Really Frickin' Huge Monitors - How Big is Big Enough? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

iccky · 09-30-2006, 01:40 PM

This Slate article caught my eye and made me think about by own computer upgrade priorities.

http://www.slate.com/id/2149179/

Quote:

technology
The Best Computer Upgrade Ever
Forget about a faster processor. Splurge on a bigger screen.
By Paul Boutin
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006, at 2:50 AM ET

Whether you're a PC or Mac user, the humongous 24-inch iMac that Apple unwrapped on Wednesday drives home a point: Speed is good, but spread is better. For the past year, I've been working at two offices. Office A has a fairly new 17-inch Mac I bought so I could crank out more freelance work without having to turn off iTunes. But lately, I find myself making the longer trek to Office B to use an older, slower machine. Why? Because a generous Office B colleague updated the slowpoke with a 23-inch monitor.

Speed freaks are stoked that Intel has finally replaced its aging Pentium processors with a speedier design called Core 2. Apple went for broke and stuffed the new iMac with a dual-core Intel processor and a 24-inch monitor. But it'll cost me $2,000-plus to buy my dream machine. PC users get a choice: Dell will sell you a Core 2-powered PC for $1,200 or a 24-inch flat-panel monitor for around $700. If you're feeling stymied by your computer, buy the monitor now and wait until Windows Vista comes out to upgrade the rest of your PC. You'll get more Core 2 for your money by then, and you'll already have a panoramic screen to let Vista live up to its name.

Don't be fooled by all those Intel commercials: A faster CPU isn't always the best upgrade. Dell hawks its Core 2 Duo PCs as the "ultimate multimedia and gaming experience." What bigger multimedia buzz is there than a giant screen? I'm not a gamer, but I spend a lot of time with Word, Excel, Firefox, and iTunes. I watch a lot of YouTube by day and often slide a DVD into my desktop machine at night. I'm fascinated by Google Maps and Google Earth. For these applications, a faster processor doesn't really help. But you know what's better than a million pixels of Google Earth? Two million pixels of Google Earth.

Prima donna software developers who get anything they want have traditionally awarded themselves second, third, and even fourth monitors. You could cite the industry studies that find increased productivity among multiple monitor users, or you could just accept the formula of computer graphics veteran Jon Peddie: "Can't have too many pixels." Besides, flat-panel displays have gotten so big and so cheap that you no longer need to cable together four screens. Just buy one big one. Thirty-inch mega-monitors first appeared two years ago for $3,300. Today, you can get one for $1,800 that puts more than 4 million pixels on one panel, equivalent to three or four 17-inch monitors or two HDTV screens. A 20-inch model with close to 2 million pixels is only $350.

Apple's Web site flogs a third-party study by Pfeiffer Consulting that concludes 30-inch monitors aren't a luxury. "When working on a computer, we lose much more time than we realize through user-interface manipulations," Pfeiffer's researchers wrote—even if we're handling only e-mail and Web pages and not Photoshop. I dismissed the report as marketing collateral, but after a few weeks at my own widescreen I've reached the same conclusion—it's surprising how much more work I crank out lately. Co-workers praise my newfound motivation. The truth is, I can finally see what I'm doing.

While a faster processor lets you do what you've been doing more quickly, extra display space lets you do things that were previously unthinkable. I can put two versions of an article side by side, editing one while eyeballing the other. I used to squeeze two shrunken windows onto a smaller screen or flip between edit and review windows. That doesn't compare to editing and reading both at actual size at the same time.

I bought a faster computer for Office A so I could juggle multiple windows and apps more quickly. On Office B's 1600 x 1200 pixel screen, I don't need to juggle at all. I've even got extra turf to keep background tasks onscreen. If I get an instant message while on deadline, I can scan it in my peripheral vision without moving my hands on the keyboard. If I need to reply, I don't have to shove my work aside. I can keep an eye on inbound e-mail while writing and click to zap an annoying song from iTunes without fumbling for the application. I've even squeezed an analog clock and a weather widget into a spare corner so I needn't remember to check them.

With everything in plain sight and within reach, my computer's desktop finally looks like a real desktop. That wouldn't be possible if it weren't almost the same size as one. Rewriting this article at home on my 17-inch screen, I feel cramped and frustrated. What PC makers call a desktop has been closer in size to the back of a book. Isn't it about time you threw away the book and sprawled out a little bit?
Paul Boutin is a Silicon Valley-based writer who also contributes to Business Week, Wired, and Engadget.

I work on a Dell laptop with a 17" widescreen display. Big, but not big enough to really work on two documents side by side. So to test out his theory I hooked up my laptop to an old monitor at my office, so that my desktop now extends across two screens.

And I'm hooked. If someone IMs me while I type this post I can read what they say without breaking my chain of thought. If I want to add an event from an email to my calendar, I can do so without switching back and forth between the two (did I get the date right? the time? four switches back and fourth right there). It’s simply a much more natural way to work.

