Dual 24" vs 1 27" display

[MFDoom]

I've been following the very informative "Best Monitor" thread, but I am curious to know your opinions on dual 23 or 24 in displays vs a single 27" displays.

Which setup would be optimal for hobbyist development and photography?

[ovrlrd]

I prefer a single 27-inch and I look forward to the new Apple LED Cinema Display. I think dual display is good for photo/video/graphic editing though because you get an additional screen to always display the final product in its full glory. That said, I personally feel like a single 27-inch is huge and offers plenty of room to display most stuff in full size but still have room for controls.

I don't see many professionals using a single 27-inch though, most of them use the dual screen setup.

[reel2reel]

I used a dual setup for years, but I'm sold on single screen now. I use Final Cut Pro and I find the layout feels much more efficient and natural on one big display instead of spread across two. But that's really my personal taste and suited to the kind of work I do. I use a 30" Dell, btw.

But I've also come to love the single display b/c I really got sick of the whole head swiveling thing. I like to see everything at once. And I never feel squeezed for space, that's for sure.

Again, it's just personal taste, I think. Whatever works best for the way you operate.

[ovrlrd]

But I've also come to love the single display b/c I really got sick of the whole head swiveling thing. I like to see everything at once. And I never feel squeezed for space, that's for sure.

This more than anything is the reason I prefer a single display. It is amazing how much desk space you end using with two displays, and I can never feel comfortable moving back and forth between them.

[GeneralAntilles]

I think what it really comes down to is what your workflow involves and what you're used to. Personally, multiple displays in the 20-23" range (4 at the moment) works much better for me than using one large display (27-30"). Of course this comes with the caveat that I've been using multiple displays for 9 years and my experience with larger monitors is limited (work-only for about 15-30 hours per week over the course of two Summers on a 30" ACD then a 27" Dell).

[Honumaui]

depends ? editing images a 30 is nice since you gain vertical resolution so editing images is much nicer :)

I guess if you are doing other things duals ? dont now I work in PS and LR for a living ?

so to me 30s are the way to go and dual 30s are nice or a 30 and 24 in vert mode for email etc.. is nice

[sboerup]

Although I'll likely never move to a single display setup, I'd much rather have 1 large screen (30") than 2 smaller ones. But 2x24"s is no slouch . . . the 27" isn't THAT much bigger. What worries me about the 27" displays is the rather small pixel pitch . . . the 30" is already small.

[willieva]

Aspect ratio is also an important consideration. For photos I'd rather have more vertical real estate. A 4:3 20" monitor is almost as large for photos as a 24" 16:10. The newer 16:9 monitors are really short for photos. There's a lot of unused space on the screen when viewing a photo.

For doing real work, at least for me, having width is nice. Being able to open multiple windows side by side is helpful.

[Vylen]

Depends on what you're doing...

Im running triple monitors - 2x23 + 22...

Convenient as a developer (XCode) as i'll have code in the middle, and debugger/output on the right. Useful terminal windows on the left. Also using netbeans on the left.

Not to mention I have other miscellaneous applications spread across all three monitors (Google Reader/Mail, Colloquy, etc)

But hell.. why not go dual 27" :p

[odinsride]

Using dual 22" dells atm. It's okay, was a better setup with my old Windows PC since there are things like Ultramon to help with window management (no such thing on OSX).

I can't help but think that dual displays really aren't all that necessary to me since OSX has spaces. Only thing I would miss it for would be watching video or surfing on one screen while I game on the other...but I could go with a single display and use the saved desk space for my MBP to do the same thing.

[cnstoll]

Dual monitors are great for photography. I use that with Aperture/Lightroom to have the thumbnails/main viewer/editing pallete on one monitor and then a full screen image on the second one. It's a pretty sweet setup. I'm assuming people do the same for video.

It's also great for development, and really anything that involves writing. For development you usually have tons of windows that you're using at any given time, from multiple class files to terminal windows. For web development it can be even worse if you have to have FTP clients and web browsers open at the same time. I almost always find it easier to have two monitors for that stuff.

[typecase]

I used single displays for a long time (5+ years) and have recently switched to two 24 inch displays. The Difference is amazing. Yes, it takes getting used to initially but everything from the finder (copy one file to another window - no expose!) to Photoshop and design work is better. I park files in one window, edit a current one, compare, contrast. It's wonderful. I couldn't go back to single display easily now.

My advice: go dual!

[seek3r]

Depends on what you're doing...

Im running triple monitors - 2x23 + 22...

