Comments on: 30-inches: too much screen? http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/ Editor and technology critic in the midst of founding a new web startup: gdgt. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:59:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Andrew de Andrade http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111415 Andrew de Andrade Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:09:21 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111415 I actually ran an experiment at the bank I worked at where we bought five 30 inch screens for our financial analysts. The single biggest issue impacting comfort is the distance the screen sits from you. At our office all the analysts use L-shaped desks which limit the distance the monitor can be located from the user since it gets catacornered by the back walls of the desk. However, our graphic design head doesn't use the same desk and has far more room to move the monitor farther away. At home I found out the same thing with my 30 inch monitor. I've had it over a year now, but it wasn't until I got a telescoping vesa-mount arm that it really became a dream to use. I can put it flat back against the wall for maximum viewing comfort. I actually ran an experiment at the bank I worked at where we bought five 30 inch screens for our financial analysts.

The single biggest issue impacting comfort is the distance the screen sits from you.

At our office all the analysts use L-shaped desks which limit the distance the monitor can be located from the user since it gets catacornered by the back walls of the desk.

However, our graphic design head doesn’t use the same desk and has far more room to move the monitor farther away.

At home I found out the same thing with my 30 inch monitor. I’ve had it over a year now, but it wasn’t until I got a telescoping vesa-mount arm that it really became a dream to use.

I can put it flat back against the wall for maximum viewing comfort.

]]> By: notpeter http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111409 notpeter Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:54:18 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111409 Oh if you've got strong pixel lust consider a pair of 20"-22" displays rotated. 2100x1650 is 50% more real estate than 1920x1200, but without the horizontal head flapping of a 27-30" display; and considerably cheaper than a 30". Two full pages side by side can open quite a few doors to your workflow options. Oh if you’ve got strong pixel lust consider a pair of 20″-22″ displays rotated. 2100×1650 is 50% more real estate than 1920×1200, but without the horizontal head flapping of a 27-30″ display; and considerably cheaper than a 30″. Two full pages side by side can open quite a few doors to your workflow options.

]]> By: notpeter http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111407 notpeter Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:29:17 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111407 A friend of mine who worked with Google usability shared an interesting study they had done. Basically the gist was that users were 25%+ faster navigating a 24" display than a 20" one, little gain between 24 and 27 inches and a reduction in efficiency between 27 and 30in displays. I didn't see the details, but I imagine it has to do with field of view. Depending on your distance to the display, 27/30 inch displays may in fact cross a threshold where you have to turn your head/move your eyes, whereas you can see everything on a 24" 1920x1200 display. A friend of mine who worked with Google usability shared an interesting study they had done. Basically the gist was that users were 25%+ faster navigating a 24″ display than a 20″ one, little gain between 24 and 27 inches and a reduction in efficiency between 27 and 30in displays.

I didn’t see the details, but I imagine it has to do with field of view. Depending on your distance to the display, 27/30 inch displays may in fact cross a threshold where you have to turn your head/move your eyes, whereas you can see everything on a 24″ 1920×1200 display.

]]> By: TheAfricanNerd http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111389 TheAfricanNerd Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:31:43 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111389 I have the Dell 24 inch monitor and am not going higher than this. I assumed with the 24 inches I will have ample screen real estate since I multitask a lot and work in the Flash authoring environment frequently. But switching daily between the Macbook air and this monitor, what I have really come to find out is that there is never enough space at the end of the day. Within an hr of use, the 24 inch screen is just as cluttered with windows overlaying each other. So for me there is no need to go to 30 inches I have the Dell 24 inch monitor and am not going higher than this. I assumed with the 24 inches I will have ample screen real estate since I multitask a lot and work in the Flash authoring environment frequently. But switching daily between the Macbook air and this monitor, what I have really come to find out is that there is never enough space at the end of the day. Within an hr of use, the 24 inch screen is just as cluttered with windows overlaying each other. So for me there is no need to go to 30 inches

]]> By: Sean Blake http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111359 Sean Blake Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:37:38 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111359 Before you mock me about my set up, I have to say, its amazing.. Especially from a graphic design point of view. I do have to admit, it is quite excessive, BUT I think under my circumstances of working with high res photos, its needed. And I also think it really depends on what you use your computer for. So with that said.... Dual 37 inchers from Westing house. That's right, compensation at its BEST! Before you mock me about my set up, I have to say, its amazing.. Especially from a graphic design point of view.

I do have to admit, it is quite excessive, BUT I think under my circumstances of working with high res photos, its needed. And I also think it really depends on what you use your computer for.

So with that said….

Dual 37 inchers from Westing house. That’s right, compensation at its BEST!

]]> By: Matt Hoult http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111345 Matt Hoult Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:05:25 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111345 I'd have to agree also Ryan. I use a MacBook Pro 15", usually on my lap or free standing in one way or another. When I use the old 17" iMac at work it just isn't enough real estate and Spaces has to save me (though I also use Spaces on my MBP). When I work on my boss' machine however, which is hooked up to a 30" display I have two issues: 1. Either my eyes or my neck strains after a while of flipping from one thing to another (as you said). 2. I have to lift the mouse all the time or clear the entire desk to get from one corner to another in a single movement, even with my usual maximised sensitivity settings. 24" is as big as I think I want to go now, though using my 15" display with Spaces somehow doesn't bother me no matter how much I am doing. I guess being a keyboard guy with Spaces helps a lot here though. I’d have to agree also Ryan. I use a MacBook Pro 15″, usually on my lap or free standing in one way or another. When I use the old 17″ iMac at work it just isn’t enough real estate and Spaces has to save me (though I also use Spaces on my MBP). When I work on my boss’ machine however, which is hooked up to a 30″ display I have two issues:

1. Either my eyes or my neck strains after a while of flipping from one thing to another (as you said).
2. I have to lift the mouse all the time or clear the entire desk to get from one corner to another in a single movement, even with my usual maximised sensitivity settings.