So now I want to take the next step and buy a really frickin' huge monitor for my home office, and my question here is how big is enough? Will I need a 30 inch monitor to work on two documents side-by-side? Or is 24 or 21 enough? Is widescreen better, or worse for this kind of thing?

So TFPers out there with big ass monitors, let me know about your experiences.

Cynthetiq · 09-30-2006, 03:41 PM

I have 2 19" monitors, it's wonderful. Skogafoss has the same setup as well. It's great! We can play World of Warcraft in one window and look up things game related in another or during raids when it's downtime we can read other things.

Dilbert1234567 · 09-30-2006, 04:19 PM

2 19's here too, it’s nice, except I run SLI for gaming, so I can’t run 2 monitors when I play. When I write reports for school, I dig out my 17 inch and run 2 19's and a 17; Research on the left 19 and the right 17, while having my report on my 19 in the middle.

Charlatan · 09-30-2006, 05:04 PM

I have a powerbook but when I am in the office I hook it up to a 23" monitor and use both screens.

I use the laptop compose emails and the like and use the big monitor to screen DVDs and look at big spreadsheets...

The only thing that would make me happier would be that another monitor...

newtx · 09-30-2006, 05:55 PM

I'm using a single 19" monitor but only because I can't afford one larger. It's hard to justify a large monitor but when mine is replaced only my budget will limit the size. In this case I think the bigger the better. However in my case mine is more than adaquate.

Dilbert1234567 · 09-30-2006, 06:02 PM

I’m looking at getting this monitor to be my new center monitor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824002320

20.1 inches, wide screen, nice resolution, insane contrast ratio (1600:1) and a nice bright (470 cd/m2) its pricy, but I’d rather have a quality monitor for gaming, it's 6ms but I cant find it that’s gtg or wtb

monkeysugar · 09-30-2006, 08:11 PM

I've had my eye on a few 32" LCD tv's with vga input. Would be very nice in my small apartment for watching movies, playing xbox, and having a big-ass monitor all in one package. I don't really *need* it, but would really like it. I'm hoping to get one with my tax refund. It'll give me the incentive to file extremely early this year

kurty[B] · 09-30-2006, 08:20 PM

There's validity to that article. At work I have a 21-inch monitor that I hook my work laptop up to (laptop has a 15 inch wide monitor, which I also enjoy). My main thing is not size, but resolution. I used to have two 21-inch monitors at a past job that could do 1920x1440 resolution each. Loved it.

I want to get a 19-inch flat panel for home, and I'm going to try and see if I can sneak two 19-inchers into the budget for my work setup. We'll see, I'll have happy with getting rid of the CRT, and going to a flat panel though. Just would enjoy some 1600+ resolution is my only requirement.

KnifeMissile · 10-01-2006, 07:33 AM

At work, I have two 24" wide LCD monitors, which I enjoy. Since the software lets me, one is vertical and the other is horiztonal. Some applications are naturally horizontal (Adobe Premiere and media players) while others are naturally vertical (web browsers and text editors).

At home, I have a 21" CRT running at 1792x1344 but will soon be upgrading to a 30" wide LCD, as I have mentioned in another thread...

feelgood · 10-01-2006, 10:22 PM

I have 2 17" montor plus a 19" widescreen laptop and I gotta say, anything bigger than 19 is ok as long as you stick to 1024x760 resolution because I have hard enough time finding a particular icon on the desktop with anything bigger...

Dragonlich · 10-02-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelgood

I have 2 17" montor plus a 19" widescreen laptop and I gotta say, anything bigger than 19 is ok as long as you stick to 1024x760 resolution because I have hard enough time finding a particular icon on the desktop with anything bigger...

Er... couldn't you just increase the size of the icons?

Cynthetiq · 10-02-2006, 10:12 AM

I just saw these in the animation department...

totally cool...

17"-draw-right-on-the-screen-yummy-goodness

iccky · 10-02-2006, 11:37 AM

So is two smaller monitors a better choice than 1 ginormous monitor?

Say, 2 17-inch instead of 1 24-inch?

hulk · 10-02-2006, 11:58 AM

It depends on what you need to do, as well as individual taste.

catback · 10-02-2006, 12:06 PM

As with most good things there is no limit as to how much we want, right now I could go for a nice 60" monitor.

meanSpleen · 10-02-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iccky

So is two smaller monitors a better choice than 1 ginormous monitor?

Say, 2 17-inch instead of 1 24-inch?

two side by side 17 inchers, or one 24-inch WIDESCREEN

With two 17 inchers, you will have two separate sets of realestate to work with. The downside to that is that you can not have anything "Big" in that you'll split it between two screens (movies)

One 24-inch widescreen might give you a little bit less realestate overall, but you can have tons of things all over your screen at one time without that bar in the middle where the two screens would have been separate.

