Ever since LCD displays came out, professionals in the Video and photographic industries have not readily adopted them because they were not very good at displaying true colors. Over the years they have gotten better, but not until today did they have something to get really excited about.

The DreamColor tag on the HP DreamColor LP2480zx - it appears only in marketing, and not on the monitor itself - comes from a collaboration between HP and SKG Dreamworks movie studio.

The studio wanted a panel with a wide colour range and good linearity suitable for movie editing as well as stills, and the HP DreamColor LP2480zx is the result - or so we're told.

It's difficult to justify buying an electronic device that costs $2,500 or more. The HP DreamColor LP2480zx costs $2,500 if you buy it directly from HP, but you can find it for $2,900-to-$3,000 from other online retailers.

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx has impeccable color reproduction and includes direct black level control

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx forgoes direct color and contrast controls and can't compare, featurewise, to its competitors; Its price is a pill that's hard to swallow

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx is a performance monster that costs too much for the features it offers.

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx has impeccable color reproduction and includes direct black level control

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx forgoes direct color and contrast controls and can't compare; featurewise; to its competitors.

Developed with Dreamworks Animation, the DreamColor LP2480ZX is the first monitor to offer a 10-bit-per-colour output at a price that's affordable to many creatives.

Outstanding output quality; Relatively low cost; Choice of inputs

Few graphics cards offer 10-bit output; including no Mac boards

It's difficult to justify buying an electronic device that costs $2,500 or more. The HP DreamColor LP2480zx costs $2,500 if you buy it directly from HP, but you can find it for $2,900-to-$3,000 from other online retailers. At those prices, only graphics professionals should consider this monitor, and it won't disappoint them.

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx is a performance monster that costs too much for the features it offers.

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx has impeccable color reproduction and includes direct black level control.

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx forgoes direct color and contrast controls and can't compare, featurewise, to its competitors. Its price is a pill that's hard to swallow.

HP calls the 24in DreamColor LP2480zx 'uniquely affordable'. At over $4000, most of us probably don't think that at all. However, professional users who make their living using colour-critical applications might well see the merit in that statement.

Superb up-scaling of video; impeccable colours

It's hard to fault this monitor; but it probably could use some more calibration options in its menu system

HP calls the 24in DreamColor LP2480zx 'uniquely affordable'. At over $4000, most of us probably don't think that at all. However, professional users who make their living using colour-critical applications might well see the merit in that statement.

Superb up-scaling of video; impeccable colours

It's hard to fault this monitor; but it probably could use some more calibration options in its menu system

For colour critical applications, this monitor is ideal.

Superb up-scaling of video,

It's hard to fault this monitor; but it probably could use some more calibration