One size monitor to replace 2 screens

In terms of ‘real estate’, resolution is more important than physical size. But generally, physical space considerations notwithstanding, more is better. I’d swap my 34” 1440p ultra wide for a bigger one if I could. What is the resolution of your current screen?

As you have identified, a single cable USB hub (perhaps built into screen) with proper mouse and keyboard +/- backup HDD is a great thing.

What’s the budget?

I have the same setup as you. I've been looking at doing the same thing and I think it would take a 34" ultrawide monitor to get the same sort of screen area. I'd love to be able to get one of the bigass 49" ones but they are at least 3 times the price of a 34".

As big as you have space for that your laptop can drive at a reasonable resolution.
Maybe a 34" ultra wide?

I have a curved Dell (Alienware) 34" 3440x1440 which is I think the minimum you would want.

27 should do you. That said, it’s nice having 2 screens so work / play can be compartmentalised. Laptop on a stand so they are level (without stand and separate keyboard & mode, laptops are SO poor ergonimically).
I usually have the Apple Activity monitor, WhatsApp and messages open on one so I can spot incoming. Sometimes Bitdefender too.
Web browser on the other for email etc. Or maybe Photoshop. Stuff gets shunted around. I’m sure you’re doing that already.

I have a similar setup using a 27" wide monitor.
But - I find it really difficult to run 2 documents side-by-side on the same wide screen - it's a lot of faff all the time to open and align each document (I tend to use Word but my second document is Word, Excel, PDF etc).

So - I sit with the 27" monitor in front of me and the laptop to the side with the 2nd document.

I'd go for 34" ultra wide if only going to use one monitor. I previously used a 32" regular monitor alongside initally the 14" laptop screen on a stand (not great) then with a 20" alongside (better but the size mismatch still not great). Swapped to the single 34" but it didn't give me a useful amount of screen estate.

Now using 2 x 23" matching monitors acquired from the office. Laptop always stays closed. Much of my work involves multiple workbooks at the same time, with Outlook, Teams and Chrome open in the background.

I too have moved to 34” ultra wide. At work we have double 22” screens and I am happy to confirm that the single curved screen is much more pleasant to use and doesn’t want for loss of real estate. Added bonus is that it has Picture in Picture, so I run my own laptop in the top corner. A rapid toggle would be nice, but that isn’t a feature, it’s done by menu buttons. It also has speakers and a USB-C hub that will charge a laptop too (8W so not mine).

Samsung and about £600. Have a cheaper one too for Son1 after an accident killed two smaller monitors. That has a decent screen but no speakers or PIP.

34" UW FTW. Dell somethingorother here. I'd go bigger if I was buying again, but not bigger than 40" and I'm happy with 34 for what I do. It's night and day over what I had before (24 + 15)

But – I find it really difficult to run 2 documents side-by-side on the same wide screen – it’s a lot of faff all the time to open and align each document (I tend to use Word but my second document is Word, Excel, PDF etc).

Open first doc. Hit Windows + left arrow key; then click on the other document and it'll put them side by side on screen?

32 inch 4k works well for me, but a 27 qhd will display 2 docs side by side at 100% if you’re going for cheapest option

One point on resolution. I borrowed a 28” thinking bigger is better, but the vertical height and closeness to the screen meant I kept looking up and down a document moving my head. The 34” UW is not as tall and the vertical resolution feels just right. It also allows desk hifi speakers either side, which would not be possible with a wider screen!

Is that much more of a faff - does your laptop have the USB-C port with power delivery? My little docking station runs everything via 1 cable (hdmi, multi USB stuff, printer, keyboard/mouse, power), turn on and everything is good to go.

I used to have ultra wide by now have 2 screens partly because for some reason the display looks weird to anyone viewing when I share in Teams

Sharing in teams means I only share one window at a time not the desktop. Otherwise they get the full wide expertise scaled down onto their laptop as a strip. It’s a downside for sure.

chrismac
Full Member
I used to have ultra wide by now have 2 screens partly because for some reason the display looks weird to anyone viewing when I share in Teams

you know you can just share programme windows??

