4 ms·

I’m all about desk ergonomics but this article seems off for one big reason: People using a wide monitor create “zones”: The center is the “work zone” and the

I’m all about desk ergonomics but this article seems off for one big reason: People using a wide monitor create “zones”: The center is the “work zone” and the sides are for occasional reference. Just because you have a 40” screen doesn’t mean you use all 40” equally.

sbuttgereit 5y ago
Exactly. I have two 30"/2560x1600 monitors. One is dead center and is the "working screen" and the other is off to the right and is my "reference screen". Naturally that's not pure, but I'm not really turning my head all that often. Having said that, what I do find problematic is that both are too high when it comes to looking at things at the towards the top of the screen... I really would love them recessed a bit below the level of the main desk surface. Some of this is my own damn fault since, being an old guy, I use progressive lens and I'm not smart enough (or maybe I'm too cheap) to get a pair of dedicated working glasses so I end up tilting my head even more to get stuff in the area of best focus.
- guiambros 5y ago
  > Having said that, what I do find problematic is that both are too high when it comes to looking at things at the towards the top of the screen Until recently I used a 30" (2560x1600) + 2x24" on the sides, and thought I'd never change to anything smaller. I loved the setup, but my trusted 3007WFP was 15+ years old and long due for a refresh, so I took the plunge and replaced everything by a single ultra-wide 40" (U4021QW). Despite having higher resolution and ppi (5120x2160, 140 ppi), it is actually shorter than my previous 30", and of course a lot less horizontal space. In the end I couldn't be happier with it. I was surprised by the reduced neck strain of the up-down movement (I'm in the same boat of older eyes + progressive lens). I also got a decent monitor arm, which helps when I'm doing deep work reading/writing/coding, I can just bring the whole screen closer to my eyes, rather than increasing font size. I do miss the extra horizontal space a bit, but some predefined zones and custom shortcuts solved most of it. And a nice bonus that I have a much cleaner desk, with no bezels and a lot less of those pesky DVI cables. Having multiple input ports + PIP was also useful during WFH, as I can easily switch between work laptop and personal computer without a KVM (although I still use a KVM for keyboard/mouse). If you decide to get dedicated computer glasses, measure the exact focal distance between your eyes and the monitor. I think they use a certain default (probably for a newspaper/book/cell phone distance), which for me wasn't quite right. The monitor is a few inches too far from the focal point, so the progressive lens offer crisper/better image than my computer glasses.
  - sbuttgereit 5y ago
    I've actually been contemplating doing exactly what you've done. Good to hear about your positive experience. Thanks much for sharing your experience.

sbuttgereit 5y ago

Exactly. I have two 30"/2560x1600 monitors. One is dead center and is the "working screen" and the other is off to the right and is my "reference screen". Naturally that's not pure, but I'm not really turning my head all that often. Having said that, what I do find problematic is that both are too high when it comes to looking at things at the towards the top of the screen... I really would love them recessed a bit below the level of the main desk surface. Some of this is my own damn fault since, being an old guy, I use progressive lens and I'm not smart enough (or maybe I'm too cheap) to get a pair of dedicated working glasses so I end up tilting my head even more to get stuff in the area of best focus.

guiambros 5y ago
> Having said that, what I do find problematic is that both are too high when it comes to looking at things at the towards the top of the screen Until recently I used a 30" (2560x1600) + 2x24" on the sides, and thought I'd never change to anything smaller. I loved the setup, but my trusted 3007WFP was 15+ years old and long due for a refresh, so I took the plunge and replaced everything by a single ultra-wide 40" (U4021QW). Despite having higher resolution and ppi (5120x2160, 140 ppi), it is actually shorter than my previous 30", and of course a lot less horizontal space. In the end I couldn't be happier with it. I was surprised by the reduced neck strain of the up-down movement (I'm in the same boat of older eyes + progressive lens). I also got a decent monitor arm, which helps when I'm doing deep work reading/writing/coding, I can just bring the whole screen closer to my eyes, rather than increasing font size. I do miss the extra horizontal space a bit, but some predefined zones and custom shortcuts solved most of it. And a nice bonus that I have a much cleaner desk, with no bezels and a lot less of those pesky DVI cables. Having multiple input ports + PIP was also useful during WFH, as I can easily switch between work laptop and personal computer without a KVM (although I still use a KVM for keyboard/mouse). If you decide to get dedicated computer glasses, measure the exact focal distance between your eyes and the monitor. I think they use a certain default (probably for a newspaper/book/cell phone distance), which for me wasn't quite right. The monitor is a few inches too far from the focal point, so the progressive lens offer crisper/better image than my computer glasses.
- sbuttgereit 5y ago
  I've actually been contemplating doing exactly what you've done. Good to hear about your positive experience. Thanks much for sharing your experience.