Ask Slashdot: What Is Your Favorite Monitor For Programming?

First time accepted submitter BadassFractal writes "I'm in the market for a new large desktop monitor (or two) which I intend to use almost exclusively for programming and all sorts of software development-related work. I'm trying to keep the cost down reasonable, and I do enjoy as large of a resolution as possible. What do people 'in the know' out there use these days for that purpose? I'm thinking a 1920x1200 24" would be good, unless there's an affordable 2560xFoo option out there. I keep hearing about nameless Korean 27" screens, any thoughts on those?"

Re:27" FTW

[ottawanker]

2 monitors are much better than 1 large monitor in my experience, but that may mostly be because of the habits I've gotten into. Newer versions of windows work a bit better with single monitors, but its still not as convenient as having 2 separate ones.

Regardless go 16:10

[jdkc4d]

Bigger tends to be better, but shoot for a 16:10 ratio screen. The 16:9 screens are nice but that extra shortness tends to be really annoying when your code really starts to grow.

A daft question

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do you feel the need to indulge in silly opinionated responses? What else are you supposed to be adviseds on? boxers or briefs!
pick something and move on it not rocket science.

Re:27" FTW

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

2 monitors are much better than 1 large monitor in my experience

I agree - one in portrait mode for a full-screen web browser for reading documents and the other in landscape mode for interactive work.

Re:27" FTW

[ChunderDownunder]

I'm glad someone else gets it - many tasks are suited to length rather than width. Whenever a company supplied me with 'pivotable' monitors, I used to get strange looks in the office, even from supposed techies, about why one of my monitors was rotated pi/2.

Monitors that come with a pivotable base aren't the norm, so perhaps it's worth investing in one of those dual vesa mounts that clamp to one's desk. They're typically adjustable for a variety of angles.

Re:A daft question

[Anonymous Coward]

This is what I was thinking too. We're not talking about that specialized products here. Why not just look at catalogues and pick the one you like the most. Do you have to get some kind of communal acceptance for a specific model before you can buy it.

Re:27" FTW

[Anonymous Coward]

I too prefer a pair no matter the size.

Mmmm, breasts.

Re:27" FTW

[steelfood]

It's a shame 4:3 and 5:4 monitors are so hard to find. That solves both the length and width issues when coding. I find one 4:3 is good enough to replace two 16:9 (one of which is portrait).

I'm also a huge fan of a low dot pitch, which also seems to have gone the way of the dodo these days. I'd rather code on a 15" 1600x1200 over a monstrous 27" 2560x1440 any day.

My setups are otherwise similar when I'm required to use 16:9 monitors. Otherwise, I'll go with a pair of old 4:3 whenever I have a choice. I'm usually significantly more productive on those than on the 16:9 (having to drag the right window to the right monitor is a huge distraction).