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Ask Slashdot: What Is Your Favorite Monitor For Programming?

Posted by timothy on from the anything-that-keeps-the-lizard-happy dept.

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?"

13 of 375 comments (clear)

  1. 27" FTW by opusman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Dell U2711 or similar. 2560x1440 for great number of pixels, and if you want to use a higher DPI you still get a decent amount of information on screen.

    I've tried 30" monitors and they were just too big, but for me 2x27" is perfect.

    1. Re:27" FTW by ottawanker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

    2. Re:27" FTW by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    3. Re:27" FTW by Keith+Mickunas · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I too prefer a pair no matter the size. When developing in something like Visual Studio I have to run it in full screen. So the second monitor gets used for e-mail, web browser, references, etc.

      I use 2 U2711 at home and it's wonderful. I also use a 17" alongside those. I use the smaller monitor for consoles or running something like uTorrent. Some people get caught up on the whole 16:10 vs. 16:9 issue, but at 2560x1440 there's plenty of vertical resolution there.

      At work I use a pair of 22" 16:10 monitors. That's an ok setup and I've been using something similar at three jobs now. I'm considering picking up another pair of 27" monitors to use at work though. Either the 2713HM or perhaps some of the cheap Korean ones. Perfect color isn't a must for me when coding, so I don't need the 2711 or the better 2713 model.

    4. Re:27" FTW by cbhacking · · Score: 4, Informative

      I actually have one of those 27" 2560x1440 ("WQHD") IPS monitors from Korea. $290 USD, included DHL express shipping (about 48 hours after it left the warehouse in Seoul to reach me in Seattle) via eBay. It's wonderful. Bright and clear, glossy screen but bright enough that reflections and background light are no problem, good stand, and simple but functional on-screen display. The DPI is nothing amazing, but it's comparable to my old 18" 1920x1080 monitor, and that's fine by me. I don't use the 5W speakers it has built in, so I can't say how those are.

      The monitor does have a minor defect where if left turned on too long (several days straight) it will start getting "sparkles" on a black screen, but this is easily fixed by power-cycling the monitor or just turning it off every night (it starts very quickly, so that's no problem). It can also get pretty warm (especially at max brightness) and has a large-ish power brick (with a plug designed for Korean outlets, though they included a USA adapter for me at no extra charge) rated for 120W output.

      Contrast is good but not incredible, but the lighting is very even. The in-plane switching works great; response time is excellent and the viewing angle is superb (the ~1/4" bezel gets in the way before the screen noticeably changes color). Color and saturation look good to my eye (untrained, but an amatuer photographer); it is something I look at and check calibration on.

      I plan to buy a second one... just as soon as I figure out where I'm going to put it. I may just get a 1440x900 (or similar) instead and put it in portrait mode next to the big one. Otherwise, I'll probably need wall mounts; I'm running out of desk space.

      One note of caution: It requires a dual-DVI input. That means no driving two monitors off one DVI connection, and many HDMI adapters, etc. won't work.

      --
      There's no place I could be, since I've found Serenity...
    5. Re:27" FTW by steelfood · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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).

      --
      "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
    6. Re:27" FTW by AdamWill · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I have 2xU2211H, both oriented portrait. I can see having one landscape if you need to work on video or something, but I don't.

      I'd always go for the smallest display at a given resolution, to get the highest DPI: I much prefer 22" 1920x1080 to 24" 1920x1080. Still, I wish someone would make 200+ DPI desktop displays. Some day.

  2. Regardless go 16:10 by jdkc4d · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  3. Re:12" ThinkPad hardware text-mode by officialkirill · · Score: 4, Funny

    560Z if you want details. 800x600 pixels, 100x37 with 16x8 characters -- perfect ssh client. Main machine has a 19" for opening GUI stuff when really necessary.

    OMG SO HARDCORE

  4. Dell U2412M or ViewSonic VP2770 by Chirs · · Score: 4, Informative

    The U2412M is a competetively priced 24" 1920x1200 IPS screen with moderate anti-glare. (Less aggressive than U2711/U2410.) I have the older brother of this screen (U2407WFP) and have been coding on it for ages.

    The 27" 2560x1440 monitors all have advantages and disadvantages, but the ViewSonic VP2770 seems like the best of the lot overall. It has no PWM in the backlight, has good uniformity, good quality panel, decent inputs, antiglare isn't too aggressive, no crosshatching or image retention (the main flaws of the U2713). The main downside is the price since it doesn't really go on sale like some of the others.

    Take a look at the display forum on hardforum.com if you haven't already.

    As for multiple monitors...I find one large monitor better than two smaller ones.

  5. Monoprice IPS in March by spire3661 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Monoprice.com is going to start stocking house-branded 27" ($400) and 30"($600-$700) IPS panels for a DEEP discount in March. Same LG panels as used in Apple Cinema Display. Monoprice is a great company and wouldn't call what they are offering nameless Korean screens. Here is a link http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=ips

    --
    Good-bye
  6. Re:DONT get a TV by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can look at your keyboard?!

  7. Ignore the idiots saying to get a 27" or 30" by psypher69571 · · Score: 4, Informative

    3x 24" 1920x1200. My personal choice are the Dell U2412M, but you have to watch for them to get in the 260-270 price range. Don't pay more than that.