I use one 28" 4k Lenovo, I have previously used up to 3 monitors, but this is a good balance and was only about £200 (probably £250 now). Compared with a ~£500 Dell 4k there was nothing in it picture wise.
I prefer a non-widescreen because I don't work on documents, 4k gives a good vertical resolution and plays nicely with Teams when sharing desktops (others who have the ultrawide cause problems with their screen being squished to display on non-widescreen).

34" Samsung Ultrawide here too in the same scenario. Two documents side by side no problem, in fact three would be OK. Any bigger I think my neck would hurt.

Teams I always just share the window (don't want them seeing what I last read on STW), otherwise enable the laptop display if you want to share a desktop.

As has been said resolution is the key and the size you need links to that. What resolution is your current 22" monitor and laptop screen? I suspect a 27" QHD (2560x1440) would probably give you as much usable screen area as you have currently but maybe not.

Personally I prefer separate screens (I have my laptop closed but it plugs into a dock via a USB-C cable, that dock links to one monitor via DisplayPort and another monitor chains to the first monitor, although most docks have additional ports like HDMI so you could have both monitors connecting to the dock. Whilst both my monitors are 27" one is QHD and one is HD (this is mostly as my laptop is getting on a bit and can't drive two external QHD monitors via the dock). If I wasn't constrained I'd probably just have 2 x 27" QHD monitors, although having the option to drag docs to the HD screen when you want to sit back a bit and read without having to faff with zooming etc. is nice. 27" 4k I found text etc. a bit too small for prolonged use, it's probably fine at 32" though (or at 27" if you have younger eyes than me...).

Ultra-widescreens and virtual windows etc. have pros and cons, I must admit I've not used one much, I keep thinking they're a big investment if I end up not liking the usability though (and as someone else said, they seem a hassle when screen-sharing on Teams - or people that have them on Teams call I attend make it seem more hassle than it is with changing display settings back and forth etc.)

With screens, the bigger the better I reckon. However the ideal price point for me seems to be 32" 4k, we got these for under £300. It's the same resolution as four HD screens, and whilst it does show up smaller than four HD monitors would be I do currently have four apps roughly tiled in each quadrant. For the money it's ACE.

they seem a hassle when screen-sharing on Teams

If you are sharing a full screen on a web call - you shouldn't be! One app at a time.

Samsung 32" on my home desk, have two 24 flat panels at work, prefer the single screen. Find I can never get the two to line up and find I'm swinging my head side to side to see each screen..

If I was upgrading, would go for a 34: https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-odyssey-g5-lc34g55twwrxxu-wqhd-curved-gaming-monitor-34-inch-black/p5852048

I don't really see how setting up/taking down one larger monitor and a closed laptop every day will be any less hassle than doing the same with a smaller monitor and open laptop 🤔 unless I'm missing something...

If this is a (semi) permanent WFH setup maybe dual monitors & a docking hub on a moveable arm attached to the end of the table or the wall, so they can just be pushed aside, would be more convenient?

As costs have fallen I have found myself on 3x 27" monitors now... could cope going down to two, but not one any more I think (no matter how wide!) 😃 fortunately space not an issue!

Pfft, what’s wrong with you all? My 19” Iiyama CRT is as good today as it was when I bought it in 1996, as long as I degauss it every three minutes. If you had one of those OP you wouldn’t need to pack it away every night as it could double up as the dining table. Typical STW, always have to have the shiny object. 😀

I went from 2 x 24” monitors to a single 34” curved widescreen (Phillips something or other) with a built in USB-C hub, so just one cable to my laptop. Other than taking a while to wake up the display (which can get annoying) it’s been great.

I think it depends what work you do and also what OS you're using. MacOS doesn't have as many convinience features as windows does to snap multiple windows to different parts of a single screen so I find it worse for using with a big screen - you can still manually size the windows where you want but thats a faff compared to just dragging them to the left/right.

