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How to pick a good monitor for software development

nickjanetakis.com

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Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#131

Post by glandium »

dan1234 wrote: post #46
odshoifsdhfs wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have one like that, and having a MBP retina driving it below it, I can't not notice the pixels on the 4k monitor. I wish we could have more options either 24@4K or 27@5K. Having a retina display next to it makes the differences quite apparent.

I’d second the more 24”@4ks! I’ve had 2x24” 1080ps for years, and I really think they’re the sweet spot for my setup. I think 2x27” will be too large, and the super wide monitors lose too much real estate vs 2x monitors.

I have 2x24" 1920x1200s (16:10) and would love 4ks instead... if they were 24" and 16:10...

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#132

Post by SirZimzim »

chrisseaton wrote: post #117
BeFlatXIII wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gamers and business buyers drive the market. Neither care about pixel density.

Business buyers care about text... which is better with higher pixel density.

Yes, but the difference doesn't have any real impact on productivity.

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#133

Post by glandium »

BeFlatXIII wrote: post #106
formerly_proven wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There used to be more options in that market segment but lack of interest kinda made them extinct.

Gamers and business buyers drive the market. Neither care about pixel density.

What baffles my mind is that retina densities are so much better for CJK languages, and yet, we don't see more retina densities in those markets. They must like the pixel blobs for characters with large number of strokes... /s

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#134

Post by eyelidlessness »

Most discussion of displays that isn’t for a highly specialized audience fails to mention panel types, I’m glad that’s well covered. I was surprised to see PLS even mentioned. I took a chance on a PLS panel years back, and I was definitely satisfied with the panel quality (tl;dr, it’s roughly on par with IPS). The only reason I don’t still use it, is its replacement…

I’m surprised to see I’m not the only one here using a Comically Large Display. I also use a ~43"[1], with an IPS panel running 4k@1x.

TL;DR: I laughed at myself for buying this thing for several months, and now I can’t imagine working without it. If you’re considering a large multi-display setup or an ultrawide to maximize screen real estate, it’s worth also considering a Comically Large 16:9 format. It’s surprisingly economical, even for a decent quality IPS panel.

Bonus: if you’re working remote/limited for space like I am, unlike a big multi-display setup, it also makes for a pretty great TV. And it’s only/fully as “smart” as whatever device you attach to it.

1: https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-43un700-b-4k-uhd-led-monit...

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#135

Post by eyelidlessness »

Bancakes wrote: post #123
p12tic wrote: post #95

It's strange when monitor costs are being discussed while they are the primary tool for software development. If software developer produces $100k/year value, then it's worth spending several thousands of dollars for every percent of increased effectiveness. This can buy almost any monitor on the market. I've found the following worth considering: - It makes sense maximizing usable screen real estate, both in terms o…

I don't understand this consumerist mindset. A monitor is a monitor. Programmers don't need color accuracy so any 4k will suffice. Your thinking just incenivizes "Programming grade" monitors that are just overpriced regular ones. I don't see how you could make a several thousand dollar 4k monitor if you tried.

> Programmers don't need color accuracy so any 4k will suffice.

Surely it depends on what we’re programming? Color accuracy (and inaccuracy for accessibility testing) is important for most anything we produce graphically that’s user-facing.

> A monitor is a monitor.

Color accuracy isn’t the only reason to invest more in display quality. Viewing angle and refresh rate are important factors as well. Their relative importance varies by use case: of course refresh rate being more important for game development; viewing angle and even color accuracy can be important for developer accessibility (example: I have a lot of sensory sensitivities, and color warp/washout at angles is a constant cognitive burden even if I’m not directly looking at it).

> I don't understand this consumerist mindset.

Indiscriminately buying cheap goods tends to also be a consumerist mindset and behavior. It often leads to more frequent purchases and disposal, producing both greater cost and waste. Which isn’t to say all pricing—in technology or otherwise—reflects value or longevity. But blanket rejecting the possibility isn’t helpful in distinguishing that.

> I don't see how you could make a several thousand dollar 4k monitor if you tried.

Even without addressing specialized use cases, it’s easy: low volume + high cost bill of materials. This used to be the case with IPS panels, and continues to be the case with newer/less pervasive panel details (eg OLED or higher pixel density displays). And again, whether those are requisite for a given programmer will depend on their work product and their own individual needs.

- - -

I won’t go so far as to say that everyone should arrive at the same cost/benefit analysis. But I will say that, in terms of tools to do our jobs, displays are very close to directly analogous to mattresses, chairs and shoes: oftentimes, skimping on cost is more costly than spending more upfront.

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#136

Post by fwoty »

colordrops wrote: post #58
fwoty wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For text rendering, 4k doesn't really work for 27" or bigger. It'd work for 24" because you could do true @2x, but there aren't many out there. For 27", besides the UltraFine 5k, I'd prefer just using @1x with 1440p too.

I don't understand you comment. My 4k 27" renders fonts just fine.

If you go to true 2x scaling, things will be the same size as 1920x1080@1x on a 27". For me, that's HUGE and you don't get enough screen real estate for a 27". If you use 1.5x scaling you will lose sharpness because things won't line up to pixels perfectly.

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#137

Post by fwoty »

Meritiooo wrote: post #78
fwoty wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For text rendering, 4k doesn't really work for 27" or bigger. It'd work for 24" because you could do true @2x, but there aren't many out there. For 27", besides the UltraFine 5k, I'd prefer just using @1x with 1440p too.

My eizo 27" 4k likes to tell a different story.

What scaling do you run it in? If you do @2x things are massive for my taste and you don't have enough screen real estate (same space as 1920x1080).

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#138

Post by fwoty »

krrrh wrote: post #129
fwoty wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For text rendering, 4k doesn't really work for 27" or bigger. It'd work for 24" because you could do true @2x, but there aren't many out there. For 27", besides the UltraFine 5k, I'd prefer just using @1x with 1440p too.

A preference for 24” or 27” at 4k is also largely impacted by how far away you position the monitor from your face.

I suppose if you put it quite far away, a 27" 4k @2x scaling would work well. It'd feel like a 24" 1080p monitor with retina sharpness.

For all the folks confused why I'm saying you don't want a 27" 4k monitor for text, it's because the PPI isn't nicely sized for 1x or 2x, which means you have to set it to scaling that rounds and blurs subpixels.

More info: https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/5/17/retina-monitors

By the way, I'm sure most 27" 4k monitors look fantastic and you should enjoy them! Especially if you don't mind or notice the scaling rounding or if you run it @2x and like the 1080p real estate.

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#139

Post by salamandersauce »

causality0 wrote: post #73

I desperately wish there were commercially available 3:2 desktop displays in the 24-30 inch range. Hell I'd even take a 16:10 2560x1600 but they're simply not available unless you want to set a thirty inch monstrosity on your desk.

Have you seen the Huawei Mateview? It's a 28" 3:2 monitor (3840x2560).

Re: How to pick a good monitor for software development

#140

Post by fwoty »

colordrops wrote: post #54
phkahler wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> 4k monitor that I use at 2x scaling, and I'm never going back to fewer pixels per inch. Doesn't that scaling make it effectively 1080? I use a 55" curved 4k TV and will never go back. The ability to "spread stuff out on the desktop" is unmatched.

Depends on the scaling. They are probably not talking about pixel scaling, but font and UI scaling, which means things stay just as sharp when scaled up.

I don't think that's possible? Say if you had a perfect 1px wide black line @1x and then you change UI scaling set to 1.5, you now have a 1.5px (physical) wide line. Which means you'll get blurring.
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