Two 17 inchers can probably cost less than one 24 inch widescreen for now. Again, as hulk said, its all up to taste (and what you intend to do with it)

DaElf · 10-23-2006, 08:54 AM

I have a 46" TV I hooked up for watching movies or sometimes playing WoW it's hard to read from across the room so I don't use it to browse the internet. 22" CRT for gaming (mostly for FPS) and a 19" LCD next to the CRT for music/IMs/IRC/thottbot browsing while I game.

09-30-2006, 03:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I have 2 19" monitors, it's wonderful. Skogafoss has the same setup as well. It's great! We can play World of Warcraft in one window and look up things game related in another or during raids when it's downtime we can read other things. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-30-2006, 04:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	2 19's here too, it’s nice, except I run SLI for gaming, so I can’t run 2 monitors when I play. When I write reports for school, I dig out my 17 inch and run 2 19's and a 17; Research on the left 19 and the right 17, while having my report on my 19 in the middle. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

09-30-2006, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I have a powerbook but when I am in the office I hook it up to a 23" monitor and use both screens. I use the laptop compose emails and the like and use the big monitor to screen DVDs and look at big spreadsheets... The only thing that would make me happier would be that another monitor... __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-30-2006, 06:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	I’m looking at getting this monitor to be my new center monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824002320 20.1 inches, wide screen, nice resolution, insane contrast ratio (1600:1) and a nice bright (470 cd/m2) its pricy, but I’d rather have a quality monitor for gaming, it's 6ms but I cant find it that’s gtg or wtb __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

09-30-2006, 08:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
monkeysugar I'll be on the veranda, since you're on the cross. Location: Rand McNally's friendliest small town in America. They must have strayed from the dodgy parts...	I've had my eye on a few 32" LCD tv's with vga input. Would be very nice in my small apartment for watching movies, playing xbox, and having a big-ass monitor all in one package. I don't really need it, but would really like it. I'm hoping to get one with my tax refund. It'll give me the incentive to file extremely early this year __________________ I've got the love of my life and a job that I enjoy most of the time. Life is good.

09-30-2006, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
newtx Addict	I'm using a single 19" monitor but only because I can't afford one larger. It's hard to justify a large monitor but when mine is replaced only my budget will limit the size. In this case I think the bigger the better. However in my case mine is more than adaquate.

09-30-2006, 08:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	There's validity to that article. At work I have a 21-inch monitor that I hook my work laptop up to (laptop has a 15 inch wide monitor, which I also enjoy). My main thing is not size, but resolution. I used to have two 21-inch monitors at a past job that could do 1920x1440 resolution each. Loved it. I want to get a 19-inch flat panel for home, and I'm going to try and see if I can sneak two 19-inchers into the budget for my work setup. We'll see, I'll have happy with getting rid of the CRT, and going to a flat panel though. Just would enjoy some 1600+ resolution is my only requirement.

10-01-2006, 07:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
KnifeMissile Location: Waterloo, Ontario	At work, I have two 24" wide LCD monitors, which I enjoy. Since the software lets me, one is vertical and the other is horiztonal. Some applications are naturally horizontal (Adobe Premiere and media players) while others are naturally vertical (web browsers and text editors). At home, I have a 21" CRT running at 1792x1344 but will soon be upgrading to a 30" wide LCD, as I have mentioned in another thread...

10-01-2006, 10:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
feelgood Free Mars! Location: I dunno, there's white people around me saying "eh" all the time	I have 2 17" montor plus a 19" widescreen laptop and I gotta say, anything bigger than 19 is ok as long as you stick to 1024x760 resolution because I have hard enough time finding a particular icon on the desktop with anything bigger... __________________ Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

10-02-2006, 10:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I just saw these in the animation department... totally cool... 17"-draw-right-on-the-screen-yummy-goodness __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

10-02-2006, 11:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
iccky Psycho Location: Princeton, NJ	So is two smaller monitors a better choice than 1 ginormous monitor? Say, 2 17-inch instead of 1 24-inch?

10-02-2006, 11:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
hulk C'mon, just blow it. Location: Perth, Australia	It depends on what you need to do, as well as individual taste. __________________ "'There's a tendency among the press to attribute the creation of a game to a single person,' says Warren Spector, creator of Thief and Deus Ex." -- From an IGN game review.

10-02-2006, 12:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	As with most good things there is no limit as to how much we want, right now I could go for a nice 60" monitor.

10-23-2006, 08:54 AM	#17 (permalink)
DaElf Tilted Location: Washington	I have a 46" TV I hooked up for watching movies or sometimes playing WoW it's hard to read from across the room so I don't use it to browse the internet. 22" CRT for gaming (mostly for FPS) and a 19" LCD next to the CRT for music/IMs/IRC/thottbot browsing while I game. __________________ I'm sitting at my desk right now waiting for you to reply to the above message.