand is cable management.USB / Memory SlotsIt is also handy that on the left side, the monitor has two USB slots and one SD/MMC slot. I assume, but have not confirmed, that the USB slots are powered by the monitor (like a powered USB hub), not just tapping off of the USB connector.WHAT MORE COULD I WANT?Is it everything I ever wanted in a monitor? Heck no. The newest MacBook Pro has 2880x1800 resolution in 15.4 screen, which means about TWICE the pixels-per-inch density. I would really love to have a Dell 30" monitor that has that pixel density... that would be 5610x3506 pixels! I fully expect that Dell WILL have a high-density-pixel display eventually. And it will be very expensive.I would also like it if this was a touch screen, or better still able to work horizontally as a tablet and sensitive to a fine-point stylus. Some day.BOTTOM LINEI enjoyed my Dell FP2405W, and my wife still enjoyed hers, for many years of problem-free performance. I expect the same from this larger monitor. While it is not inexpensive, it is a lot less expensive than CRT monitors were 15 years ago when you compare price on a per-pixel ratio, and especially when you factor in the cost of energy.It is big; it is beautiful; I am more productive because I spend less time shuffling windows around while I work on multiple applications at the same time. It enables me to use several computers at the same time of all vintages, and switch between them.It may not be a bargain, but it was definitely worth it, for me. I have had it for a few weeks; I will update this review if there are any problems, and as I learn more about it. If you see no problems listed, it means I have not had any; I don't expect any, given my previous experience with Dell monitors.

When it arrived it had a number of defective areas on the screen. It wasn't serious enough to make me return it outright, but over time they make me more and more irritated. Anyways, good monitor, but make sure you are happy with the quality out of the box.

After much consternation about dropping one large on a monitor, and a ton of research, I decided on the Dell UltraSharp U3011.As a busy freelance writer, my computer is what props up my mortal remains and my desk is my living space for most waking hours, so I tend to choose the best quality I can afford. From an economic standpoint, there are less expensive monitors but the marginal gain in quality related for the additional cost is worth it if you really depend on your monitor. Because I also do design work for scientific graphics, PowerPoint, and flash applications I needed something that could handle color and graphics well and had lots of real estate as well as offering exceptional resolution. I installed a GeForce GT 430--you'll need a decent graphics card with this monitor unless what you have supports 2560 x 1600.Pros--Worked perfectly out of the box without a single bad pixel--Superior color fidelity, which when properly calibrated is acceptable for professional use--Real estate...I find it a cinch to use the leading design software suite while having several applications on my desktop in 'real life' size, ie, full 8.5 x 11 for a page of text and decent size PPT--Stunning with sophisticated gaming applications such as flight and sub simulators--USB and multi-memory card input hub is handy and well powered--Plenty of options for video (DVI, HDMI, VGA, component, etc)--Nice, clean, compact, aesthetically pleasing design; height and twist adjust easily--Easy to use menu accesses lots of user settingsCons--Packing this much power and space into a monitor generates a bit of heat. A drag in the summer, but will keep me toasty in the winter.Would recommend to anyone who needs a large, high performance monitor and is comfortable with the price point.

If it breaks Dell will replace this monitor under warranty but if you break it they won't fix it. If you break it tough luck, it goes into the dumpster. Shop with a brand that doesn't fill American land fills with their junk.