Solved Calling all curved monitor users...I need your opinions.

Always dreamt of owning this beast! I don't even think they stock it anymore!

Edwin said:

Sorry for de-railing your thread @glasskuter !!!

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Since you are one of my favorite quirky people, you are always welcome into any thread of mine in any capacity.

glasskuter said:

Since you are one of my favorite quirky people, you are always welcome into any thread of mine in any capacity.

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Why, Thank You, ma'am! I do have my moments..., just a bit bored is all!

Winuser said:

To me, my 27" curved monitor looked slightly better than my 27" flat monitor. I'm still adjusting to the 32" curve monitor because of the size and higher resolution. By force of habit when I look toward the top I'm not looking at the actual top. I need to adust to the higher height. Other than that I'm glad I bought it. I did slightly increase the text size. My eyes are old and I'm way past getting an eye exam. I was scheduled for an eye exam last year but I had a few words with the person at the America's Best store and they now refuse to see me. I'm going to try another location and see what happens. If nothing comes up we are going to go to the Micro Center in St. David tomorrow. Our son has a few things he wants to get and while there I can get my display port cable and I'm sure I'll find a few things not on my shopping list.

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For me, even if I wanted a curved monitor, I'd still need two monitors simply because of the way I work.

While doing research and comparing, it's much easier to have one document on each screen, although I know I can put them both on the same monitor, it's just easier the way I work. I can also put the research stuff on one monitor and the document or tutorial I'm writing on my main monitor.

And yeah, it doesn't matter if it's a computer store or a grocery store, I'm gonna come home with more stuff than was on my list!

Wynona said:

For me, even if I wanted a curved monitor, I'd still need two monitors simply because of the way I work.

While doing research and comparing, it's much easier to have one document on each screen, although I know I can put them both on the same monitor, it's just easier the way I work. I can also put the research stuff on one monitor and the document or tutorial I'm writing on my main monitor.

And yeah, it doesn't matter if it's a computer store or a grocery store, I'm gonna come home with more stuff than was on my list!

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Yeah - a lot of posts here talk about the pluses but not the potential negatives.

I use two monitors all the time, and I could see handing 2 curved, or 1 curved / 1 flat would be feel unatural.

So how about them for guys like @Wynona and myself who use multiple screens?

Anti Curve monitor here. For me curve monitor benefits if your using ultrawide monitor above 30 inch. If ur buying 32 ultrawide then its acceptable. But if widescreen then its a no no.

pparks1 said:

Hi glasskuter,

I work in IT and have for about 27 years now. As I have gotten older, I too have moved into bifocals per the request of my eye doctor. About a year ago, I started to struggle significantly with my computer distance vision. Like you, I was tipping my head back to keep my monitor in the center part of my glasses and it was annoying. What I ended up doing was getting computer glasses. I mistakenly thought that computer glasses were just typical glasses with special blue light filtering. However, what I discovered was that they are dedicated to that middle distance focal length. These have made a tremendous improvement for me on my day to day computer work. What really stinks though, is I do have to have 2 pairs of glasses. And I always get up from the computer, walk out the door and realize that I have the wrong glasses, and have to go back in and get the right ones.

At work, I have a Dell Ultrasharp U3821DW, which is a 38 inch curved monitor running 3840x1600. the curve on this one is just slight, 2300R. I really have grown to like the extra size of this display. I run it a scale of 125%, which helps my eyes see it better. I'd like to get a large format monitor like this at home, but 1). It's expensive and 2). I simply don't have the space at my desk/office area with the multiple systems that I have to support a monitor of this size.

With all that said, from a vision perspective...i don't find that this curved monitor has any real impact on vision for me. All of my monitors at home are flat and I have no problems with them. My computer glasses by far had a far more significant impact.

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I've worn computer glasses for many years; in fact, I introduced my eye doc to them. The first time I got my prescription, he took me to an actual computer and measured how far back I generally sit.

Using my monitors in the slight V position lets me see what I need to with my computer glasses.

cereberus said:

Yeah - a lot of posts here talk about the pluses but not the potential negatives.

I use two monitors all the time, and I could see handing 2 curved, or 1 curved / 1 flat would be feel unatural.

So how about them for guys like @Wynona and myself who use multiple screens?

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Ummm, @glasskuter wanted to learn about curved monitors.

