Monitor Recommendations? (MacBook Pro)

[geosite]

I'm saving towards a new MacBook Pro with a 13" monitor; I hope to make my purchase sometime this fall, after Apple's Snow Leopard OS is released.

I'd also like to buy a large external monitor for home use. Apple sells a 24" monitor for about $750 and a 30" monitor for twice as much. However, I assume I could get something comparable from another manufacturer at a much better price.

I just wondered if anyone could offer some advice on buying an external monitor. Are there some particular brand names I should be aware of that are of exceptional quality or especially inexpensive? Do Apple monitors have some special feature I won't get in another model (or vice versa)?

How much would you recommend spending for a monitor (probably somewhere between 24" and 30")?

Thanks for any tips.

[kohoutek]

The Apple Cinema Displays use the same manufacturer as Dell do for their monitors. At least the current albeit old models do (not sure about the new 24" model).

I frequent a few Mac fora in lurk modus, and I see the new Dell models recommended a lot.

[shoaaib]

Go for any Mac friendly LCD. Samsung is my favourite brand for this.

[logic_earth]

Go for any Mac friendly LCD. Samsung is my favourite brand for this. [emphasis added]

You mean not just any LCD monitor/screen will work for a Mac?!