Good Deal on WFH Monitor? Writing Based Job, No Gaming

CheapskateQueen on 04/05/2024 - 08:46
Last edited 04/05/2024 - 10:33 by 1 other user

I'm looking for a new monitor for WFH.

My work is reading, writing, researching, thinking, more writing, more reading etc Say an hour of video calls a day.

I spend my day flicking between Outlook, multiple Word and PDF docs, and multiple Web browsers. I work in the legal industry. No real visual programs. No heavy data. I don't use portrait mode. I don't game and I won't be using the monitor as a TV. It's just for work. Last year we got, what I consider, very large monitors at work, which I don't like. I prefer the dual monitor set up which I can do with the laptop screen itself

There's this on sale at good guys plus I have the $30 voucher. So pretty cheap - I just have no concept of whether it's good or not?

Happy to spend a little more, if need be, but only for what will actually be useful, i.e. given I don't game, not data/ image based work.

Thanks for any help!

• 

  kiitos on 04/05/2024 - 09:13

  +2

  How big are your work monitors? What resolution do they run?

  The one linked is FHD, I thought that was sufficient until I got a 27" QHD and for my purposes it's great.

  For writing would you like to have one pivoted into portrait mode for layout? What size spreadsheets do you use?

  • 

    CheapskateQueen on 04/05/2024 - 10:06

    re work monitors, haha no idea. I'll see if there's a reference online to the size.

    Ignore the reference to Excel. It's not really a factor (I'll update my OP). I often have 5-15 pages open being a mix of browser, word and pdf. Almost all writing. Excel would just be one page basic stuff.

    I've never used portrait mode, I had to google to even realise the reference was to turning the screen haha

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  John Kimble on 04/05/2024 - 09:17

  There's lots of variables?

  Eg what monitors you're used to or coming from, how much space you have, what ports/features you want/need, if you want one in portrait mode etc

  Really just need to check all the reviews online or go see it on display in person (if possible). You can't go wrong with Dell (generally). Should be tax deductible at least if you only use it for work?

  • 

    CheapskateQueen on 04/05/2024 - 10:13

    true, i need to make sure about the port. That's actually why i need to update my old screen which is like 20 years old haha. We got "new" work laptops and my monitor isn't compatible. I'm sure i could buy a new cord but i figure i need an updated monitor anyway.

    Oh and I'll never need portrait mode.

    I dare say i should probably pay more for something that's noticeably easier on the eyes i.e. less damaging.

    And yes fully deductible, but that's only percentage back, not all of it back. I'll pay for good money for things that are important, but i don't want to pay for things i don't need

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  sumyungguy on 04/05/2024 - 10:20

  Go for 27-inch 4K UHD $279 but if you have a deep desk setup and can sit far enough away get a 32-inch (but I suspect this may be the way your employer has gone)

• 

  freefall101 on 04/05/2024 - 10:51

  +1

  IMO when it comes to productivity having two screens side by side always trumps having a single screen + laptop. Most of the time I run two full size screens with chat/email on my laptop screen.

  I imagine that'd work as well for legal as it does for me as an analyst.

• 

  mitt on 04/05/2024 - 18:44

  Your requirements are vague enough that I am just going to dump general advice.

  You want pixel density to be high enough that text is clear, for 24" monitors, you need at least 1080p (1920x1080), for 27" I would recommend at least QHD (2560 x 1440) for anything larger you want 4k.

  For office taks refresh rate does not matter, panel tech does. VA panels are cheaper but I find them to be dull/flat but for office work its personal preference.

  Other than VA/IPS panel technology & resolution, there is very little difference in the office work monitors out there. Just pick the size/resolution/panel tech you want & go with the cheapest.

  • 

    CheapskateQueen on 04/05/2024 - 20:53

    +2

    great thanks.

    as for the comment that my requirements are vague, i mean, exactly what do you want to know?

    i literally have nothing to else to say about what i need? i don't know crap all about computers, that's why I've asked for tips.

• 

  altomic on 04/05/2024 - 22:11

  +2

  check out facebook marketplace.
  plenty of dual monitor set ups going cheap.

• 

  hagendaaz on 05/05/2024 - 10:49

  +1

  I always check umart for computer stuff. https://www.umart.com.au.

  Similar Lenovo is $139
  Acer 27” is $157
  Samsung 27” is $159

  Bunch of other options at the same price point.
  I bought these about 2 years ago. Great screens for my similar to your use. https://www.umart.com.au/product/msi-27in-fhd-ips-100hz-adap…

  • 

    CheapskateQueen on 05/05/2024 - 20:18

    awesome thanks.

    i think the dual monitor point is actually a good one.

    when i think about, i do often feel like i """enjoy""" the office sometimes for the ease of use of certain things. I'd say the dual monitor is a big part of it.