Convenient as a developer (XCode) as i'll have code in the middle, and debugger/output on the right. Useful terminal windows on the left. Also using netbeans on the left.

Not to mention I have other miscellaneous applications spread across all three monitors (Google Reader/Mail, Colloquy, etc)

But hell.. why not go dual 27" :p

Similar setup to yours here, for similar work. I usually have my code+anything I'm using for post-process or analysis running on my 24", mail+IM+itunes on one 19", and documentation on the other 19". I much prefer multiple displays to one, helps me get work done, I think, to segment my stuff across the screens.

But yeah, screw it, hit up the dual 27"s :D

[reel2reel]

thumbnails/main viewer/editing pallete on one monitor and then a full screen image on the second one. It's a pretty sweet setup. I'm assuming people do the same for video.

My video always goes out to a broadcast monitor. I'd only use a computer monitor for video destined for the web. Even then, I'd check it all on a broadcast monitor first. Don't get me wrong, though, I totally see the value in dual monitors for dividing up the palettes. I'd just never use one for playing video.

[studiox]

Don't you have any opinion yourself?

Its like if someone would ask "What would be the best girlfriend for me".....

I would never go dual-tripple screen. I prefer to have my apps one one screen and don't have to drag them around. I prefer to keep my eyes on a single view to. My ACD 30" will not be replaced in the near future for sure.

[MFDoom]

Don't you have any opinion yourself?

Its like if someone would ask "What would be the best girlfriend for me".....

I would never go dual-tripple screen. I prefer to have my apps one one screen and don't have to drag them around. I prefer to keep my eyes on a single view to. My ACD 30" will not be replaced in the near future for sure.

A fair question. I am personally leaning towards one large display 27-30". However, I've only had the limited opportunity to work on two displays and they were never matching which annoyed me (i.e one laptop not on a stand and one monitor). Most programmers seem to swear by a dual setup so I wanted to get opinions.

That being said the ultrasharp 23" from Dell has a nice price point.

[Vylen]

A fair question. I am personally leaning towards one large display 27-30". However, I've only had the limited opportunity to work on two displays and they were never matching which annoyed me (i.e one laptop not on a stand and one monitor). Most programmers seem to swear by a dual setup so I wanted to get opinions.

That being said the ultrasharp 23" from Dell has a nice price point.

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/08/the-large-display-paradox.html

A somewhat interesting read... the owner of that blog has been an advocate of triple monitor usage (for programmers) since at least 2004, heh.

[Chupa Chupa]

I, for one, will never go back to a single display. I'm much more productive w/ two displays b/c it allows me to use the full screen for the main program I'm working in but keep other programs visible. If I was using a single display I'd either have to scale the screens or deal with them overlapping each other. Right now I'm using two 24" which to me is the perfect size. I considered one 24" and one 27" but the 27" is just too big considering how close I would need it to sit near me.

[Transporteur]

A single display is and has always been a PITA.

The days I got my first 30" I thought damn this thing is huge, two weeks later I added a second display because it was getting way to small.

Currently I use a single 30" plus two 23" on the left and right. Suits me better than two 30"s since I don't like sitting directly in front of the bezels.

[englishman]

Although it sounds a bit too easy I have 2 x 19" screens. They work wonders.

I read some research that compared 2 displays v one and productivity wise it came out fairly equal (although far superior to one small display).

I'd like a 30 ACD or the 27" iMac just to compare.

Two smaller TFTs is probably cheaper. And you can have different resolutions on each for example.

[kellen]

Dual 23s here and I wouldn't ever go back to a single one. Layout is great while using aperture, especially since they are mounted on VESA mounts. It's nice to have hulu or a movie running as well on one screen while working on the other.

Also if one breaks I can continue working using the other one.

I would go dual but only if same monitor. Having mis-matched screens was a little odd.

[dimme]

I had a two display set for a bit. I did not like it. I wasted so much time moving from one screen to another. Also OS X is not that muti screen friendly, unless you add buddy addons to get menu bars on each screen. I replaced the 2 displays with one big one and I am very happy.

[jedijoe]

I'd used dual monitor for as long as I can remember, but after getting a 30-inch display, I love the larger single display. (I mostly do programming and some photography)

The dual-way is usually the cheaper way to get more pixels, but sometimes programs aren't dual-friendly and that could get really annoying if its a program you use all the time. For example, programs that always open windows in the middle of the two screens, etc.

[reel2reel]

urrently I use a single 30" plus two 23" on the left and right. Suits me better than two 30"s since I don't like sitting directly in front of the bezels.

