I'm just back from another what-monitor-should-I-buy-thread in another forum, where any mention of the names "NEC" and "Eizo" trigger instant hostility from those who are convinced any Dell or LG is just as good at a third or a fifth of the price. They just don't see the point, which can only be attributed to the fact that they have never worked with a first-rate display system.
So let me say right off: yes, they are expensive. Are they worth it? Yes, they are, beyond any doubt. Are they three times as good at three times the price? No, absolutely not, but that's completely missing the point. Squeezing that last bit of performance out of a monitor is expensive. But maybe that last bit is what you need - only you can decide that.
The monitor is the most critical piece of hardware you have (aside from lens and sensor), and it should be top priority. Go as high as you possibly can.
You basically have two choices: budget or high end. Your hp LP2475W is in the budget class, along with Dell U2413, Asus PA249Q, BenQ PG2401 and some others. These compete by packing as many on-paper high specs as possible at the lowest possible price. They will cut corners to reach those low prices while maintaining the on-paper specs. Make no mistake about that. There is no free lunch.
A true high-end unit is manufactured to meet certain absolute quality standards, and the price is secondary. The NEC PA242W and Eizo CG247/CX241 fall into this category. Aside from general panel performance, these models have a secret weapon: the integrated calibration software (Spectraview and Colornavigator). This is what turns an already great monitor into a reference-class display system, by giving you a level of control and precision the others aren't even close to.
At the moment I see only one model that tries to bridge these two, and that is the Eizo CS240. At $826 (B&H listing), this looks like the best quality/price ratio on the market today. And it has Colornavigator included (but no sensor). This would be my first recommendation, but if you can manage PA242 or CX241 that will take you another notch up.
Going all-out for an Eizo CG is a waste of money unless you do video on a pro level (or want the integrated sensor). I have a CG246 and a CX240 and for photography there is no practical difference between them.
The Asus is probably not a bad monitor, certainly as good or better as the by now somewhat outdated LP2475. But the Eizo CS240 (or up) is more monitor for your money.
