Your Suggestions on Adding External LCD / LED Monitors to MacBook Pro?

Question

My current work station is a PowerPC G4 Dual 867Mhz with dual 19" CRT displays. I use this for design work (Adobe Illustrator); photo restoration (Photoshop); & online sales.
I was down to my last two CRT monitors, and wanted to perhaps start porting some of the graphic intense work to a faster computer so I bought this MacBook Pro:
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP499
I have not actually had a chance to use the MacBook Pro - it and all the accessories are still sealed - I couldn't afford the down time to set it up.
I am wanting to add a external monitor to the MacBook Pro that would be suitable for detailed design work with accurate color, true blacks, and the ability to be correctly calibrated. Since I may be still doing work on the G4 with software that will not run on the MacBook Pro I'd like to perhaps buy 3 matching monitors , 2 to replace my crt units and 1 for the MacBook, so that I can closely match the design output between the G4 and MacBook Pro.
I briefly tried a inexpensive LCD TV with a PC hookup on the G4 to get some idea of how an lcd would look. The LCD TV had a native resolution of 1440 X 960, which is a 3:2 aspect ratio, but that resulted in designs elements being distorted (i.e., squares look like rectangles). In 4:3 mode the TV did not distort the design elements, but the picture was not crisp / sharp and appeared soft. From what I've read this is because the lcd, unlike a crt, can't correctly emulate resolutions other than the native resolution built into the screen (i.e., its software guesswork). I also did not like the fact than in 4:3 mode it left black areas on the right and left edges of the screen.
I typically work in a 4:3 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1024 X 768, but a higher resolution of say 1600 X 1200 would be o.k. So what are your suggestions as to finding a lcd / led monitor that has a 4:3 aspect ratio? So far I've found limited information on what appear to be old monitors - there's one on Dell's site; for example, that says it has 1600 x 1200 native resolution, but a review also says its the same monitor they've been making for 5 years (besides I don't think I'd like the idea of hooking a Dell into my Mac). Found a few references to Lacie and NEC.
I really don't understand the monitor manufacturers, including Apple, that claim their monitors are for design work, when they don't offer native a 4:3 aspect ratio. How exactly am I to complete designs when circles are ovals and squares are rectangles?

Answer 1

"Take a flash drive with some representative PDF files saved from Illustrator to your nearest Apple Store or Apple reseller and ask for a demonstration using one of Apple's beautiful 27" 2560 x 1600 monitors. It would replace both of your 1024 x 768 CRTs with lots of additional desktop real estate to spare."
1. Well, actually no since I do not have fixed 1024 x 768 crts since crts do not have fixed resolutions. I can easily set each monitor to a variety of other resolutions including 1600 x 1200. Actually the Apple display would be a step down in total working area if I used the largest common resolution of 1792 x 1344 and certainly not worth the extra cost for the space gained if working at 1600 x 1200.
2. Unfortunately the display requires 10.6, which does not work on a G4 Dual 867Mhz. It would not even work on my MacBook Pro that I've not had a chance to use yet as it comes with 10.5. Also, 10.6 drops supports for PowerPC emulation so that means buying hundreds of dollars in new software. I use Apples only, but one thing I hate about the company is what many perceive is their "elitist attitude" toward their users - do they really think most people in the real world have so much money that in order to use Apple's new 27" display that they have to go out and spend more than the display costs on updating their computer and software. I am not a zombie fanboy willing to buy anything just because it has Apple on it.
3. Like most people I do not live by an Apple store or a Apple reseller, even the local Best Buy does not carry Apple computers in their store because the retail space does not justify the resulting sales (not that I would buy anything there anyway as they are over priced). I am really not interested in driving several hundred miles to the nearest store.
4. For a $1,000 I expect a monitor to offer a native 4:3 (1600 x 1200) aspect ratio - certainly Apple knows that this is the preferred working environment of many CAD and graphic users but they chose not to offer this in the display, thus the Apple display is really seems geared toward pop corn munching movie watching consumers.
5. This display is not actually made by Apple, its probably LG or one of their other suppliers.