You must have a heck of a tan! :eek:

[Ravich]

Dual monitors provide more screen space (measuring by resolution, not just inches), so if you can use 2 monitors easily in your work flow, it isnt a bad option.

The other thing is that if you go for a 27'' monitor, you're going to be paying around 1000 dollars, whereas you can get a good quality 23'' monitor and an adequate monitor to accompany it for less than half of that.


I would love a 27'', but it's just not in my budget.

[MFDoom]

Dual monitors provide more screen space (measuring by resolution, not just inches), so if you can use 2 monitors easily in your work flow, it isnt a bad option.

The other thing is that if you go for a 27'' monitor, you're going to be paying around 1000 dollars, whereas you can get a good quality 23'' monitor and an adequate monitor to accompany it for less than half of that.


I would love a 27'', but it's just not in my budget.

2 x23" Ultrasharps are looking really good right now! I am leaning in that direction. Thankfully I have some wiggle in the budget but I don't want to spend for spendings sake.

[chrono1081]

It all depends on what you do.

For me, one screen is way to limiting. I thought about 3 but I think I can skate by with two 27inches.

I do a lot of stuff that is very screen-hoggy (programming, 3D work, image editing, digital painting, music, etc) so for me dual monitors is essential.

I also use a lot of video training tutorials so I can have a screen hoggy program (Maya, I'm looking at you) on one screen and my video tutorial in the other screen and can work along with ease.

[bedifferent]

2 x23" Ultrasharps are looking really good right now! I am leaning in that direction. Thankfully I have some wiggle in the budget but I don't want to spend for spendings sake.

My vote: two 24" monitors. I've been using dual displays for a long time. I just recently had to retire my 7 year old 23" ACD that I used alongside my new 24" LED. I researched a lot before deciding on replacements and based on what I read I went with two Dell U2410's to flank my 24" Apple LED. The Apple display was a little less than two Dell's, so I thought I was making a good move. However, no matter how hard I tried I could not calibrate the Dell's to the Apple display OR each other, using both software and hardware tools. In addition, both Dell's had bad pixels. I read more on Dell monitors, and generally speaking they suffer from banding issues to dead pixels to uneven tinting (both my Dell's had green to pink tinting cross screen).

Honestly, having used Mac's for years, the work perfectly out of the box with Apple systems. When working in print/photography/etc. you need a great system that is calibrated, which means you most likely need third party equipment that isn't considered when buying non-Apple displays.

My point, strongly re-consider the Apple 24" units. I returned both Dell's and got a full refund for $1k, and was able to purchase two 24" displays for $599 on the refurb store. No problems, and unlike what some say, no glare issues, just a great, crisp yet smooth and bright display that doesn't need calibration.

PS I've read that Dell uses the same panels as Apple displays, LG panels. However, unbelievably I have read in many instances, that Apple gets the pick of the best, and other companies/contractees receive the rest. I find this to be untrue as I can't believe this would occur, however doing more research I have learned that Dell displays generally experience more issues than Apple displays. I know that some iMac's had yellowing, but when you consider that LG supplies the panels for their iMac's, one of the top selling systems, and their displays, given the numbers, I'd still stand by Apple's quality.

[maestrokev]

If you're mostly reading text, but you need more screen real estate, than you're better with dual displays as it will be easier on the eyes. The larger displays are getting too "fine". If you're looking at graphics and photos than one larger display is fine.

[englishman]

If you're mostly reading text, but you need more screen real estate, than you're better with dual displays as it will be easier on the eyes. The larger displays are getting too "fine". If you're looking at graphics and photos than one larger display is fine.

Win 7 and OSX are better at this but with XP I used to reset my resolution from the native 1280 x 1024 to 1024 x 768 for precisely that reason - legibility of text.

[Ravich]

Could someone please explain to me the differences between these monitors and their respective merits? They are all 23'' Dell monitors.


http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=usl=en&cs=19&sku=320-9270

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-7641

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-8299

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=320-8243&cs=04&c=us&l=en&dgc=BF&cid=7421&lid=197378&acd=10466193-1547706-

[englishman]

I'd go for 2 of these.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-8090

[studiox]

A fair question. I am personally leaning towards one large display 27-30". However, I've only had the limited opportunity to work on two displays and they were never matching which annoyed me (i.e one laptop not on a stand and one monitor). Most programmers seem to swear by a dual setup so I wanted to get opinions.

That being said the ultrasharp 23" from Dell has a nice price point.

