Not all LCD panels are created equal. So be CAREFUL in your selection. There are three basic types of panels for LCD monitors, TN, VA, and IPS. Of all three only VA and IPS panels can be acceptable for photography.
Most low budget monitors fall short in the following departments:
1)Viewing angles, anything below 170 degrees both horizontal and vertical is not acceptable for serious photo editing.
2)Shaddow detail or deep blacks. Most monitors cannot display deep blacks and some that can, loose in shaddow detail.
3)Brightness levels too high for photo editing. People that work in very bright rooms need the extra brightness most monitors today can offer, but for critical photo editing we should be working in low light environment and the ideal LCD monitor brightness should be well below the 120-140 candelas that is generaly accepted as "normal".
4)Color shifts when viewed at an angle.
Even some good monitors suffer from color shifts when viewed at an angle even if their viewing angle measurments are above 170.
5)Light uniformity and light leakage.
6)Bad pixels. Although even good monitors can have bad pixels usualy the quality control is tighter on the higher level monitors.
7)Color gammut. This should be higher in the list but unless you get a monitor with TN panel and 6bit color the problem will not be that big.
Stick to IPS or VA panels with more than 16milion colors and it will not be your biggest problem.
For a budget of up to RM1500, I would recommend these two monitors:
a. Samsung 970P or 971P
b. HP
LP2065 or
2465 (24" & a lot more expensive)
They have been reported to be easily calibrated with Eye One, Spider or Monaco. I own the Viewsonic 2025 & Apple HD Cinema Display 23"... viewsonic cannot give consistent colour & luminance throughout the panel which is a big problem if you plan to use it for colour correction & photo editing. For games or office use, that is not an issue.
To find out what kind of panel a specific LCD monitor uses, enter the model number to this URL:
http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php
It will tell you whether it is IPS, VA or TN panels.
Check out
this site on LCD monitor reviews.
Happy shopping!