24″ is as big as I think I want to go now, though using my 15″ display with Spaces somehow doesn’t bother me no matter how much I am doing. I guess being a keyboard guy with Spaces helps a lot here though.

]]> By: Puppies, Flowers, Rainbows and Kittens » Blog Archive » Go big or go multiple? http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111331 Puppies, Flowers, Rainbows and Kittens » Blog Archive » Go big or go multiple? Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:55:27 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111331 [...] critical for developers, I can totally dig that. I was just reading Ryan Block’s blog post, 30-inches: too much screen?, and I realized that I actually prefer my dual 19-inchers over a larger screen. While having that [...] [...] critical for developers, I can totally dig that. I was just reading Ryan Block’s blog post, 30-inches: too much screen?, and I realized that I actually prefer my dual 19-inchers over a larger screen. While having that [...]

]]> By: kamarul http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111325 kamarul Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:52:05 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111325 One of the lcd panels recently announced by Samsung is this: LTM270TT01 - 27"WS TN Film (BTN III), 2048 x 1152 resolution, 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 400 cd/m2 brightness, 160/160 viewing angles Nice eh? Too bad it's TN :( Source: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/news_archive/13.htm#samsung_panels One of the lcd panels recently announced by Samsung is this:
LTM270TT01 – 27″WS TN Film (BTN III), 2048 x 1152 resolution, 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 400 cd/m2 brightness, 160/160 viewing angles

Nice eh? Too bad it’s TN :(

Source: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/news_archive/13.htm#samsung_panels

]]> By: arn http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111267 arn Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:02:15 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111267 Hey Ryan, I tend to agree with you. When I made the jump to 30", I wasn't as giddy as I thought I'd me. For me the problem is the widescreen aspect of it. I love the height, but the edges are less useful for me. I do like having multiple screens though, cause it compartmentalizes windows. I have a 30" plus a 20" rotated vertically next to it. I think the ideal scenario for me would be if I could find a non-widescreen equivlanent to the 30". (26.5" 4:3 at 2133x1600 rez). Along with flanking vertical monitors. arn Hey Ryan,

I tend to agree with you. When I made the jump to 30″, I wasn’t as giddy as I thought I’d me. For me the problem is the widescreen aspect of it. I love the height, but the edges are less useful for me.

I do like having multiple screens though, cause it compartmentalizes windows. I have a 30″ plus a 20″ rotated vertically next to it.

I think the ideal scenario for me would be if I could find a non-widescreen equivlanent to the 30″. (26.5″ 4:3 at 2133×1600 rez). Along with flanking vertical monitors.

arn

]]> By: Jeff http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111265 Jeff Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:21:09 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111265 I hope not, my work just ordered a apple cinema display 30 for me ;) I hope not, my work just ordered a apple cinema display 30 for me ;)

]]> By: C.K. http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111255 C.K. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:07:52 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111255 No way. I have two 24 inch screens sitting portrait on either side of a 30 inch screen sitting landscape hooked up to my Mac Pro at work. The 30 inch is perfect for two browsers open side by side and Twhirl with all my Tweets and all my Friendfeed. No way. I have two 24 inch screens sitting portrait on either side of a 30 inch screen sitting landscape hooked up to my Mac Pro at work. The 30 inch is perfect for two browsers open side by side and Twhirl with all my Tweets and all my Friendfeed.

]]> By: adam jackson http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111251 adam jackson Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:37:16 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111251 I'm a little bit behind you Ryan in terms of space growth. I used to have a single 12" iBook then a MacBook, Macbook Pro and I added a 20" monitor to my Pro. Today. I have a 15" MacBook Pro with a 24" monitor attached to it. I love it. The first week was weird but monitor cost has made it easy to move up. If 30" monitors dip into the $600 dollar range then I'll go for it but having used one, I agree that my head has to move around way too much. Every thought about dual 30s? I’m a little bit behind you Ryan in terms of space growth.

I used to have a single 12″ iBook then a MacBook, Macbook Pro and I added a 20″ monitor to my Pro.

Today. I have a 15″ MacBook Pro with a 24″ monitor attached to it. I love it. The first week was weird but monitor cost has made it easy to move up. If 30″ monitors dip into the $600 dollar range then I’ll go for it but having used one, I agree that my head has to move around way too much.

Every thought about dual 30s?

]]> By: Rex http://ryanblock.com/2008/07/30-inches-too-much-screen/#comment-111249 Rex Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:19:12 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/?p=753#comment-111249 I went from dual 23-inchers to a single 30-incher last year, and was resistant to it for the first week or two. It seemed like I sometimes had to literally move my head to get see something across the screen. But then I started to move things around, and eventually got used to the space. Now I love it... I went from dual 23-inchers to a single 30-incher last year, and was resistant to it for the first week or two. It seemed like I sometimes had to literally move my head to get see something across the screen.

But then I started to move things around, and eventually got used to the space. Now I love it…

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