monitor size vs what the eye can see

PaulW

PaulW

PaulW

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Hi All

I was talking with my friends over lunch about getting a 26" samsung monitor and they seemed to think it was a bit of a waste of money that a bigger monitor will just cause more eye strain and sitting to close will be awkward and uncomfortable.

this got me thinking, does anyone actually know what is the best monitor size for the eye is? the eye can only see so much when your working on it so is there a reall point in getting a massive monitor.

i really would like a big monitor as i work in 3D... but then the res of a 26" and a 24" is the same so i guess the image is just spread across more pixels.

Thx in advance

Paul
 
Don't know what the ideal would be but the larger pixels on the 26" should mean less squinting to see fine details.

I used to have a 24" and upgraded to 28" - it's much nicer reading on the larger screen since text on the 24" was pretty tiny.

I'd recommend trying some monitors out in person if you can though. Only real way to know would be to try it yourself. :)

gt
 
Fun fact: The 24" @ 1920x1200 will be closest to the assumed 96dpi of most desktops, including Windows. So if you want your <insert document-viewer/editor>-document in 100% zoom to match the size of the print, then 24" is for you.

Otherwise (i.e always), its just personal preference.
 
Compared to 22" Lenovo L220x (with also 1920x1200 res) 26" LG W2600HP gives really nice viewing distance, you can fit some small things between keyboard and it.

PaulW said:
guess the image is just spread across more pixels.
Click to expand...
Resolution is same, pixels larger.
 
I use dual screens at work, and I find the ability to shove something out of my immediate line of sight - but still in view - very handy. I think a large monitor gives you this option - you don't have to focus on the whole screen all of the time.
 
TBH, if you find reading text on a 24" at 1920x1200 the slightest bit uncomfortable then I'd seriously consider getting your eyesight tested.
 
Well Im short sighted and thats why I use a 27 LCD at 1920 x 1200. Its comfortable and I don't have to wear my glasses
 
I have good eye sight but dont like small fonts on screen.

For me 22" Res of 1680x1080 is perfect.

I think going to 24" with 1920x1200 will reduce this size thus a 26" would be just about right again?
 
Some details:
Size Resolution Density Pixel Size Ratio Pixels Gain

16:10
22" 1680 x 1050 90.1 ppi 0.2821 mm 16:10 1.68 MP 224%
24" 1920 x 1200 94.3 ppi 0.2692 mm 16:10 2.2 MP 293%
26" 1920 x 1200 87.1 ppi 0.2917 mm 16:10 2.2 MP 293%
30" 2560 x 1600 100.6 ppi 0.2524 mm 16:10 3.91 MP 521%

4:3
19" 1280 x 1024 86.3 ppi 0.2944 mm 5:4 1.25 MP 167%
20.1" 1600 x 1200 99.5 ppi 0.2553 mm 4:3 1.83 MP 244%
 
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Vertigo1 said:
TBH, if you find reading text on a 24" at 1920x1200 the slightest bit uncomfortable then I'd seriously consider getting your eyesight tested.
Click to expand...

Hmmm i think its more a case that its all tiny and annoying compared to say...27" @ 1920x1200.

Not a fan of the 24" + 1920x1200 dpi at all myself.
 
If you sometimes use the monitor away from your desk (I often sit in a reclining chair a few feet away, with wireless keyboard/mouse) a 26"+ screen at 1920x1200 will be better than a 24" at that res. Since I have a 24" I sometimes have to lower the res for comfortable reading, if I'm at a distance.
 
Although I must admit one thing I always preferred about Firefox to I.E was that you could zoom the text only, leaving images untouched, since Firefox 3, this has changed and now images are zoomed too, which I find a minor annoyance. Still, I don't use the zoom all that much on my desktop, I do on my laptop though. If you are reading a webpage you can just blow the text size up. ctrl + and ctrl - in Firefox and I.E for example. I'd recommend that over actually changing the resolution to a none native one.

Although I must admit one thing I always preferred about Firefox to I.E was that you could zoom the text only, leaving images untouched, since Firefox 3, this has changed and now images are zoomed too, which I find a minor annoyance. Still, I don't use the zoom all that much on my desktop, I do on my laptop though.
 
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My new Benq G2400WD 24" arrived today.. It has a higher DPI than my previous screen (22")

I found I had to change the Font size to be a bit bigger in Windoz but other than that every thing is fine.

Be carefull with 26" you might just find it is TOO big to sit on your desk and you HAVE to sit away from your desk ;-)
 
Moeks said:
If you are reading a webpage you can just blow the text size up. ctrl + and ctrl - in Firefox and I.E for example. I'd recommend that over actually changing the resolution to a none native one.
Click to expand...

This is true (although I actually prefer being able to zoom images!) but then it bugs me to have to Ctrl 0 every page I visit when I happen to be sitting closer, as Firefox remembers your zoom settings for each page! I just find it less hassle to change the resolution. Plus, then I can read my gadgets at a distance :-)
 
I have the dell 30" and run most things in 2560*1600.
It is a massive screen and does seem a little daunting with some games, but all in all I find it better playing on a big screen, It's awesome for RTS type games. Wow runs like a dream as well.
 
got a dell 24" about a year ago at first felt too big but when you get ust to it just seems like a good size though must say on my next build probably going to get me a 30" one
 
Been using my 30" for years now & i sit just as close as when i was using a 21" CRT.
The benefit now tho besides the obvious is that i can sit back if i want to.
 
I think 22" is the sweet spot, anything more and my eyes hurt, i have a lot of friends using 24" monitors but i never have any luck using them.
 
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