I never understood the obsession with multiple screens. Isn’t it better to be obsessed with one giant screen? That way you don’t get black bars in front of you.
Edit:
I got to clarify. I’m talking about a single ultra wide screen with high resolution but also scaling so texts aren’t super small. There are gaming ones that are OLED so great color and performance. Both windows and Mac OS have software that lets you split in half or 1/3 + 2/3 (which you can’t do with two screens).
It’s ultra wide so you can look left and right and not top and bottom.
If you’re connecting a laptop, you’ll have a tiny screen for slack or a video or something.
Resolution - having a big screen at the same resolution doesn’t really mean much, and you usually don’t really go higher than 4K for computer monitors. Yes, there are 8K TVs, but good luck being able to afford one.
Performance - if you want to go big, you’re probably thinking of TV screens, and TVs generally just aren’t built for colour accuracy, low latency, or high refresh rates.
Cost - bigger computer monitors are pricier. Besides, if you are upgrading your monitor anyways, well, your old one can just become your secondary display; it’s free screen estate.
Ergonomics - it takes less effort to look from side to side than it is to look up and down. With multiple smaller screens, you can arrange them all to face you cockpit-style; with a giant screen, the edges will look distorted unless you buy a curved display.
Software - most OSs can snap windows to the four quadrants of each display; anything smaller or more unique, and you will have to manually resize each window.
Practicality - if you’re working, gaming, or watching a movie, you want to dedicate an entire screen to your task at hand. Having multiple monitors lets you do that while still being able to check other things on the side. For example, when I stream games, I can play while having my OBS and Twitch stats on the side; when I do any design work, I can pull up references on my secondary display. The black bars are a non-issue.
On my desk at work I have an ultra wide, a single external laptop screen to my right and a TV on the far wall on my left.
Snapping two apps right and left on the uw is fantastic on the ultra wide. Price aside, it’s as good or better than having two monitors.
The TV obviously doesn’t count cuz it’s only there for other people or if I want to have server graphs running for show.
But the secondary monitor works really well is a semi important parking space. I usually slide slack and signal over there. That way I can see what was sent and only worry about going over to it if it’s something I need to respond to. I find it kind of nice to have that logical division over there. I can hot key stuff over that monitor.
I’d say if someone has the money the UW is fantastic, But it’s super useful to have a secondary monitor from a mental standpoint for me at least.
On my desk at work I have an ultra wide, a single external laptop screen to my right and a TV on the far wall on my left.
I have a TV on the side (rarely use it) and my laptop below the screen.
I do agree, it’s great having an on the side screen. My point was more about having one big main screen instead of few main screens. I used to have two identical screens side by side. I ended up just looking right most of the time so I thought one big screen was the answer.
Yes, otherwise it wouldn’t fit properly and the asymmetry would bug me.
I’ve also worked in office spaces with multiple screens, it’s always put symmetrically in my experience. So you always have to have your head tilted.
Imo if you put it asymmetrically, as in one main screen in the centre, then that’s pretty much what I’m talking about, I just want a UW in the centre cause it’s a better experience.
In this post’s picture, I do like that a screen is in the centre but it’s too small imo, rather have a bigger one.
I strongly agree, which is why I use a single 65" 4K gaming TV, instead of 4x 32" 1080p monitors arranged in a grid. You get the same screen real estate, minus the bezels.
I never understood the obsession with multiple screens. Isn’t it better to be obsessed with one giant screen? That way you don’t get black bars in front of you.
Edit:
I got to clarify. I’m talking about a single ultra wide screen with high resolution but also scaling so texts aren’t super small. There are gaming ones that are OLED so great color and performance. Both windows and Mac OS have software that lets you split in half or 1/3 + 2/3 (which you can’t do with two screens).
It’s ultra wide so you can look left and right and not top and bottom.
If you’re connecting a laptop, you’ll have a tiny screen for slack or a video or something.
I do agree that it’s more expensive.
Resolution - having a big screen at the same resolution doesn’t really mean much, and you usually don’t really go higher than 4K for computer monitors. Yes, there are 8K TVs, but good luck being able to afford one.
Performance - if you want to go big, you’re probably thinking of TV screens, and TVs generally just aren’t built for colour accuracy, low latency, or high refresh rates.
Cost - bigger computer monitors are pricier. Besides, if you are upgrading your monitor anyways, well, your old one can just become your secondary display; it’s free screen estate.
Ergonomics - it takes less effort to look from side to side than it is to look up and down. With multiple smaller screens, you can arrange them all to face you cockpit-style; with a giant screen, the edges will look distorted unless you buy a curved display.
Software - most OSs can snap windows to the four quadrants of each display; anything smaller or more unique, and you will have to manually resize each window.
Practicality - if you’re working, gaming, or watching a movie, you want to dedicate an entire screen to your task at hand. Having multiple monitors lets you do that while still being able to check other things on the side. For example, when I stream games, I can play while having my OBS and Twitch stats on the side; when I do any design work, I can pull up references on my secondary display. The black bars are a non-issue.
Thank god, MS Teams now lets you share a window instead of a screen. Coworker would share his 4k and all of us needed magnifying glasses
On my desk at work I have an ultra wide, a single external laptop screen to my right and a TV on the far wall on my left.
Snapping two apps right and left on the uw is fantastic on the ultra wide. Price aside, it’s as good or better than having two monitors.
The TV obviously doesn’t count cuz it’s only there for other people or if I want to have server graphs running for show.
But the secondary monitor works really well is a semi important parking space. I usually slide slack and signal over there. That way I can see what was sent and only worry about going over to it if it’s something I need to respond to. I find it kind of nice to have that logical division over there. I can hot key stuff over that monitor.
I’d say if someone has the money the UW is fantastic, But it’s super useful to have a secondary monitor from a mental standpoint for me at least.
I have a TV on the side (rarely use it) and my laptop below the screen.
I do agree, it’s great having an on the side screen. My point was more about having one big main screen instead of few main screens. I used to have two identical screens side by side. I ended up just looking right most of the time so I thought one big screen was the answer.
Interesting, I have two identicals at home and tend to use them equally.
Where do you put the split, to one side or directly in front of you?
Yes, otherwise it wouldn’t fit properly and the asymmetry would bug me.
I’ve also worked in office spaces with multiple screens, it’s always put symmetrically in my experience. So you always have to have your head tilted.
Imo if you put it asymmetrically, as in one main screen in the centre, then that’s pretty much what I’m talking about, I just want a UW in the centre cause it’s a better experience.
In this post’s picture, I do like that a screen is in the centre but it’s too small imo, rather have a bigger one.
I strongly agree, which is why I use a single 65" 4K gaming TV, instead of 4x 32" 1080p monitors arranged in a grid. You get the same screen real estate, minus the bezels.
Meaning, 3440x1440?
Yes, 34 inch
Yes, mine is 35 inch. That resolution on that size is the sweet spot for pc screen, imo.