I wouldn't go bigger than 30" without a curved screen though, with how close you sit to a monitor, a wide screen means things in the corners are a lot further away (and thus smaller) than the middle of the screen.

also, 49" or bust 😉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-499P9H-00-Widescreen-Multimedia/dp/B07MY2DXPH

MacOS doesn’t have as many convinience features as windows does to snap multiple windows to different parts of a single screen so I find it worse for using with a big screen

Currently I have two 24" side by side at home and would really like a third one as I'm often running out of real estate.

Not convinced a single larger monitor would work, although never having tried one, hard to know.

I bought two discounted Lenovo 27" monitors about 5 months ago from John Lewis (think the price was £106 and £109). Already have a 24" BENQ and adding the two 27" is so nice for WFH.

But my table is a mess and wires everywhere ... don't have the time and space to sort them out yet.

I'm waiting for a 34" 21:9 from work. Many have said they don't like it Vs two screens but I'm hoping that's just because they have not bothered to work out how to use the windows snap to corner/edge function, and whatever the bundled software offers.

I don’t really see how setting up/taking down one larger monitor and a closed laptop every day will be any less hassle than doing the same with a smaller monitor and open laptop 🤔 unless I’m missing something…

In the more typical two screen setup:
Laptop, usb lead, dock, two hdmi/displayport leads, two monitor power leads and a strip adaptor

Or

Laptop, USB-C lead including power delivery, and monitor.

Thanks all, I'll take a look at 34" ultra wide monitors. Is there any recommendations towards the budget end (I'll be buying rather than work), if it had USB and speakers that would be a huge bonus.

To answer questions above. Current monitor is approx 10 years old, no idea on resolution, only has a VGA input so I have to use a hdmi adapter and has an old pink tinge.

I can't fit dual stand to table as it would still need to be removed each day and nowhere near a wall unfortunately.

Current setup may not seem a lot of hassle but my thought was a single monitor with laptop closed and stowed behind it with a USB hub and wireless keyboard and mouse would be a simpler and cleaner look to get out and pack away each day. It also may be an excuse to buy a new monitor 😉

I bought the cheapest Samsung for Son1 and it does picture by picture but not in. That’s a deal breaker if you want two computers on screen for me. No speakers either. Image is fine. It does have a habit of nodding off - the hinge was weak and I had to wedge it - that was about £380. My posh Samsung one with white and silver and PIP, speakers (which are fine for work) and a USBC hub was about £600 and I am pleased with the purchase.

If going cheaper, I’d probably not buy the Samsung one again. It does feel cheap and I think there are better ones available. Some with PIP. You’ll need to spend £400.

I use a DELL U3415W (doesn't look like they do them any more) on a daily basis at work. It's my only experience of a large monitor so I can't really compare to anything else. It's almost exactly at the width limits of my standing desk so I wouldn't want any bigger. Typically i'll have a lot of randomly sized things open at the same time and it's easy to move things around. I don't miss two screens at all.

I have 2 27” monitors plus laptop screen at home. When I’m (rarely) in the office it’s a 34” curved ultra wide with usb c hub etc. Both setups work well, but I like the hard boundary between some apps that having 2 monitors provides.

14" Dell laptop supplied by the company I'm contracting to, my Dell XPS17 and Samsung 32" 4k monitor. The stuff I do would be a pain on one screen. The 32" monitor is a nice size for side by side documents though

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Another vote for a 34" ulrawide, I replaced 2 24" monitors with one, it's bloody amazing.

I went for a Dell S3422DWG, that's the gaming version but others can be had for slightly cheaper (but go big or go home). No speakers though. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-34-curved-gaming-monitor-s3422dwg/apd/210-azze/monitors-monitor-accessories

The lower priced S3423DWC has speakers, £409 https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-34-curved-usb-c-monitor-s3423dwc/apd/210-beje/monitors-monitor-accessories

I'd say that second one ticks all your boxes and should do you for another decade, I can't say how good the sound quality is but that can be mitigated with actual speakers if need be.

If you are sharing a full screen on a web call – you shouldn’t be! One app at a time.

