for 500, i say no.

i got same thing 2 months ago for 451 shipped.

couple weeks ago, it was selling for 384 + tax.

next month, :dunno: how cheap it'll get.

as far as performance, i really have nothing to compare it to. rick swears the 19" is way better and it's probably true. my previous monitor was some cruddy samsung 15". so this dell 18" blows my old monitor away.