How Using an Ultrawide Monitor Has Improved My Performance (and Can Improve Yours)
I moved a few weeks ago, so I had to break down and re-configure my workspace. When I did, I swapped out my dual display setup for LG’s new 34-inch Ultra-Wide Curved Display. It had its own characteristics, but now I’m not sure if I can ever return. This is why and why it worked so well for me. …
Last time we discussed ultra-wide monitors , the promise of one display on your desk offering the benefits of two or even three was appealing. You get great horizontal space, clean up cable clutter, and plenty of room to keep multiple windows and apps open. Ideally, this will help you be more productive.
Although the appeal of one wide display matches my way of working (many windows and applications open side by side, hide behind one another, and not a single thing is displayed in full full screen mode), if it’s not you or you keep one window maximized always like that the monitor is probably not for you (but this particular display has a few tricks you might like, which we’ll cover later). If you are more like me, you will have to apply.
Switching from multiple monitors to ultra-wide was easy
Before I switched, I had three displays for two computers . 30 “(2560 x 1600) center, with two 27” (2560 x 1440) displays on the sides. One of those 27 inches was exclusive to my Macbook Pro, but 30 inches and the other 27 inches were plugged into my Windows PC, which I use for light work, small design, and a lot of gaming. When LG dumped me on Line inviting me to try out their brand new LG 34UC98 34-inch 21: 9 Curved LED IPS Display (only $ 950 on Amazon ), I thought it would be an easy transition.
Physically, it was like this: I lifted my two displays off the table, replaced it with one thinner curved display, plugged it into a power source, and plugged in one DisplayPort cable. I turned it on and everything was fine except for some stretched desktop wallpapers. I’ve been using it exclusively with my Windows setup for work and play for a few weeks now, and it’s a pretty impressive panel.Hardware Canucks tested it too (video above) and loved it.
I was scared of what was coming from multiple displays on my desk so I could jerk my style of cross-platform use of multiple computers, but the 34UC98 is equipped with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort and two Thunderbolt ports in the back (making it a great Apple alternative Discontinued Thunderbolt Display ) so I could easily connect a second computer like the Macbook Pro I mentioned earlier. It also has two USB 3.0 ports (ideal for charging mobile devices) and a headphone jack that can be used for private listening. The panel also boasts 7W built-in speakers which are surprisingly powerful for the speakers you’ll find in the display, but let’s be honest – you probably won’t be using them. They are nice to have, but they won’t replace my headphones or computer speakers.
However, I will say this: I really like the look of the panel and I also appreciate the more organized profile on my desk. Going from a mess of power, USB and video cables to using one power supply and one video is a good advantage.
As far as the actual transition is concerned, I was really surprised how easy it was to go back from multiple displays to one, but I think the 3440 x 1440 pixel horizontal workspace is to blame. Getting back to work was easy enough, and the only real quirk or feature I’m missing is the ability to navigate between displays or snap to internal bezels, or shift your gaze from primary to secondary while playing games to read a web page or follow. via email or chat while I play. However, this is more of a single monitor issue than an ultrawide issue.
Your work style will determine if the ultra-wide is worth it.
When it comes to work, the display itself is really enjoyable to use, but it has a lot to do with the way I work. I’ll keep the research open in the window behind the one I’m writing to, the video or music player scrolling to the side where I can see it, the chat window is open somewhere else, or maybe Twitter or Slack is hiding in the background. When you have the huge amount of horizontal space this display gives you, you can keep many of them open next to each other and keep an eye on everything at once. It’s not hard to place Google Docs in a window, a help video in a smaller window to the right of it, a Tweetdeck pinned to one side, and a Slack or article open in the corner. When I have to navigate a huge spreadsheet, it’s great to have that much horizontal space.
While I’m not really a “one window without distractions” user, such displays are not ideal for such people, unless the application you are working with can use all of that space. For example, if you’re a creative professional or engineer, you could probably fill the same space with terminal windows and text editors, although more vertical space can really benefit you. If you’re a video editor or photographer, you can easily fill all that horizontal space with a preview window, multiple video and audio editing tracks or windows, actions, and Photoshop toolbars.
On the other hand, I’ve seen people complain that the displays are getting wider and wider every year, while most websites still put all the useful stuff in one column with spaces on either side, which looked like would be silly in full screen at 3440 x 1440. For these people, this particular display has the ability to simulate two or even three smaller displays, both vertically and horizontally, so that you can get the feeling of multiple monitors on a large, wide panel. I tried this a few times, and while I went back to managing the entire display myself, I was able to see how these configurations can make it easier to switch from two displays to one large, or give them: “I’d rather have more vertical space. for reading “people have something to love. It would be great if more ultra-wide manufacturers included LG features in their displays.
In the end, whether such an ultra-wide way will change how you work depends a lot on whether you can use your screen space or not. If that’s too much for you, or if you’re doing one thing and using tools that would waste all that space on the sides, it may not be worth it. Still, it’s worth considering for everyone else – the added real estate was a huge benefit to me and helped me stop messing around and work much faster.
Games and movies are absolutely great, but there are some quirks
When you invest in an ultra-wide display, there is no escape from the fact that most of your games and videos today are probably 16: 9 and cannot fully support a 21: 9 monitor. That means if you expand your YouTube video or loaded movie in full screen mode or play your favorite video game, you will be greeted by large black bars (so called “columnar boxes”) on the sides of the screen, limiting you to the largest supports 16: 9 resolution at 1440 pixels.
Of course, there are definitely great games and videos out there that support 21: 9 resolution, and you’ll be thrilled when you find them. After a while you get used to pillarboxing too, but when you don’t see it, it’s amazing. If you love video games as much as I do, visit the widescreen gaming forum and check out their master list of games to see which of your favorites support 21: 9 displays. You can also see which ones allow you to customize their settings. fields of view (FOV) to give you such a wide cinematic look as you play, and of course which games can be manually adjusted even if ultra-wide is not officially supported. The community is great and full of very smart people.
LG has equipped this particular model with AMD FreeSync technology over DisplayPort, which promises to smooth frame rates and eliminate screen tearing in games by supporting dynamic frame rates. If all this is contrived, then your games – especially on large screens – run smoother and look better . Of course, you must have an AMD graphics card that supports this (I have one) and you must make sure your games are set to match the FreeSync frame rate requirements, but once they come out it’s a great experience, especially if you are The game can really use the entire panel. Of course, you shouldn’t buy a new GPU just for this, but it’s a nice plus.
I can go back to multiple displays … just not now
When my time with LG that I tested is over, I can go back to my old setting, but I am seriously considering going on the 21: 9 bandwagon. I hesitate to say bluntly that it made me more productive as I I don’t think the hardware can really do anything. However, it can allow your own abilities to emerge when you find a good match for your work (and play) style. In my case, this is certainly true.
Although my 30 “(2560 x 1600) and 27” (2560 x 1440) had technically more pixels than that 34 “at 3440 x 1440, it feels larger, like I can do more with the space I have. be scalable, and part of this may have to do with the impact of simplicity on your work. From a performance standpoint, this experiment was overwhelming, but your experience may differ depending on what you do. In terms of games and media, it was also successful, mainly because I can look beyond the pillarbox when I encounter it, and when I don’t encounter it, the experience – especially while playing – was incredible.
So yes, I can go back to a few discrete displays. Just … not right away. I will wait a little bit more. Just don’t ask what time it is.