29" 2560x1080 Ultrawide monitor is on its way back to Newegg after some resolution/output compatibility issues with my laptop.
On it's way, supposedly with Sunday delivery, is a 24" 1920x1200 Dell UltraSharp U2412M IPS monitor.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JN9310/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
4.5/5 stars on Amazon after 1,000+ reviews. Engadget says, "After 3 years, this is still the best overall 24" monitor for most users. Some may beat it in individual catergories, but the overall package and price is still hard to beat...just ask the 23 other contenders we tested that didn't beat it." (paraphrasing)
It's the max res supported by the DVI output of my laptop/docking station. That extra 640 horizontal pixels sure would have been nice for all of the spreadsheet-type documents I work on. Currently running a 1980x1080 monitor, so I don't expect significant performance issues from my laptop.
I actually wanted a 27" of this res, but 4+ rated, $300-or-less options are few and far between. I do like the idea of the physical buttons on the frame, though. I work right next to a south-facing-window, in a room with poor lighting, so the light is constantly changing from one extreme, to another, to another so I'm frequently changing settings. The menu/limited capacitive buttons on the Samsung I'm currently using is kind of a pain.