• 

  The Hawk on 05/05/2024 - 11:54

  +3

  Dual screens are awesome, I had 2 x 24" 1920x1080 and upgraded to 2 x 27" 2560x1440 which is excellent for a little more resolution and space.
  I've since added in a 34" Ultrawide 3440x1440 which makes for an excellent three screen setup.

  If I had to have a single screen it would be a toss up between a a larger (like 43") 4k unit or the Ultrawide. Even 43" is only 15cm-ish wider that the 34" Ultrawide.
  The Ultrawide allow me to use wide spreadsheets very nicely, but also allows two documents side by side (including markup/comments) in a very readable/usable size.
  While the 4K has more pixels, the 16:9 aspect makes it feel like there is a lot of wasted space with two documents side by side which is part of the reason why I like the Ultrawide… than and I game on these screens and 4K is harder to push decent frames.

  • 

    CheapskateQueen on 05/05/2024 - 20:20

    awesome mate thanks. I just posted a similar comment above just re thanks for the comment re dual monitor. Just a simple reminder of how awesome dual monitors are for productivity/ ease of use.

    i think I'll go in store, pick the size i want, and then take some of the tips from here for getting good value for my buck

    • 

      sumyungguy on 05/05/2024 - 20:58

      Please consider that iPhone 4 got a 326 pixels per inch display back in 2010. On a 27-inch display, QHD (1440p) displays 109PPI while UHD/4K displays 163PPI. In earlier times power users got two displays because it was the only economical way of getting more desktop space to have more windows open. But with 4K now much more affordable the only use case for 1440p is gamers. There aren't many consumers trying to get less than 4K for their TVs. MacBooks got retina displays from 2017 onwards.

      • 

        The Hawk on 07/05/2024 - 18:06

        This is where things get funky, my personal opinion is that retina is a bit of a marketing ploy (and I've had and used a number of retina Macs over the years). Yep, most people can't see individual pixels anymore, but do we really care? Does it matter for your device and how you use it?

        Apple have doubled the resolution, for example the 27" Studio display is 5120 x 2880 or 218PPI… but it acts like a 2560x1440 display with double the detail. In short you get no extra real estate to play with… Is a 5k screen better?? YES! More resolution is betterer right?

        You could run actual native resolution…. but have to zoom everything in because native is just too damn small. After all, a 15mm high letter is still a 15mm high letter and you still only have 27" to work with… but in higher detail!!! Also (and arguably) not 3 - 5x the price nicerer.

        Sitting at a normal viewing distance from screens can the average person tell the difference? Basically, there is a calculation you can do to say how close (or far away) do you need to sit before you can't tell the difference between two pixels on any given resolution at a given size.

        This website is pretty nifty and easy to use calculator to do that:
        https://tools.rodrigopolo.com/display_calc/

        Do you ever wondered if your display is retina? At which distance your screen will look like a retina display? What is your display aspect ratio? Or maybe just want to know your screen PPI/DPI in order to configure Photoshop to see your images at an accurate print size, for that purpose I created this little calculator.

        Here is a couple of snips of the outputs:

        24" 1920x1080

        Your device is NOT retina at an average view distance of 11” (27.94cm) having 91.79ppi, but it is perceived as retina when seeing from 37.46” (95.1484cm) which is the recommended distance for perfect viewing.

        27" 2560x1440

        Your device is NOT retina at an average view distance of 11” (27.94cm) having 108.79ppi, but it is perceived as retina when seeing from 31.60”
        (80.264cm) which is the recommended distance for perfect viewing.

        34" Ultrawide 3440x1440

        Your device is NOT retina at an average view distance of 11” (27.94cm) having 109.68ppi, but it is perceived as retina when seeing from 31.34” (79.6036cm) which is the recommended distance for perfect viewing.

        27" 3840x2160 (4K)

        Your device is NOT retina at an average view distance of 11” (27.94cm) having 163.18ppi, but it is perceived as retina when seeing from 21.07” (53.5178cm) which is the recommended distance for perfect viewing.

        Not quite sure where they are getting 11" (27.94cm) as the average viewing distance, but given the "norm" for desktop computers is a viewing distance of about 80cm it seems to indicate that most people could actually perceive the difference between a 24" 1080 monitor and a 27" 1440 monitor (which I think I can). So it's probably worth the investment in 1440 over 1080.

        BUT, unless you're sitting closer than that most people probably can't tell the difference between 27" 1440 vs 4k even though it has a higher PPI. But you could go up to about 40" in 4K before you need a higher resolution.

        tl;dr Higher res is nice and all, but most people probably can't tell the difference. 27" @ 2560x1440 is just about the perfect sweet spot for most people for performance and price.

• 

  OldSchoolHarry on 05/05/2024 - 20:58

  +2

  You should be fine with 2x 24" 1080p or 2x 27" QHD (1440p) monitors. Just make sure the stand is height adjustable and rotatable.