This only really applies in very simple situations. If you're involved in calls where you need to be switching between multiple documents, want to put two things on-screen at the same time etc then it makes far more sense to have one screen shared from a multi-screen setup - you can open and manipulate windows on a non-shared screen and snap them into the shared window using shortcuts really quickly. It's much less painful for both the sharer and the audience - and also avoids the situation where the sharer starts talking about a window that they've opened on their screen without changing the window they're sharing.

Those using large screens in Windows environments may want to have a look at FancyZones in MS PowerToys if they don't already have it.

If you’re involved in calls where you need to be switching between multiple documents

You can still do that on many platforms - share both windows and as you alt-tab between them it is reflected to the viewers.

I've never really had to share multiple documents at once though. My advice was more to do with data security.

For years I've run a screen and a laptop but also in-line, i.e. the laptop sits in front of me and I use the keyboard & screen and a monitor (just a 24") sits directly above it.

The 24" is my main screen and I just use the laptop screen for Outlook and when I need two 'views'. Majority of my work is Excel/Word/Powerpoint based, and Teams.

It does mean I need a deeper desk and I also have my own laptop at an angle to one side - and do use it as a 3rd screen when I searching the Internet for something (work based), but it has no access to my work.

As per oldtennisshoes I really like two screens. Something about the physical break between them helps me work between documents and for some reason, psychologically I just cannot get on with one big one. Same real estate (or even more) I know with one big screen but they just don't work for me.

Plus you can arrange two screens to fit in a space that would be too small for one big one also. Try before you buy?

A key factor in running a bigger monitor is the distance between you and the monitor and the usable resolution - i.e. when the pixels become indistinguishable to the eye. This is why you have scaled settings in Windows and MacOS these days. A more distant, big, hi=res monitor can be a more relaxing all-day experience but then you can't use native resolution on it for most purposes. This is where ultra wides are a pretty good option.

I put a tool together to model perceived real estate based on acuity/viewing distance

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/bown7evuiq

Instructions:

TL:DR - play with the slider for pixel pitch (i). 0.23 is a good value for a viewing distance of 30 inches. If you're viewing closer,

1. The top table lists monitor configurations for native resolution and diagonal. If the last column is empty for a row, it is not plotted in the comparison. If it is 1, it is plotted.

2. The slider for variable i is for the pixel pitch factor (units mm/pixel); this presumes that after a point, resolution is pointless; this is a viewing distance factor. 0.255 mm/pixel pixel pitch is about 100 pixels per inch. 0.230 mm/pixel is about 110 pixels per inch (viewing distance 30 inches). Play around with this.

You then get a bunch of outputs and the visualisation.

- viewing distance (in meters) equivalent to the pixel pitch (where the monitor resolution can be considered better than your retina)
- viewing distance (in meters) equivalent to the pixel pitch (where the monitor resolution is reasonable for office application type use)

In the table you get a bunch of calcs leading to...
- the scaled resolution you will use to view the monitor
- M - the megapixels of the display (a measure of real estate)

At that 0.230 value for i (viewing distance 1m), a 4k UHD 32" 16:9 monitor and a typical 34" ultra-wide are almost equivalent in real-estate at ~5 megapixels with arguably the ultrawide being the better shape. The ultra-wide will be at native resolution and the 4k will be scaled at 1.25x.

If you do photographic detail work (and sit closer to the monitor at 0.8m), the 4k monitor comes into its own at native resolution equivalent to 8.3 megapixels.

A usability option for ultrawides and screen sharing and/or side-by-side work... run two cables to the screen and then PBP (picture-by-picture the two inputs side by side setting their resolutions to half-width.

This can be a pretty tough setup to get all the compatibility issues sorted. I have had it working on a 16:9 4k screen but it was more fuss than it was worth for me in the long run.

The argument in favour is that you can share an entire screen so the Teams call can see you working across applications which can be important for demos/support/training scenarios.

@peaslaker

I've not played with your calculator as I'm at work on a mobile, but does it essentially do what I attempted manually in a topic last year...trying to compare usable screen space between a dual monitor setup and an ultrawide?

I’m surprised I couldn’t find a calculator to visualise this, lots for the simple screen size but none that took into account the resolution, anyone know of one?