Thing is, it's a good thing that those of us who use dual monitors should chime in and give her more info she may (or not) need.

I'm not thinking two curved monitors would be good for me.

pparks1 said:

Hi glasskuter,

I work in IT and have for about 27 years now. As I have gotten older, I too have moved into bifocals per the request of my eye doctor. About a year ago, I started to struggle significantly with my computer distance vision. Like you, I was tipping my head back to keep my monitor in the center part of my glasses and it was annoying. What I ended up doing was getting computer glasses. I mistakenly thought that computer glasses were just typical glasses with special blue light filtering. However, what I discovered was that they are dedicated to that middle distance focal length. These have made a tremendous improvement for me on my day to day computer work. What really stinks though, is I do have to have 2 pairs of glasses. And I always get up from the computer, walk out the door and realize that I have the wrong glasses, and have to go back in and get the right ones.



At work, I have a Dell Ultrasharp U3821DW, which is a 38 inch curved monitor running 3840x1600. the curve on this one is just slight, 2300R. I really have grown to like the extra size of this display. I run it a scale of 125%, which helps my eyes see it better. I'd like to get a large format monitor like this at home, but 1). It's expensive and 2). I simply don't have the space at my desk/office area with the multiple systems that I have to support a monitor of this size.

With all that said, from a vision perspective...i don't find that this curved monitor has any real impact on vision for me. All of my monitors at home are flat and I have no problems with them. My computer glasses by far had a far more significant impact.

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Well, I had similar issue regarding needing one pair of glasses for pc and 1 for walking about and I bought a fairly expensive pair of premium computer varifocals which have middle range extended vertically (minimising distance and short range) and virtually eliminated to tilt head at pc but could look up when walking about.

Close reading did involve looking down but being very short sighted, I could just remove specs if really struggling.

For clarity, they were called computer varifocals and are not that well known. The more standard varifocals only use a minimal band for middle as when moving around, distance is most used.

The other thing not that well known is cheap varifocals are only really geared to distance but you can read by looking down but the horizontal focus ranges are not that good and if you look to left or right without moving head, edge vision is blurred. The premium varifocals have a much better horizontal width focus range - much less blurring.

What I found is I never use the distance part too much in the house, but still found it more comfortable to use normal distance lenses outside house.

Interestingly, I had my natural lenses replaced with artificial ones as I had aggressive cataracts. As the NHS ones are single focus, I could not get a lens that cured my whole focus range, so I had to make a choice between being slightly shortsided so I could read and use pcs etc without glasses but needed distance glasses when outside (I use photochromic lenses anyway), or being slightly long sited so I could see distance but would need glasses for reading.

As I read a lot in bed, and watch tv on mobile phone, I selected to be being slightly shortsighted. In house, I never wear glasses any more, but only put them on for distance. For convenience, I bought more standard varifocals (minimised middle distance) but reasonable short and distant range so I did not keep having to take of specs when in ships.

Wynona said:

And yeah, it doesn't matter if it's a computer store or a grocery store, I'm gonna come home with more stuff than was on my list!

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Ever wonder way stores will move things to other aisles? The more you have to look the more you buy.

Winuser said:

If nothing comes up we are going to go to the Micro Center in St. David tomorrow. Our son has a few things he wants to get and while there I can get my display port cable and I'm sure I'll find a few things not on my shopping list.

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When I woke up this morning my sinuses were acting up so I'm going to put off going to Micro Center until maybe next weekend. I do have to go to Wally World today so I'll see if they have them.

Winuser said:

When I woke up this morning my sinuses were acting up so I'm going to put off going to Micro Center until maybe next weekend. I do have to go to Wally World today so I'll see if they have them.

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I don't think Wally World will have a Display Port Cable. It's hard enough to find regular cables, never mind those!

Wynona said:

I don't think Wally World will have a Display Port Cable. It's hard enough to find regular cables, never mind those!

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I have seen them in the Super Walmart about an hour away from me. I don't know about the local Walmart (about a 7 minutes from me). I have to go there to pick up my wife's prescription so it won't hurt to look. If not I can stop in the local computer repair shop/what ever is left of Radio Shack products store. I know they're closed today. I'm not sure if they will be open tomorrow or not.

