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Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

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Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#221

Post by bloopernova »

xattt wrote: post #144
andix wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Does the LG display appear as 1 or 2 monitors in the OS?

I'm intrigued by it, potentially as a replacement for a vertical screen, but I'm unsure if it would work well with my Mac-based work environment.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#222

Post by baq »

pivo wrote: post #219
baq wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4k is... too low res for desktop use on a mac. 25x14 upscaled to 5k only to be downscaled again to device native resolution by a $15 tool still gives me more usable screen real estate than a native 4k and the $15 makes it so text is actually legible...

By 25x14, do you mean 2560x1440? If so, are you saying that a $15 device will magically make a 2560x1440 monitor higher resolution than 3840x2160? If that's what you're saying, do you have a link that provides some detail on this because I don't believe it. I'm also unable to believe someone would consider 27" 4K text illegible on a mac since that's what I use that every day and can read text comfortably. Edit: Unles…

It isn't a device, it's a software tool. It doesn't make the monitor magically 2x the resolution; it can trick macos to render onto a 5k buffer and then downscale the output to the physical display so it looks not-broken.

https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay

I'm saying macOS is unusable on native resolutions - everything is either too small or too blurry, so a 4k display won't do me any good. 25x14 is the sweet spot for me, but I guess Apple decided I'm holding it wrong, because they want me to get a 5k display to get usable 25x14.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#223

Post by brandall10 »

ParetoOptimal wrote: post #183
brandall10 wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you go up PPI by a percentage you can reduce font size by a similar amount. Too small to be legible? Literally move the screen closer. No need to magnify anything. Have a 27" 4k monitor and a 42" 4k monitor? Move the 27" close enough that it takes up the same FOV as the 4k and you get the same experience. This isn't like home theatre where you're constrained to the dimensions of a room (ie. wall or console locatio…

For eye health, I've gotten the recommendation to keep my monitor an arms length away. If that is true, I'd consider move the screen closer to not be an option.

You don't want it too close, but it can be closer than that if you have normal eyesight. The line should be where your eyes have trouble focusing and add a small buffer. For me that's about a foot. So wherever you're comfortable looking at a smartphone (or really any object) is a good point of reference.

Otherwise this is a commonly propagated myth related to radiation from early TV sets.

https://theopticalshoppetn.com/is-sitting-too-close-to-the-t...

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#224

Post by nickjj »

LASR wrote: 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 personally use 3 x 27 inch 4K

Are you able to read text at 1:1 native scaling?

I believe once you reach 150% scaling, you end up with the same screen real estate as a 2560x1440 monitor. 200% scaling is the same as 1080p.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#225

Post by [deleted] »

andix wrote: post #138
LASR wrote: 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…

[deleted]

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#226

Post by ryandrake »

sbarre wrote: post #204
andix wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 think it's down to personal preference, so obviously do what works for you! I have the triple-27" monitors @4k setup described elsewhere.. Left-side monitor is Slack and Discord, and sometimes a File explorer or other misc apps that usually live minimized (Spotify, etc) Center monitor is my IDE and terminal, or whatever "main" app I'm working in at the moment (sometimes Lightroom etc) Right-side monitor is work bro…

Similar setup here since about 2015. 5K iMac in the center and a thunderbolt display on either side (2560x1440). IDE, terminals, and/or primary task in the center, application output on the left side, documentation/browsers/e-mail/calendar on the right.

My only complaint is one of the thunderbolt displays is getting flaky. It likes to briefly turn itself off and on again, and unfortunately Apple's braindead software flashes all three monitors on and off when this happens. I've tried replacing the display's power supply, main board, and thunderbolt cable with no luck. Other than that, the setup has been rock solid and being surrounded by monitors makes me feel like I'm running The Matrix.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#227

Post by andix »

sbarre wrote: post #204
andix wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 think it's down to personal preference, so obviously do what works for you! I have the triple-27" monitors @4k setup described elsewhere.. Left-side monitor is Slack and Discord, and sometimes a File explorer or other misc apps that usually live minimized (Spotify, etc) Center monitor is my IDE and terminal, or whatever "main" app I'm working in at the moment (sometimes Lightroom etc) Right-side monitor is work bro…

I heard about this kind of set up often, dedicated monitors for dedicated applications/tasks. Great that it works for you, for me it just doesn't seem to make any sense.

I usually use all the monitors for the task I'm currently working on, and not for different serial tasks. For context switches I use Alt+Tab or sometimes virtual desktops.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#228

Post by andix »

gonzo41 wrote: post #218
andix wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 started with a lot of monitors and I've ended up with just one 27" UHD monitor. It works great and i like the focus it forces on me.

My 32" 4K is configured with 150% zoom on Windows. So it's usable resolution is in practice the same as an UHD monitor, just a bit sharper and bigger. More crisp fonts, icons and images. Totally enough.

Re: Ideal monitor rotation for programmers (2021)

#229

Post by stopyellingatme »

davidy123 wrote: post #194

I haven't seen this config mentioned yet, but I have two displays; a LG SDQHD 28" 8:9 2560x2880 on the left, and a LG 49" 21:9 55120x2160 ultrawide curved on the right, with a slight angle joining them in a "hinge." I use multiple virtual desktops, for dev I have a terminal on the left and the IDE on the right. This was the best config I could find where I had enough on the screens I didn't need to flip between panes…

This is pretty much my exact setup and I love it. One ultrawide with an LG DualUp on the side. Highly recommend.
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