It's exciting because there is movement at the top end of the general monitor market (ignoring specialist stuff like medical imaging), for the first time in almost a decade. Dell moving into this new segment is particularly important because they make excellent monitors as a rule.
Movement is terribly slow though. I remember keeping an eye on anything greater than 1920x1200 (16:10) since I got my monitor at this resolution 8 years ago. The best thing has been 2560x1600 that are still priced higher [1] than the price I paid for this one 8 years ago (~$800).
To put it another way, after 8 years, you still can't buy a 24" monitor at a resolution above 1920x1200. And when I saw this link, I thought the drought was finally over -- only to realize that it's still not.
So yeah, this news didn't really excite me.
It seems that display technology advances much more slowly than that of any other component, especially on pixel density of larger (20+ inch) displays.
Check out the ASUS PB278Q. $549.00 on Amazon right now, 27", 2560x1440, 16:9 ratio. I upgraded from a HP LP2475w (24", 1920x1200) and it is a night and day difference.
I now have two of the ASUS monitors (one at home and one at work) and could not be happier. I run them on a $6 Monoprice Mini DisplayPort->DisplayPort off a Retina MBP.
Unless you need 16:10 for some reason, the ASUS are the best deal around right now.
I picked myself up an Auria EQ276W earlier this year and couldn't be happier. It is a 27" 2560x1440 IPS (16:9), same as the Asus, but it can be found for $399. I did replaced the stock stand with an HP branded Ergotron LX stand ($80) as the stock stand only had tilt control, though.
I got an Auria, and I think I got a dud based on what my friends say. :( I can see colors shifting on the screen even when clicking different "inbox" tabs inside of Gmail. The text isn't very sharp, it's fuzzy. At first I thought it was because of the AD coating...but now not sure. I'm going to go talk to the place I bought it from, hoping they'll exchange it or something (even though it's been a few months since I purchased).
The point, as you have indirectly struck on, is that everything has stagnated. Movement anywhere is important, because it creates the possibility that improvements will move inwards from the largest and smallest monitor sizes to the mid-to-large-sized monitors where developers do most of their work.
Thought I have a newer monitor (see below), I'm still using a really good Dell 24" (2408) that I bought many, many years ago. I've gone through several computers since, but this monitor's been awesome.
Money spent on good external monitors is well spent, and it actually amazes me more isn't happing on this front on desktop monitors.
that's just another confirmation that PC is dead. nobody is buying desktops, only portables. Businesses still have desks but they mostly care about the bottom line.
It's exciting because there is movement at the top end of the general monitor market, for the first time in almost a decade.
I'm profoundly saddened by the situation. I have been waiting nearly 15 years for DPI to improve. I cut my LCD teeth on the old 110dpi SGI 1600SW monitors. Since then DPI went down and is only now starting to come back up.
But now my near-field eyesight is going and I'll have to start wearing reading-glasses in order to make use of these long overdue improvements. 2 steps forward, 1.5 steps back...
It's exciting because there is movement at the top end of the general monitor market (ignoring specialist stuff like medical imaging), for the first time in almost a decade. Dell moving into this new segment is particularly important because they make excellent monitors as a rule.