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Displays / Monitors

Minimum width: 1280px
  • Sites now are being unfriendly to smaller screens
  • Or treat smaller screens as mobile devices
Reviews:
My Preference: 38" 3880 x1600

Work

Window Management

3 Vertical Windows:

I like to split things into 3 windows.
  • Central: main window of focus
  • Left: Notes
  • Right: Documentation
The center is my focus, left and right are supporting material.
Pros:
  • Great for comparing two things, and keeping notes centered
Cons:
  • Can be too tall
Options:
  • 3x 24" 4K vertically oriented monitors
    • Breaks the limit of 1080px width
    • 24" when rotated
      • Height: 56cm
      • Width: 36cm

2 Vertical Windows

I tried this, but I like having one main thing in front of me that I can focus on.

Aspect Ratios

4K (3840x2160)

27"

I didn't like using 4K for my work (programming, documents).
Using at 4K:
  • Fonts are too small for me
  • I still reduce size to 2560x1440
MacBook allows me to push at:
  • 1920x1080
  • 2560x1440
  • 3008x1692
  • 3360x1890
  • 3840x2160

Scaling to 3360x1890 @27"

  • Feels like a lot happening at one time in a small space
  • Feels very compressed.
  • It's very tall, which can be useful.
  • Fonts are small.
    • Feels like it can be very straining over long period of time.
Resolution
1/2
1/3
3360x1890
1680x1890
1120x1890
1/3 resolution is ok size
3008x1692
1504x1692
1002x1682
1/3 resolution is awkward size

34"

Resolution
Pixel Per Inch
Comment
3840x2160
140
3360x1890
122.5
110
Ideal
3008x1692
109
But awkward 1/3 size

35"

If I can find a 35" 4K monitor. Pixel Per Inch: 109. I can use the full 4K at a comfortable display.
Seems I can fit a lot of vertical ext as well 2160px vs 1440px.

UWQHD (3440x1440) @ 34"

Ultra Wide Quad High Definition: 3440x1440
Displays:
  • 1146x1440: if dividing by 3
    • Cons: Doesn't hit 1280px minimum
Pros:
  • Single cable; if going USB-C
  • Can tile 3 windows vertically
Alternatives:
  • Three vertically oriented displays
    • Pros:
      • Forces clear delineation between displays
    • Cons:
      • Bezels (can get smaller displays)
      • More cable/power management

21:9 3880x1600 @ 38"

Pros:
  • Comfortably fit 3x1280 windows
  • Vertical height is larger at 1600 (vs 1440)
Models:

32:10 3840x1200

Properties:
  • 3x 1280
Display:
  • Samsung: 43" CJ890

32:9 (3840x1080, 5120x1440)

3840x1080

Displays:
  • Samsung 49" LC49HG90DMNXZA
  • Cons:
    • Smaller resolution

5120x1440

Properties:
  • 2x 2560x1440
    • 4 windows vertically at 1280 x 1440
Pros:
  • Vertical window is 1280px
    • A little more spacious
Alternatives:
  • 2x 27" 2560x1440
    • Cons:
      • More cables to manage
      • Bezel divided in the center
Displays:
Divvy:
  • Setup an 8x4 grid

Vertical Orientation

Problems:
  • 27" displays are too tall
  • 14" ideally
  • Cannot use 1920x1080 displays, as 1080 for the width would be too small
  • 2560x1440 displays, all come in 27" sizes

Reviews

Dell U2717D: 2560x1440 @ 27"

Likes:
  • I like the almost seamless bezels.
Panel Dimensions
  • Height: 33.33cm
  • Width: 60cm

Dell P2715Q: 4K (3840x2160) @ 27"

Dislikes:
  • Bezels are big
  • Personal for me, I didn't use the 4k
  • 4K @ 60hz on MacBook Pro 2017 15" does not work as expected
    • Requires a USB-C to DisplayPort cable
    • Dongles (USB-HDMI) do not work
      • Output at 30hz

Dell U3419W: 3440x1440 @ 34"

Likes:
  • USB-C charges my MacBook Pro 2017 15"
  • You can push audio to the screen
    • Audio is controlled on screen
Dislikes:
  • Bottom Bezel has this plastic strip coming out
  • Wished the 2 usb ports on the side were on the back
  • Screen audio quality is flat, and muffled
  • It's a little "tight" when windows are vertically tiled for 3 windows at 1146px per window.
  • I think it could it be taller, by an inch or two.
    • Add more vertical pixels.
Panel Dimensions
  • Height: 33.33cm

Dell U3818DW: 3840x1600 @ 38"

My current monitor:
Likes:
  • Fits 3x 1280 windows
  • Speakers are good
Similar likes and dislikes to Dell U3419W

Other

Pixel Pitch / Pixel Per Inch

This is my personal preference. I notice I like it when the Pixel per inch is 109 (or a ratio of it). Anything higher than that is too small for my eyes.
Device
Pixel Per Inch
Pixel Pitch
MacBook Pro 2017 15"
220
Dell U2717D: 2560x1440 @ 27"
109
0.233mm
Dell U3419W: 3440x1440 @ 34"
109
0.233mm
Dell P2715Q: 4K (3840x2160) @ 27"
163
0.1554mm
Dell U3219Q: 4K (3840x2160) @ 32"
140
0.182mm

DisplayPort daisy-chaining (multistream / MST)

Macs do not support DisplayPort daisy-chaining (multistream / MST)

Macs do not support CEC or HDMI controls

Controlling Sound (to HDMI/DisplayPort/USB-C)
Last modified 3yr ago