35 ms·

Ask HN: Curved monitors for coding: like/dislike?

If you have used a curved monitor for programming, what was your experience? Would you use/buy one again? If it interfered, could you explain how?

api 6y ago
I've used both and I don't find a huge difference. I'd sit in front of both options for a little and see what you think. The top quality I look for in a programming monitor is contrast ratio. For me a good contrast ratio has a huge effect on text readability and eye strain. Panel type matters for contrast ratio. There are really three types in common use: IPS, VA, and TN. I've had great luck with VA panels which are not as well liked by gamers due to somewhat slower refresh but have great contrast ratios. I don't personally notice good VA panels looking "slow." High-quality IPS panels are good too of course. TN panels are very fast and usually are the cheapest but they also tend to have the worst contrast ratio. I'd avoid them for programming. Beware of over-exaggerated contrast ratio numbers. Look at reviews and third party measurements if you can find them. I have a Benq 30" 4K VA panel monitor right now for my primary and it's pretty good. Had a Samsung curved VA panel monitor a while ago that was also great but I don't think they make them anymore and mine broke (due to being dropped, not burning out).
redwoolf 6y ago
I had a curved monitor at one of my previous companies. To be honest I didn't find the experience substantially different than a non-curved monitor. YMMV.
- 2rsf 6y ago
  I have basically the same experience, no significant pros or cons
  - tubularhells 6y ago
    Same here. One benefit of having multiple screens is that you can turn some of them off when you don't really need/want them. I have 1 in pivot mode for reading documentation, while the main monitor just in landscape for coding.
HatchedLake721 6y ago
Yes. Loving it, not going back to multiple screens. Got an ultrawide LG 38", it's basically fits 3 screens with 1280px width each, great for web dev
- just-juan-post 6y ago
  Do you like it because it's a big single monitor or because it's curved or both? If you like it because it's curved why do you prefer it to a flat monitor?
  - HatchedLake721 6y ago
    Because it's a single monitor. I think if utlrawide 38" wouldn't be slightly curved, looking at the far edges might be problematic. I haven't noticed any cons with the screen at all (other than PPI when comparing to a macbook pro). Insanely happy and would recommend it to everyone. Mine's LG 38UC99-W
dagw 6y ago
Bought an ultrawide 34" curved monitor at the beginning of lockdown. Absolutely love it and cannot imagine going back to anything else. Although to be honest I basically never notice or think about the fact that the screen is curved, but it could be one of those things I would miss if I didn't have it.
deleted 6y ago
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WalterGR 6y ago
How is window management on these super wide monitors?

If you have used a curved monitor for programming, what was your experience? Would you use/buy one again? If it interfered, could you explain how?

api 6y ago

I've used both and I don't find a huge difference. I'd sit in front of both options for a little and see what you think. The top quality I look for in a programming monitor is contrast ratio. For me a good contrast ratio has a huge effect on text readability and eye strain. Panel type matters for contrast ratio. There are really three types in common use: IPS, VA, and TN. I've had great luck with VA panels which are not as well liked by gamers due to somewhat slower refresh but have great contrast ratios. I don't personally notice good VA panels looking "slow." High-quality IPS panels are good too of course. TN panels are very fast and usually are the cheapest but they also tend to have the worst contrast ratio. I'd avoid them for programming. Beware of over-exaggerated contrast ratio numbers. Look at reviews and third party measurements if you can find them. I have a Benq 30" 4K VA panel monitor right now for my primary and it's pretty good. Had a Samsung curved VA panel monitor a while ago that was also great but I don't think they make them anymore and mine broke (due to being dropped, not burning out).

redwoolf 6y ago

I had a curved monitor at one of my previous companies. To be honest I didn't find the experience substantially different than a non-curved monitor. YMMV.

2rsf 6y ago
I have basically the same experience, no significant pros or cons
- tubularhells 6y ago
  Same here. One benefit of having multiple screens is that you can turn some of them off when you don't really need/want them. I have 1 in pivot mode for reading documentation, while the main monitor just in landscape for coding.

HatchedLake721 6y ago

Yes. Loving it, not going back to multiple screens. Got an ultrawide LG 38", it's basically fits 3 screens with 1280px width each, great for web dev

just-juan-post 6y ago
Do you like it because it's a big single monitor or because it's curved or both? If you like it because it's curved why do you prefer it to a flat monitor?
- HatchedLake721 6y ago
  Because it's a single monitor. I think if utlrawide 38" wouldn't be slightly curved, looking at the far edges might be problematic. I haven't noticed any cons with the screen at all (other than PPI when comparing to a macbook pro). Insanely happy and would recommend it to everyone. Mine's LG 38UC99-W

dagw 6y ago

Bought an ultrawide 34" curved monitor at the beginning of lockdown. Absolutely love it and cannot imagine going back to anything else. Although to be honest I basically never notice or think about the fact that the screen is curved, but it could be one of those things I would miss if I didn't have it.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

WalterGR 6y ago

How is window management on these super wide monitors?