How does the NEC 2490WUXi stack up today?

[mset]

A few years back when I was looking into monitors for my first multi-monitor setup, the NEC2490WUXi was a beast, with a big price tag. At $2000 after taxes here in Canada, it was out of my range.

I have a chance to buy one now, but I'm not sure if this is a situation where the panel in this monitor would still be considered high-end, or has technology caught up? I get this feeling that the panels in the new crop of cheaper IPS monitors are somehow not as good as the one in this NEC. Here's what seems to be a pretty comprehensive review which should include the specs that will mean something to an expert. It has an H-IPS panel in it.

I am not a gamer and don't need super fast response times. Colour reproduction and deep black levels are what I like.

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/nec_2490wuxi.htm

Any comment about whether this is still a relevant monitor for $350 would be appreciated.


Size
24"WS
Colour Depth
16.7M (8-bit) from palette of 69 billion. 72% NTSC colour gamut

Resolution
1920 x 1200

Viewing Angles
178 / 178

Response Time
8ms G2G (16ms ISO)

Panel Technology
H-IPS

Contrast Ratio
800:1

Interfaces
DVI-D, DVI-I and VGA

Brightness
400 cd/m2

Colour
Glossy Black bezel and stand

Special Features
Tilt, height, pivot, rotate and swivel adjustments. 12-bit LUT and gamma. AmbiBright, X-Light Pro, Ambix3 and ColorcComp technologies. Advanced True-Wide (A-TW) polarizer

 

[Hi-Fi Man]

If you want deep blacks than you should be looking at an LCD with a VA type panel or a CRT. Good IPS type panels usually have high colour accuracy and good viewing angles but their black levels pale in comparison to a VA or CRT.

 

[mset]

If you want deep blacks than you should be looking at an LCD with a VA type panel or a CRT. Good IPS type panels usually have high colour accuracy and good viewing angles but their black levels pale in comparison to a VA or CRT.

Thanks for the reply. I guess that even though deep blacks are important, I don't think I'll be able to go back to CRT. I have a Dell U2711 IPS panel here and I guess I've grown accustomed to the blacks on it because they don't bother me. I also don't want to give up the desktop real estate.

My knowledge of panel types runs from TN through PVA to IPS. I can't remember why but I set PVA aside when I was doing my research. I'll have another look, at VA as well as the PVA I'm familiar with.