Winuser said:

I have seen them in the Super Walmart about an hour away from me. I don't know about the local Walmart (about a 7 minutes from me). I have to go there to pick up my wife's prescription so it won't hurt to look. If not I can stop in the local computer repair shop/what ever is left of Radio Shack products store. I know they're closed today. I'm not sure if they will be open tomorrow or not.

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I hadn't thought of the Super Walmart. My Walmart is about seven minutes away too, while the Super Walmart is only about 15 or 20 minutes away over in Bryant.

Wynona said:

I don't think Wally World will have a Display Port Cable. It's hard enough to find regular cables, never mind those!

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Surprisingly Walmart had what I needed. Before I left the house I checked the 27" Samsung curved monitor to make sure I was buying the right cable. I'm glad I did. The monitor didn't have the display port. I would have sworn that it did.. it only has HDMI and RGB inputs. Walmart had four Display Port to HDMI adapters. I now have both curved monitors connected to my desktop.

I appreciate everyone's input. I've read every post...twice ...and am understanding differences a little better. I am at a disadvantage in that I have to travel 90 miles to one of the big box stores to actually SEE one of these babies. The only local store we have to buy a monitor of any kind is Walmart and their selection is like 4 monitors so not good.

I've carefully considered all I've learned and made a decision. I will research the 32-34 in. 144 hz IPS UHD curved monitors to find the best bang for my buck. Without buying a graphics card, the best quality I can get out of what I currently have is on DP 4096x2304 @ 60hz . (But Ya'll know me and how I always plan for "future proofing" in case my equipment gets upgraded.) When I look at what I do I can't see me EVER doing anything that needs a higher refresh rate than 60hz. and as a septuagenarian it's highly unlikely I'll get a wild hair to turn into a gamer, but if a bargain can be found for higher refresh rate, I'll find it.

Wish I'd done this on Black Friday. Once I finally make a decision, I run with it even if it's wrong. I feel so much better now. Thanks again for all the advise. Til next time I need help making a decision.

Winuser said:

Surprisingly Walmart had what I needed. Before I left the house I checked the 27" Samsung curved monitor to make sure I was buying the right cable. I'm glad I did. The monitor didn't have the display port. I would have sworn that it did.. it only has HDMI and RGB inputs. Walmart had four Display Port to HDMI adapters. I now have both curved monitors connected to my desktop.

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Fantastic! I don't know why, but my WallyWorld doesn't have much in the way of cables at all. I don't get over Bryant way very often, but I'm going to go that way when this snow melts . . . We don't have much snow, and people don't know how to drive in it.

glasskuter said:

can't see me EVER doing anything that needs a higher refresh rate than 60hz

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Hey there you!

I will disagree slightly with that assertion. Simply going from 60 to 120Hz will make a
difference that you will see. Just make sure that you can go from 60 to say 165 Hz in
the settings of the monitor. This will allow you to see the differences from one to the
other. You can then make a better decision. I for one, have notebooks from 60 to 360Hz
(my recent one) and I can safely say that I do see a Big difference whether it's gaming
or watching a movie or just working with programs. MSI has this little program that I
use for my different screens. it will allow me to switch from the lowest resolution that
the screen provides to the highest. It does make a difference that I can see when I try
it on my notebooks and my 32" Optix. Just wanted to let you know. Happy shopping.

This is from my recent notebook:



And from my 32"

Wynona said:

I've worn computer glasses for many years; in fact, I introduced my eye doc to them. The first time I got my prescription, he took me to an actual computer and measured how far back I generally sit.

Using my monitors in the slight V position lets me see what I need to with my computer glasses.

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I'd suggest varifocal lenses are far better than bi-focals - but i'm not an optician so not an expert opinion -- just from experience -- I've used bi-focals for driving and found them annoying. The sun can get very low down here in morning and evenings in winter months - and as the air is incredibly pollution / smog / haze free it's difficult to drive without using "dark shades - the "varilux" type of lens works far better with either std single focal / prescription glasses or varifocals. - Of course it depends on prescription but if there's a biggish difference between the 2 lenses in a bi focal pair then IMO it's really annoying especially when driving.

If you can't use varifocals then if in a computer office (home etc) then 2 pairs of specs - 1 for each precription might be a better solution.

As for curved moniotors -- not sure -- probably might havebeen OK and a novelty when 3D TV was being broadcast - but I need 4 monitors (doing a load of stock trading) and I don't have that much spare space for large curved monitors.

Cheers
jimbo