the next best thing after the Apple Cinema Display

I am desperate looking for an monitor to give the pixels of my MacBook Pro some extra space.

So, where do you start then, of course, the Apple Cinema Display. Best looking piece of glass on the desk, a whole lot of pixels (2560x1440), but then.. the price...

So, for now, not an option. So looking for an alternative. What is the next best thing? Or is the CD not even close to an good monitor. What do the experts think.

I found the Dell U2412M, and think this is one of the options that is close to the best thing for me in the price/resolution/specs combo.

Who can help me with this?