Frank -- thanks to you (and to Chuong) for your replies.
I agree with Choung. The nec is a very good value.
This seems to be the consistent response from people who use it.
I got an EyeOne "Display(2)" colorimeter about a year and a half ago, and I assume that in combination with NEC's software, this would be good enough for profiling and/or calibration -- that is, without the need to spend the extra $$$ for the "SV" version of this monitor. (It would be downright nice if the NEC software were a bit better-behaved than the GM software I was using before with my CRT.)
Regarding the card -- the card that came with this (Dell Optiplex) computer does not have digital signal output. It would probably work but as I understand these things (not terribly well yet), the best image quality would be obtained via digital signal rather than analogue. I hear that digital output tends to limit the adjustments that can be made via the on-screen display, but presumably it doesn't limit the ability of the 'puck' + software to profile the monitor well enough.
You mentioned the hood . . . I hadn't thought about that. I do nearly all photo editing in a darkened room. With the lights on, there's just too much 'white' (well, off-white) bouncing into the area where the monitor sits. Or I keep a small compact-flourescent light on
behind the monitor if I need to see things on my desk.
Thanks again.