I've been shopping for a bigger chunk of glass too...lusting over the 16x10 aspect ration units running at 1920x1200--sweat work area.
You lose a LOT of surface area going wide-screen though, so if your vision isn't too hot or you like to sit far from the screen, a 4x3 panel would probably be better. All the ones I've seen (asside from insanely expensive medical/research units) run 1600x1200. Most 4x3's seem to be marketed to business users... getting a 'real world' assessment for gaming might be tough.
Here's my wide-screen short-list:
23"
hp business L2335 ($1599 direct-value leader)
hp home F2304 ($2000ish)
viewsonic VP231w (new product-not available)
phillips 230W5 ($1850)
Sony PremierPro SDM-P232 ($1600)
24"
samsung 243T ($2000)
Dell 2405FPW (rumored Feb-March 2005 product, specs assumed like samsung)
...as the other posts said, the hp L2335 looks best right now. I went ahead and ordered a 2005FPW... at 1680x1050 it's a little better than what I'm using now. HOPING it will satisfy the upgrade-urge and save me a thousand bucks. I sit pretty close to my monitor and have great near vision, so maybe it'll do. At least I have 3 weeks to give it a try with Dell. If not, and if I where you, I'd wait to see what Dell ships later this quarter... unless you're obscenely wealthy, then by all means nab the luscious 24" Sammy now.
Regardless of what you go with, make sure you buy from a vendor with a good return policy(especially since it's really hard to find a local place to actually 'see' this class of display.) At least for me, buying in this price range I expect perfection--Manufacturers do NOT guarantee that. Dell and Costco are smooth returns for ANY reason.