Computer monitor 21x9 aspect ratio

[Donald]

I currently have an external monitor for my laptop that is widescreen and 22".

The work I do requires many windows to be open at once under Citrix so I typically have the Citrix main window full screen on my 22" external monitor and then open the needed windows within the Citrix main window.

But more real estate would be better.

I saw a LG 34" monitor that is 21x9 (ultra widescreen). That should give me a lot of screen real estate.

An alternative would be a 27" or 29" (maybe) 16x9 widescreen.

The the 21x9 looks awesome.

 

[itguy08]

It all boils down to resolution. If you need more real estate you most likely need/want more resolution. So watch that carefully as I've noticed the trend with the "big" monitors is to be 1920x1080 or HDTV resolution. It's got to suck to have a 27" monitor with that low of a resolution. You see no more than on a smaller screen although it's bigger.

Although that LG looks sweet with it's 3440x1440 resolution!

 

[Rolla07]

I use two 24 inch full hd 1920 by 1080 units..they are great. Guess it depends if you want bigger or a 3rd screen..depending on what you do..might be better to upgrade to much larger one but im used to my laptop connected to two 24 inch external screens. I can get two 24's for less than one 34..so maybe im just cheap

 

[HangFire]

Is there a question in the OP's post somewhere?

If you go big, be aware that screen resolutions over 1920x1200 usually require graphics hardware that not every laptop or desktop has, like more video memory, Thunderbolt or dual DVI adpaters, etc. Make sure your desktop or laptop can support it.

 

[NothingNew]

The 34" 21:9 gives you a lot of real estate, like you said. If you're coming from a 22" 16:9 monitor you might get away with the 29" 21:9. The screen is just a tad taller than a 23" 16:9.

A site for comparing monitor sizes and aspect ratios is here: 22" 16:9 vs. 29" 21:9

I'm going from a Samsung 21.3" 4:3 to an LG 29" 21:9 . Quite a difference in aspect ratio. If you don't mind spending the funds on the 34" by all means do so.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: HangFire
Is there a question in the OP's post somewhere?

If you go big, be aware that screen resolutions over 1920x1200 usually require graphics hardware that not every laptop or desktop has, like more video memory, Thunderbolt or dual DVI adpaters, etc. Make sure your desktop or laptop can support it.


The question is will the extra real estate be usable/beneficial?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
I use two 24 inch full hd 1920 by 1080 units..they are great. Guess it depends if you want bigger or a 3rd screen..depending on what you do..might be better to upgrade to much larger one but im used to my laptop connected to two 24 inch external screens. I can get two 24's for less than one 34..so maybe im just cheap

For my specific (and tax deductible) use with Citrix, I need all the sub windows to be in the main Citrix window and thus one larger monitor is better than 2 smaller monitors. My personal non Citrix work (Gmail, BITOG) go on laptop screen.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
I use two 24 inch full hd 1920 by 1080 units..they are great. Guess it depends if you want bigger or a 3rd screen..depending on what you do..might be better to upgrade to much larger one but im used to my laptop connected to two 24 inch external screens. I can get two 24's for less than one 34..so maybe im just cheap

With Citrix it only works well if the Citrix window is on a single large monitor. Personal stuff (Gmail, BITOG) goes on laptop monitor.

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: Donald
The question is will the extra real estate be usable/beneficial?


That's a personal question, but I think so. IMHO The Desktop metaphor works best when the virtual desktop approaches the size of a real desktop.

 

[Hokiefyd]

In my experience, with Windows' handy feature of docking a window to half the screen when you pull it to either side, an ultra wide monitor like this can be a good substitute for two smaller ones. It's also ideal if you're SUPER OCD about brightness and contrast (like I am). My two monitors need to look EXACTLY the same, or it drives me nuts. Even two of the same make and model sometimes look "off" when sitting next to each other.

I'm in the market for a 21:9. The 27" LGs at Best Buy look good...$299 I think at last check.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Anyone has any experience with curved monitors? I could see how it could have some viewing advantages when sitting close to a fairly wide (say 34") 21:9 monitor...

 

[Hokiefyd]

I just bought this:

LG 25" 21:9 on Amazon

It will replace a single Samsung 21.5" connected to my laptop via an Anker port replicator, though I've had a second monitor on this setup as well. For me, the fewer cords and power transformers hanging around, the better. I'll let you know how well it does at replacing a dual monitor set up.

 

[BearZDefect]

Good resolution for size on that 25" LG at 2,560 x 1,080 and a nice price too at under $180.
IMO the larger panels need to have 1,440 lines, but then you are in the $700+ price range.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Yeah, the smaller the size for the same resolution, the crisper the picture should be. Of course, the smaller the picture will be, too! I should get it tomorrow. I'll let you all know...

 

[Hokiefyd]

I received the LG 25" monitor this afternoon. The display itself is stunningly nice. Colors are rich, the picture is crisp -- I'm 100% satisfied with it. The plastic bezel around the actual display is kind of cheap, and the stand allows the monitor to wobble when the desk moves. As the monitor has four threaded holes in the back for a VESA mount, I'm going to do a different mounting system anyway.

If you split the screen in two using Windows' quick docking, you have two 1280x1080 windows -- pretty decent.

I'd absolutely buy it again for $179.

 

[Donald]

It looks like the most my laptop will do is 1680 x 1050. How will that look on 34" monitor. That is what I am running my 22" or 24" today.

 

[Hokiefyd]

1680x1050 is an 8:5 (or 16:10) resolution. It would look extremely stretched on a 21:9 monitor. What monitor are you using now? Brand and model number. That would help us figure out what you have and what you could change to.

In general, going physically larger while keeping the same resolution will result in a more pixelated picture -- because each display pixel/unit consumes a larger space. It can get really wonky when you mix and match aspect ratios (like trying to display an 8:5 picture on a 21:9 monitor).

Again, please let us know what your current monitor is and what your current display resolution is.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I'll leave my previous reply above, but I'm going to amend it with this. I don't think it matters what display you have now; if your laptop will display 1680x1050 at the most, you won't be able to use a 21:9 monitor. Either way, you're going to have only 1680 vertical lines of display, and an ultra wide monitor won't gain you any additional "screen space", because your display can be only 1680 lines wide at the most. (The 1050 is the horizontal lines of resolution.)

That's a 16:10 resolution, and should look "close" on a 16:9 monitor. It won't be perfect, though. Your computer may offer you a true 16:9 resolution if it senses that you have a 16:9 monitor hooked to it.

How old is your laptop? If it's more than a year or two old, it may not have the graphics horsepower to drive a picture 2560 lines wide.

Here, again, is why I prefer desktop computers in most cases. You generally can't upgrade your graphics capabilities with a laptop -- what you have is what you have. If you have a desktop, however, you can swap in a capable video card for 100 bucks and be off to the races. I also work at home and my company bought me a laptop. I presume your situation is the same, Donald (a company supplied laptop). I'm lucky that my laptop does support the 21:9 resolution, but if it didn't, I'd be out of luck as far as ultra wide monitors go. If yours is old enough that it can't support this resolution, maybe you can request a newer one that will let you work more effectively?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Donald
It looks like the most my laptop will do is 1680 x 1050.

How did you determine this?

It may currently show you that 1680x1050 is max, but that's only because that is the max res supported by your current monitor.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Donald
It looks like the most my laptop will do is 1680 x 1050.

How did you determine this?

It may currently show you that 1680x1050 is max, but that's only because that is the max res supported by your current monitor.


I looked at display adapter properties.

The laptop is a 2011 vintage so 1680x1050 is probably the max it will support.