I don't mind having itunes (or mostly spotify) running on my laptop screen (I always has an external screen to it) - but i wouldn't pay for an extra screen even if they are almost free today.

Im also a developer and I don't really understand those going for 2x19" screens as they mostly just run browsers on two screens. When i build web apps (php) I love having 2560 wide pixels to see long SQL queries or a really long class that takes the whole screen to fit it on one line. Another example is to view a single line of logs, they can be nasty sometimes and I have never had linebreaks with 2560 :)

Another plus is that I can have 4-5 SSH sessions open in terminal where I can see monitor all of them without having to move my eyes to several screens.

And the brightness on a 30" ACD is "HUGE" - If your a nerd developing in the night you don't really need to have the lights on in the room :D

Dell 30" are cheap, buy one. :)

[englishman]

Im also a developer and I don't really understand those going for 2x19" screens as they mostly just run browsers on two screens. When i build web apps (php) I love having 2560 wide pixels to see long SQL queries or a really long class that takes the whole screen to fit it on one line. Another example is to view a single line of logs, they can be nasty sometimes and I have never had linebreaks with 2560 :)

Another plus is that I can have 4-5 SSH sessions open in terminal where I can see monitor all of them without having to move my eyes to several screens.


For 2 19" you get 1280 x 1024 x 2 = 2560 x 1024.

There's no difference. You can have something open spanning the 2 monitor width.

[Transporteur]

For 2 19" you get 1280 x 1024 x 2 = 2560 x 1024.

There's no difference. You can have something open spanning the 2 monitor width.

Well actually there is a very big difference, the two bezels in the middle of your 2560. ;)
Believe me, 2560 across 2 displays is not comparable to continuous 2560 pixels.
Reading source code from one display to another is far from ideal.

[degl]

I think is a personal taste, i prefer use two 24" LED Cinemas cause i can run 2 applications at the same time, i work mostly with Maya and After Effects and running booth without change or hide windows is really great, for work with timeline applications you really need wide screen for optimal usage and with only one screen is a kind of obstructive for several applications at the same time. And another case for my is with tutorials runnning the tutorial in a screen and the application in other is great too.

Just my two cents.

[jedijoe]

Yea, this is definitely a cross between personal taste and your workflow.. figure out what applications/workflows you are going to be using the most and figure if they work better on a single large display or dual displays.

[codymac]

Depends on what you're doing...

Im running triple monitors - 2x23 + 22...

Convenient as a developer (XCode) as i'll have code in the middle, and debugger/output on the right. Useful terminal windows on the left. Also using netbeans on the left.

Not to mention I have other miscellaneous applications spread across all three monitors (Google Reader/Mail, Colloquy, etc)

But hell.. why not go dual 27" :p

You said it.

I'm running triple at work (20"|23"|20") and dual 24" at home. The two 20"s at work were home monitors I replaced with dual 24"s. My usage is very similar although in a more administrative than coding capacity.

Quite often, I'll have a VM running full screen on one and enough terminal sessions open to fill the others... usually when I'm debugging some bad code that's made it's way onto a prod host.
;)

24" was the sweet spot for price/performance when I upgraded. If I was still working long hours from home, I'd likely have another 2 24"s there for a total of 4.
:o

[Sean Dempsey]

27" screen pixel count:3,686,400

Dual 24" screen pixel count: 4,608,000

Dual 24" screens are 25% more area to work with.

Clearly, dual 27's or one of each is the way to go.

Me personally, I plan on getting the 27" and then taking my 4:3 monitors and turning them portrait at 1200w x 1600h and putting one on each side.

Frankly, you aren't a design or photo pro unless you have 1 huge main screen, and at least 1 vertical 3:4 screen.

[Transporteur]

Me personally, I plan on getting the 27" and then taking my 4:3 monitors and turning them portrait at 1200w x 1600h and putting one on each side.


I'd recommend using a 30" instead of the 27" then. Makes much more sense with 20" displays in portrait since your whole setup would have 1600 pixels vertically.

[MFDoom]

My vote: two 24" monitors.

I took your advice, and picked up 2 refurb 24"'s from the Apple Store.... Thanks everyone for your advice.

[MFDoom]

So the first of my two 24 LED Refurbs arrived and this thing seems huge to me. Of course I've been on a 13 laptop screen for a long time....

[ovrlrd]

So the first of my two 24 LED Refurbs arrived and this thing seems huge to me. Of course I've been on a 13 laptop screen for a long time....

Good thing you didn't go with the 27" then! From what it sounds like you made the right choice. The 24" screens will be huge enough for you.