Years ago DreamWorks stockpiled warehouses of analog CRTs as they went out of production, so as to have a ready supply of RGB displays that could be calibrated as they came out of the box and were used. The supply of these was dwindling, so DreamWorks challenged HP to come up with a replacement product.

HP has successfully designed and produced LED-backlit LCD widescreen flat panel computer displays that meet these requirements, it's called the HP DreamColor technology.

The amazing thing is that the new flat panels will ship at a fraction of the cost of existing professional color displays. These are true 30-bit displays that support billions of colors.

"The display will include factory presets for all color ranges specified by the NTSC, SMPTE, sRGB, Rec. 709, Adobe RGB, and DCI standards."

A built in calibration device ensures that each display is tweeked at all times. The technology has also been extended into the HP color printers which can print precisely calibrated photo-quality prints.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/14/hp.dreamcolor/

http://www.tfot.info/news/1169/hp-one-billion-colors-display.html

http://manufacturing.cadalyst.com/manufacturing/News/HP-Unveils-New-Color-Technology-for-Desktop-Displa/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/510339

These will start shipping to the general public in late Summer 2008.

I bet they're going to have a hefty price tag.

I'm more interested in the comment that ATI will finally be offering video cards that offer 10 bit video. Took them long enough.

I bet they're going to have a hefty price tag.

They do say a "fraction of the cost of most high-end, studio-quality LCD displays." Of course, 99/100 is a fraction!

LCD monitors of this calibre, from companies like Eizo and NEC, sell in the $2500 to $5000 range.

LCD monitors of this calibre, from companies like Eizo and NEC, sell in the $2500 to $5000 range.
That's probably how much it'll cost. Most wide gamut, 10 bit+ LCDs designed for broadcast and mastering break the five-figure barrier.

Early reviews of the first HP DreamColor displays are out:

http://www.justechn.com/2008/06/10/hp-dreamcolor-lp2480zx-lcd-display

The LP2480zx is a 24" widescreen monitor with a list price of $3499, which out-performs professional color monitors in the $15,000-$25,000 price range.

There is a 19-slide presentation in the above article, including a side-by-side comparison with an Apple Cinema display (hardly fair, that display costs $1800).

Hoping that prices decline to the consumer level soon.....

More details:

http://www.gpdistribution.com/images/LP2480zx_Customer_Slides_May08.ppt

The closest competitor appears to be a $4999 Samsung which also has triple-LED backlighting, but is 24-bit color resolution, with lesser features.