Multiple studies have shown that a larger computer screen increases productivity. Even if you pay your graduate students and postdocs starvation wages, a large monitor will pay for itself in months!
There isn’t much practical difference between different brands of monitor, since they all tend to obtain their LCD panels from the same manufactures. But since you have to stare at the thing all day long, day in, day out, for years, it’s worth getting something that is atheistically pleasing. And it doesn’t get any prettier than Apple’s offerings. Its possible to plug power, USB and video into an Apple laptop and be up and running with a full size screen and keyboard in under 30 seconds flat.
Apple’s 30 inch monitor is beautiful, but is long overdue for a product refresh. The 24 inch LCD is probably the best value for money at the moment. It even comes with a power cable for a MacBook or MacBook Air.
Buy: Amazon ($850)