(vanity) Recommendations on curved and curved-&-widescreen monitors

self | 10/24/2022 | NewJerseyJoe

[NewJerseyJoe]

Hello FReepers, looking for your recommendations for curved or curved/widescreen monitors. The type of work I do (proofreading and editing) necessitates that I upgrade from 27" to at least 32". I do a great deal of side-by-side document comparisons (of files that differ in layout and formatting), and I'm thinking that a curved (or curved & widescreen) monitor would go a long way in reducing eye and neck strain.

I don't do any gaming, and the monitor I have now is more than sufficient for the small amount of graphics work that I do. But I run into problems when I have documents that are small type and narrow typefaces, and I need to be able to see an entire line or paragraph at once.

I don't need top of the line. From the preliminary market research I've done, I think something in the 300-700 dollar range would more than meet my needs. Asking for brand/model recommendations, feedback, your pro- and con- experiences, tips, etc. Thanks in advance

[Don W]

I just use my 42” flatscreen TV as a monitor.

[CivilWarBrewing]

If you do a lot of comparative stuff, right off the bat I'll suggest you get TWO monitors side by side so you can zoom in and out on one monitor independent of the other and other neat stuff like that.

The two monitor setup might be really flexible and helpful if you do a lot of side-by-side stuff. It's amazing how many document handling possibilities there are using two monitors connected to the same computer.

I'm no expert but I'm sure YouTube videos exist that can open many doors of dual monitor use. Gooluck!

[Buttons12]

I do a lot of writing and can’t imagine doing it on a curved screen. Mine’s flat like paper, 27” and low in price (I forget the brand) but if it croaks I’ll buy another cheapo. Same as a car.
When buying I usually read reviews, consider the number of good reviews, and then the price, and try to strike a reasonable balance.
Also, any big store with a wall full of monitors and tv’s is a good place to decide for yourself how the view suits you.
Oh, and one thing I’ve learned to stay away from: Philips/RCA products. For some reason they were always crappe.

[Dr. Sivana]

I just use my 42” flatscreen TV as a monitor.

The refresh rate on a true monitor is better for high resolution close-up work. I would at least consider the Dell U4320Q monitor. Those monitors also allow multiple inputs from different sources.

[laxcoach]

My LG ultrawide 34 is great. It’s not curved, but there is a curved version. I think it is 35”

[FreedomPoster]

I have a 32” LG 4k flat monitor, model 32UK50T. I think I got the 2nd one at Sam’s club for about $250 last year. I have two, one on my desk, one for my wife’s. I got mine shortly before Covid at Costco. They were stupid expensive for a while after Covid got going.

It works. It would support two pages side by side. It’s really the first monitor I’ve had where I seriously use multiple windows, as opposed to app A on monitor 1 in full screen and app B on monitor 2.

There’s a newer version that works via USB-C, which wasn’t a priority for me. I suppose I may be sorry I don’t have that at some point. You might look for an updated version that has that.

[Gay State Conservative]

Don’t know much about monitors and I don’t know how much you’re willing to spend but I just bought an LG OLED TV that has absolutely breathtaking picture quality. IIRC they make a 42” version.

[Kommodor]

I’m using a Samsung 50 inch curved 4K HDTV as my computer monitor, for both gaming and for things like 3D printing CAD stuff.

It’s like having my own personal IMAX. I love it.

[PIF]

https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/

[FreedomPoster]

$5k?

LOL!

I think that’s slightly outside the cost parameters mentioned.

[Theo]

I do professional website development; you’ve read websites I work on.

I use 2 Samsung LU28R55 monitors, driven by the top of the line MacBook Pro, which works well for me. Good value for the price.

[Ellendra]

Not sure about curved monitors, but one way to reduce eye strain is to change it from HD to standard-def. Some models have a setting that allows you to change it easily, but most don’t have any way to change it at all. And in my experience, most salespeople don’t even know it’s possible. But I think it would be worth trying.

(If I look at an HD screen more than about 30 seconds, my eyeballs hurt. After just a few minutes I’ll have a migraine that knocks me out the whole day.)

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Let me threadjack this to another similar subject, TVs. My almost 20yr old 41 in Sony TV may be near it’s end. I’m getting a dark shadow over the left side of the screen. Years ago recommendations here were either Sony or Samsung. Haven’t seen any new info on replacements here in years.

I’m a cable cutter and only have 56 inches of space to work with. I can wait until Black Friday. Should I stick with just Sony, Samsung, or are there new models to consider now? Should I stick with big stores or go online? I’m just asking for recent personal experiences.

[Tired of Taxes]

It just so happens, I’ve been looking for an affordable monitor as a gift for someone who needs one for graphic design. I started out looking at curved screens and wide screens, but then I read that a curved screen or a screen wider than 24” will distort everything. I don’t know whether that advice applies to your line of work, though.

[colinhester]

LG makes a 28” 16:18 monitor that might be worth considering....

[texas booster]

What kind of graphics card do you have?

Right click on the desktop and see if you are using a built in video chip or if you have an actual card.

Anything that states Intel graphics will be a built in chip set. If it says NVidia or AMD then you probably have a more powerful video card that can handle any screen that you buy.

If your video card is not new enough then some of the extra large monitors won’t look right.

Also check for updates to the video drivers, which usually helps out.

Look for early Black Friday sales to save a buck or get a more expensive monitor.

[Sparticus]

I use a pair of curved 34” high def monitors at work and like them. Just be prepared for an adjustment period. It was almost like a mild case of vertigo for a while until I adjusted.

[No.6]

Just typing what I read you asking about:

• - Not gaming
• - Primarily word editing, not color accuracy but crispness needed
• - Capability to open 2+ documents
• - Size matters more than resolution
• - $300-700 total

So here's a secret I learned when doing a job involving much the same work. A monitor on its side, whether the stand pivots or you buy a mount, allows you to read a whole page easily as if you were holding it, vs. cramming it into the side of a landscape-format screen.

So my recommendation would be two or 3 monitors, a double- or triple-monitor mount with pivot capabilities. They should be IPS to keep eyestrain low; I would say OLED but that's $$$ *and* I'm not 100% confident that you can't "burn-in" an OLED with a nearly-static image like X hours of Word a day. I strongly recommend the same model for all so you don't have to fuss with tuning them to match -- and it will bother anyone working on disparate monitors for long enough.

If your work machine is a laptop, make sure its CPU/integrated graphics support 3 monitors (or 4 if you want to keep using the lappy screen). I once wasted a fair bit of time trying to help a colleague get their 2nd monitor up without losing the laptop picture, only to realize the machine was limited to two outputs total.

All integrated and card graphics outputs I know of allow you to align the picture so you can drag across seamlessly as desired. Lastly, separate monitors keep each pointed right at your face instead of curved/almost at you.

Two good 27-28" screens and a stand should be in the $500 range about now. I'm sure, like the graphic I borrowed, some business computer screens come with pivoting stands if you'd rather forego the extra stand.

[TLI]

on my photo editing monitor I got this...

https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-PD2700U-Professional-Monitor-3840x2160/dp/B07H9XP92N

True 10 bit color, 4K, rec 709, etc, etc.

The image quality is amazing, no kidding around.

If you have never used a monitor like this you will be floored at the difference.

On sale now at Amazon $489.99

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