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EDLIU

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 20, 2015
222
8
Hi,

Are curved computer monitors good for gamings only? If I watch streaming movies and online news on my computer, is it better for me to get a "flat" computer monitor?

And, who would get a curved monitor than a flat one? What do they do with the curved monitors?

Thanks.

Ed
 

calderone

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2009
3,743
352
The main use case for a curved display is a having a wide display with a short viewing distance.

For example, if you have a 34" wide monitor but your face is two in front of it, that isn't going to be an ideal experience. If you add a curve to that same display the sides are brought more into your field of view.
 
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jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,420
4,207
SF Bay Area
I am getting a curved monitor for general use and programming. Having the curve means everything is a edges looks the same as items in the middle.
 

EDLIU

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 20, 2015
222
8
I am getting a curved monitor for general use and programming. Having the curve means everything is a edges looks the same as items in the middle.

Hi,

So a curved monitor is also good for daily use? Won't it look awkward using a curved display to read text messages(or online news)?

For "general use", which kind of monitors would you prefer? And why?

Thanks.

Ed
 

calderone

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2009
3,743
352
Hi,

So a curved monitor is also good for daily use? Won't it look awkward using a curved display to read text messages(or online news)?

For "general use", which kind of monitors would you prefer? And why?

Thanks.

Ed

Yes it is good for daily use. As I mentioned, a curved monitor make more sense when your viewing distance is shorter with a wider display.

What size display are you looking at? There are more factor than go into display selection than whether or not it is curved.
 

priitv8

macrumors 601
Jan 13, 2011
4,075
654
Estonia
Some say that photo editing on a curved monitor may challenge your brain.
Robbie Khan said:
During photo editing my own view is that I’m not an immediate fan. What I found was that the curve tends to mess with my mind and make me think certain photos I am working on are not straight, especially interior photos of buildings or landscape photos. I preferred editing on the non-curved 34UM95.
Source: petapixel.com
 

jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,420
4,207
SF Bay Area
Hi,

So a curved monitor is also good for daily use? Won't it look awkward using a curved display to read text messages(or online news)?

For "general use", which kind of monitors would you prefer? And why?

Thanks.

Ed

No actually text and website look more natural since the distance from your eyes is constant.

If you do a lot of precise photography or video editing you might have issues because lines are not perfectly straight for cropping. For that type of work you want the image to only be on one flat monitor.
 
Last edited:

EDLIU

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 20, 2015
222
8
Hi,

So if I'm getting myself a 27-inch monitor, a flat or curved display is more appropriate?

What are other things I should consider when buying the monitor?

Thanks.

Ed
 

jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,420
4,207
SF Bay Area
Hi,

So if I'm getting myself a 27-inch monitor, a flat or curved display is more appropriate?

What are other things I should consider when buying the monitor?

Thanks.

Ed

At 27 inch I would get a flat, 4k monitor (assuming your system can push 4K at 60Hz or better). The 34" curved displays are what I am looking at.
 

EDLIU

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 20, 2015
222
8
Hi,

What is the "main choice of computer display sizes" now? 27 inch? 34 inch? Or other sizes?

Thanks.

Ed
 

Lightsaber

macrumors member
Jan 10, 2015
64
78
Curved is a no-no if you do any type of design or illustration.
Not sure where you got this from. I make a very good living from photography and design work, use a curved 34 LG with thunderbolt and would never go back to a flat monitor. These things are great to work with.
 

MC6800

macrumors 6502
Jun 29, 2016
369
126
Not sure where you got this from. I make a very good living from photography and design work, use a curved 34 LG with thunderbolt and would never go back to a flat monitor. These things are great to work with.

I'd say it's matter of geometry: film planes (image sensors) are flat, so the displayed image should also be flat, or what you see will be distorted. If you try to correct that distortion it won't look proper when displayed or printed flat.

Look for example at a picture of a row of trees. On a curved display they'll appear to be in a curved row, out of line.

If the monitor's curvature is only subtle, then we have to ask: what's the point?
 
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irock101

macrumors 6502
Jul 26, 2011
357
59
Got a Dell 27" 4k but looking for a curved 4k monitor for my mid 2015 macbook pro. Any suggestions?
 

snaky69

macrumors 603
Mar 14, 2008
5,908
488
Hi,

What is the "main choice of computer display sizes" now? 27 inch? 34 inch? Or other sizes?

Thanks.

Ed
Have you not read what calderone told you multiple times? I think what you should've read between the lines is that it depends on how far away you sit from the computer screen and what you do with it.

Nobody on here knows what your typical workflow is, only you do.
 
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