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Curved or Normal Monitor ?
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We fought a long hard war to get out of the curved monitor default of the previous decades to arrive to 100% flat TFT screens and now people want to go back. If my modern self would tell my past self about curved monitors returning (even though they are on the opposite side curved), my past self would bitch slap my modern self back to reason.
In case I didn't make that clear, for me it is "Normal" all the way.
In case I didn't make that clear, for me it is "Normal" all the way.
Haha, the good old days adjusting the scan to get the curve juuuuussstttt right
This might be too complicated, but if you plan on having your eyes anywhere near the "focal point" of the monitor, then curved will be nice. This also implies that the monitor will be quite large - over 30" or so.
Totally agree. And the same is true for reflective/opaque. In the early days people would have tried anything to avoid glaring, but now reflective screens are the norm. I personally can't stand them and I'm really tired of seeing myself because iMacs adopted reflective screens years ago. A year ago I bought an opaque Dell monitor, so much relief for my eyes.
Do the curved monitors really offer that much more over regular monitors?
I looked at an ultra wide one a few days ago, but left feeling kind of disappointed. I felt like the resolution kind of limited the effects (of "ultra-wide"), and it seemed a 4k monitor was the much better way to go.
I looked at an ultra wide one a few days ago, but left feeling kind of disappointed. I felt like the resolution kind of limited the effects (of "ultra-wide"), and it seemed a 4k monitor was the much better way to go.
Huh?
There is no curved/ultra-wide/4K either/or.
Pick any combination of the above.
There are curved monitors that are not ultra-wide.
There are ultra-wide monitors that are not curved.
There are 4K monitors that are curved and ultra-wide (that's what I have).
Curved is nice for programming. I have a Samsung 34" curved ultra-wide 4K. My late-2008 Mac Mini won't support 5K
I just replaced my 17-year-old 4:3 Samsung IPS - the backlight is nearly out. I'm limited to 1080p since it has to go on the HDMI port. (Not sure if I might support a second monitor on the DP with a hub?). So, I had to make the decision, curved or flat? At first I thought curved when I saw that 1080p monitors now come in curved too. But then I considered what if I want to rotate the screen? So I went flat, and picked one with a stand that provides easy rotation.
Now I kinda wish I'd gotten the curved. Even at 16:9, a "wide" monitor is AWFULLY tall when you rotate it! I doubt now I would ever rotate it.
If my setup only included one giant monitor, I might consider a curved one. Even then, it seems like it just might feel odd unless it was completely immersive, bordering on virtual reality at least in terms of attention when using it (even for typical windowed activity).
But to me it feels like a flat monitor comports more harmoniously with a setup – it fits in as a prominent flat surface among the desk, the walls, the keyboard, the trackpad… and in my case, the other devices I use in the same situation with their own flat displays. I think a slightly curved surface as the centrepiece would just repeatedly draw my attention to the out-of-placeness of its curvature, which I'd have to weigh against whatever pleasure I derived from viewing images conforming to it.
But to me it feels like a flat monitor comports more harmoniously with a setup – it fits in as a prominent flat surface among the desk, the walls, the keyboard, the trackpad… and in my case, the other devices I use in the same situation with their own flat displays. I think a slightly curved surface as the centrepiece would just repeatedly draw my attention to the out-of-placeness of its curvature, which I'd have to weigh against whatever pleasure I derived from viewing images conforming to it.
I am confused. You had a 17year old IPS 4:3 1080p monitor? Where did you find this monstrosity and what exact model was it?
IMO, it’s more about size vs distance. For TV, they are big, but the users usually sit very far away from it, so the curve can be quite meaningless.
But monitor is another situation. I have a 49” ultra wide monitor now (Samsung CHG90 32:9 monitor, link in my signature). It’s curved, and it really make me feel more comfortable to use it. I am more like surrounded by the monitor, but not facing a wall.
But monitor is another situation. I have a 49” ultra wide monitor now (Samsung CHG90 32:9 monitor, link in my signature). It’s curved, and it really make me feel more comfortable to use it. I am more like surrounded by the monitor, but not facing a wall.
No. I had a 17 year old IPS 4:3 monitor, 1600x1200. I replaced it with a new 1080p. I would have gotten something with higher resolution, but my Mac Mini limits me to 1080p on the HDMI port, and I already have a 4K on the Mini-DP.
Truth be told, the only reason I'd get a curved display is for gaming or casual use. I'd grab an ultrawide at greater than 32" to save from having two displays, but it wouldn't have to be curved.