LCD Monitor Suggestions

Because of the Christmas season, any items purchased at a BestBuy/FutureShop can be returned for a full refund. I have been using this opportunity to test out an array of LCD monitors.

Sadly however, I find the LCD market somewhat dissappointing, especially for a graphic artist.

Can anyone recommend an 19' LCD monitor with a resolution of at least 1280x1024 (which is what I use on my 17' CRTs. oh well), a response time adequate for gaming, and most importantly, PROPER GRADIENT DISPLAY.

Of all the monitors I have tested, none can begin to properly display gradients, displaying transitional lines at intervals inside the gradient. Furthermore, their color reproduction has been inadequate, and Brightness/ Contrast is an area of worry.

Again, anyone recommend an LCD monitor that will allow a person to effectively design and edit images on a computer (with a price range of about $500).

>>10 'Ad Hominem University graduates another champ'
Well if it did, I graduated from the same institution as you, just a couple of years after you and with slightly more modern information.
As for profit margins being higher for LCDs, well yes of course, this usually happens when you compare old and new production techniques.  Valves were more expensive to produce than their successors, transistors.

In the meantime, I hope your old CRT lasts long enough for you to bypass current technology for something which satisfies your obviously 'unique' standards, though what that is God only knows.