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Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

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Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#141
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it difficult to actually figure the proper position where the 27” Dell 4K (still very top notch) is just as far so that I can see it and not have to move my head left and right. Anything beyond this size may be OK for games, but too much space and too much windows is actually too much of cognitive load. It is not a surprise that many ppl (not me though) start to prefer full screen terminal rather than dozen wi…

I always thought that moving my head to look at another monitor isn’t really faster than pressing a key to make my fullscreen terminal appear, especially if we start taking cursor hunting into account

I did think that for years and I scoffed at multi-monitor setups thinking they were a poor imitation of the virtual desktops that have been present on *nix systems forever. But they are both good and complement each other.

I use virtual desktops as more to separate unrelated areas of work (like different projects). It's like having a completely different desk with different books open on it. Having more screen space is just like having a bigger desk. It's like having multiple books open on your desk at once as opposed to picking up one at a time to look at it.

One big monitor would be ideal (it could be split into an odd number of frames, for example), but in practice multiple monitors is a good compromise between flexibility and price.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#142
post #44

Tangentially related thought: Take my advice, don't go ultra-wide. Go with a large 4k. You get more pixels for cheaper. The only ultrawide that makes any sense is the 5k x 2k resolution one. These have more pixels than a single 4K. But they are expensive. Even then, a 16:9 5K monitor has more pixels. I personally use 3 x 27 inch 4K - which is cheaper than a single 5k Ultra-wide and gives you a TON more pixels.

100% disagree. I went with 2 4K monitors years ago. When I switched to an ultra wide lat year it was a night a day difference. I wish I never bought 2 4k monitors (or dual monitors at all). Ultra wide is perfect and has a more functionality than a massive piece of each monitor's border in the dead center of your vision.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#143
post #126
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it difficult to actually figure the proper position where the 27” Dell 4K (still very top notch) is just as far so that I can see it and not have to move my head left and right. Anything beyond this size may be OK for games, but too much space and too much windows is actually too much of cognitive load. It is not a surprise that many ppl (not me though) start to prefer full screen terminal rather than dozen wi…

My dream monitor is a 22” 4K monitor. I searched it for a decade and this creature just doesn’t exists. There have never been a single 4K monitor under 27”. The only thing that somehow could do the job would be iMac’s panels but I’m just not interested in an All in one and I already have good enough computers.

There used to be a 21-and-bit’’ 4K LG Ultrafine. You might be able to find it used.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#144
post #138
post #44

Tangentially related thought: Take my advice, don't go ultra-wide. Go with a large 4k. You get more pixels for cheaper. The only ultrawide that makes any sense is the 5k x 2k resolution one. These have more pixels than a single 4K. But they are expensive. Even then, a 16:9 5K monitor has more pixels. I personally use 3 x 27 inch 4K - which is cheaper than a single 5k Ultra-wide and gives you a TON more pixels.

I don't get the point of a lot of monitors. My current setup is a 4K 32" 16:9, which I do 98% of my work on. Everything on one big screen. I have another monitor next to it, which I sometimes use for to put documentation on, a hot reloading web app I'm working on, maybe a video I'm watching while doing some work, or a video conference while I'm screen sharing. But turning my head to the secondary monitor is too much…

I’ve got the LG 2-UP monitor and a plain-Jane 1080p monitor in portrait mode. I use the second monitor for mostly-PDF mostly-letter paper document review. I would love to find an ergonomic reason for my org to purchase an eink monitor for that, but I haven’t come up with any excuses ;)

Two monitors let me compartmentalize my workflow. Window management is otherwise too messy for my needs with a single display.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#145
post #57
post #43

I think a servo motor should be behind the screen and it should rotate depending on whether I look up or down or sideways. Added benefit: if you spin the screen fast enough you get a circular display! Of course this means you have to precisely time screen refresh rates and invent a new type of rotation resistant power and video cable.

>>invent a new type of rotation resistant power and video cable That should not be difficult, plug cables into the base instead of directly into the screen and have circular donut shaped plates connecting the base and the screen instead of cables. The plates do of course have to have a spring to put the correct pressure to give a good connection even after some wear on the plates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_ring

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#146
post #126
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it difficult to actually figure the proper position where the 27” Dell 4K (still very top notch) is just as far so that I can see it and not have to move my head left and right. Anything beyond this size may be OK for games, but too much space and too much windows is actually too much of cognitive load. It is not a surprise that many ppl (not me though) start to prefer full screen terminal rather than dozen wi…

My dream monitor is a 22” 4K monitor. I searched it for a decade and this creature just doesn’t exists. There have never been a single 4K monitor under 27”. The only thing that somehow could do the job would be iMac’s panels but I’m just not interested in an All in one and I already have good enough computers.

There’s four 24″ 4K monitors on Newegg right now, all LG: https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=101702297%20601205242%20601305...

There’s also this refurb 21.5″ 4K LG on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/LG-22MD4KA-B-UltraFine-Display-4096x2...

And I’ve no idea about the quality, but the Dragon Touch S1 Pro 4K Portable Monitor is apparently 4K at 15.6″: https://www.dragontouch.com/products/s1-pro-4k-portable-moni...

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well M8 is a VA. Good for movies, not as good for everything else.

Why is that? And what type is better and why?

IPS panels have the best color accuracy and viewing angles. VA can produce the best blacks but pixels are slow to change. TN are the cheapest and historically have the best refresh rates.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#148
post #74
post #44

Tangentially related thought: Take my advice, don't go ultra-wide. Go with a large 4k. You get more pixels for cheaper. The only ultrawide that makes any sense is the 5k x 2k resolution one. These have more pixels than a single 4K. But they are expensive. Even then, a 16:9 5K monitor has more pixels. I personally use 3 x 27 inch 4K - which is cheaper than a single 5k Ultra-wide and gives you a TON more pixels.

On the contrary, I have a 49" 32:9 monitor, and for a laptop it's wonderful. The support for a single monitor is just way better than any dual (or more) setup. I can just connect it directly to my laptop, and it just works. When I had two displays I needed a docking station, and truth is most of those out there suck. Unless you go for the top models, and then you've lost all the money you saved on cheaper monitors. I…

> I needed a docking station, and truth is most of those out there suck

Ain't that the truth.

The "top of the line" CalDigit docks are incredibly expensive and buggy.

...and they're on their 3rd or 4th iteration.

Plus not much competition, so not much choice either.

If I could go back, I would have also gotten a single ultrawide monitor.

Plus Macbook Pros multiple monitor support sucks relative to windows AFAIK.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#149
post #28
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I liked my Samsung ultra wide until it started to hurt my eyes from the terrible PWM modulation...

How do I check whether my display is having fine PWM modulation?

Look for an in-depth review of your display model. Just checked for my Asus VG278QR and I found out that the background illumination isn‘t reduced by PWM.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#150
post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My preferred setup in terms of screen real estate is 24" 2k (2560x1440) without scaling. In terms of PPI it's a bit low (122), but 244 PPI 24" screens are hard to get. 1.5x scaling is an option

I like 25x14 on a 27" and the fact that on a mac you have to buy BetterDisplay just to make it work about 80% as good as on Windows makes me... not at all surprised since I'm supposed to use an apple display with an apple computer, right?

Why not just get a 4K 27”? They can be had for around $220 USD nowadays. I paid that for mine.

I do dislike the fact that Apple removed decent support for lower resolution monitors, but I also don’t see why anyone would prefer them to higher res unless it’s a budget issue.

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