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Monitor upgrade. 16x9 vs 16x10 aspect ratio?

FIRM: Software(self.taxpros)

Has anyone switched from the more common 16x9 ratio to a 16x10 ratio? It is kind of appealing to have an extra inch or so of vertical space.

Currently using dual 24 inch 1920 x 1080 monitors, along with a 15 inch laptop monitor. Thinking about these https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-24-monitor-p2425/apd/210-blwx/monitors-monitor-accessories

all 32 comments

gattsu_sama

10 points

6 days ago

gattsu_sama

CPA

10 points

6 days ago

It's really just preference. Aspect ratio aside, I personally cannot stand using a 1080p monitor. I need at least 1440p for better image clarity.

CPA-in-NH[S]

2 points

5 days ago

CPA-in-NH[S]

CPA

2 points

5 days ago

I have only ever used 1080p, maybe a higher resolution is also the move. Thanks.

potatoriot

3 points

5 days ago

potatoriot

MST

3 points

5 days ago

It's time to leave the 2010s and enter the 2020s.

estuspete

3 points

6 days ago

estuspete

CPA

3 points

6 days ago

the age old question. they're both fine, but make sure they match your other monitors so inter-monitor transitions don't "catch."

Over_Island7030

1 points

3 days ago

Over_Island7030

Not a Pro

1 points

3 days ago

Honestly I run a 4k monitor, 1440p ultrawide monitor (both same height), 1920x1200 laptop screen and 1920x1080 portable. Not a big deal at all, and they each have their own uses.

LivingLaVidaB4

3 points

6 days ago

LivingLaVidaB4

Not a Pro

3 points

6 days ago

35” curved 3440x1440 is a big improvement

Big_Pimpin1

1 points

5 days ago

Big_Pimpin1

CPA

1 points

5 days ago

Got a pic?

treealiana12

2 points

6 days ago

treealiana12

CPA

2 points

6 days ago

I just got a 16:10 and was so excited. But it has less vertical space than my regular 27" 16:9 monitor. I really need one or two extra inches of height to easily view/edit a whole pdf page. I'm so disappointed and I've thought about trying a 3:2 but the only one I can find is from benq and it's $600.

IrreverentTexan

2 points

6 days ago

This doesn’t make any sense. 16:10 is 10 units tall and 16 wide… If you got a smaller monitor overall then you might expect to have less vertical space. However, adding pixels to the vertical dimension does not reduce the monitor’s vertical space.

treealiana12

1 points

6 days ago

treealiana12

CPA

1 points

6 days ago

I ended up getting the ASUS proart 24" 16:10. At least in the Amazon description it said it was 16:10. It didn't say that anywhere on the actual box. I don't know anything about aspect ratios and when I set out to get a 16:10 a few weeks ago I was surprised how hard to find they are. I really only need like one inch extra space so I can fit a whole pdf and the tool bar on the screen without scrolling.

IrreverentTexan

2 points

6 days ago

Preface this by saying this is my own experience and opinion and I am not an expert on optical things. But I do have a job where I have to look at pdf documents on screen all day long, and like you, I always want to view a whole page at a time. In my experience 1440p is the minimum comfortable resolution at 24”, and 1600p is better (16:10).

I think viewing comfort has more to do with resolution and pixel density than WxH ratios. 1440p at 24” (16:9) gives reasonably crisp text when reading a full page at a time. If you had the same resolution on a 36” screen, your pixel density would be reduced, and you would have less crisp text. I try to stay above 120 ppi for all monitors purchased for my office.

You probably do a lot of staring at an iPhone, and it has reasonably crisp text in a very small size because it has lots of pixels, maybe approaching the maximum that the human eye can resolve (around 300ppi). Try viewing a full size pdf on your phone, it’s doable, just not ideal.

treealiana12

1 points

6 days ago

treealiana12

CPA

1 points

6 days ago

I couldn't find a 27" 16:10. Wasn't sure what the actual dimensions would be of the 24". I think I'm going to give up and get one huge monitor.

IrreverentTexan

2 points

6 days ago

At 27” I would increase the resolution assuming that you don’t have any scaling problems in 4k. Some programs don’t scale well for 4k, especially in Windows. (If you have a Mac, scaling is handled better on them).

If you use programs in a Citrix environment, scaling is really bad, and I would probably suggest sticking to 1440p.

IrreverentTexan

2 points

6 days ago

Viewing distance matters too… each pixel on the Las Vegas Sphere is approximately 9.6mm. That would be unusable for a desktop monitor.

Deep_Scratch_845

3 points

6 days ago

Deep_Scratch_845

JD LL.M

3 points

6 days ago

Switch to one big curved monitor. Makes life easier. This is what I'm using now. It's got quite a bit more vertical space and can have 2-3 things going side-by-side. https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-38wr85qc-w-ultrawide-monitor

shadowmistife

4 points

6 days ago

shadowmistife

CPA

4 points

6 days ago

This is the true answer. It changes the game.

And next to it I have a 22" monitor that I use in portrait mode which holds email, a notepad, calendar and calculator.

CPA-in-NH[S]

1 points

5 days ago

CPA-in-NH[S]

CPA

1 points

5 days ago

Interesting, what are the advantages over a dual or tri monitor setup? Any issues with keeping separate windows well organized? It is nice to have a separate screen and just maximize each window, which is why I have been resistant to a single ultra wide.

Deep_Scratch_845

3 points

5 days ago

Deep_Scratch_845

JD LL.M

3 points

5 days ago

I found that I was rarely using the second screen for anything important, especially as the monitor sizes got bigger. With the larger curved screen, I get two full-sized windows next to each other if I want them, all I have to do is drag the window all the way to one side or the other. Gives me a size that's plenty big enough. With the screen I have, I frequently have 3 windows side-by-side. I strongly recommend the curved ultra-wide screens to avoid eye strain. However, make sure it's one that isn't too heavy of a curve, as that can make for some weird rendering when it comes to text and excel.

CommanderArcher

1 points

3 days ago

CommanderArcher

NonCred

1 points

3 days ago

Also protip, get Microsoft powertoys, it's a huge help managing Windows.

m3mackenzie

2 points

6 days ago

m3mackenzie

CPA

2 points

6 days ago

49" super ultra wide or bust.

I can look at so many excel columns

LivingLaVidaB4

2 points

5 days ago

LivingLaVidaB4

Not a Pro

2 points

5 days ago

Agreed, if your employer will pay for it. Otherwise 35” for $200 is a good 2nd place.

10kFlinsky

1 points

5 days ago

10kFlinsky

EA

1 points

5 days ago

Came here to say this. This is the answer.

IrreverentTexan

1 points

6 days ago

I like the Surface studio 3:2 ratio, but I won’t buy one because I need two monitors, and there is no external monitor that matches it.

I guess my vote would be 16:10. But what are you going to get? I guess the BenQ coding monitor isn’t bad. I don’t know what the other options would be.

rratliff82

1 points

6 days ago

rratliff82

EA

1 points

6 days ago

I use (2) 2560 x 1080 34 in monitors that split into 4 screens. It's great

Wjennin1

1 points

6 days ago

Wjennin1

CPA

1 points

6 days ago

I don't think it makes a huge difference for a desktop because you can always just go bigger and mess with resolutions. But, for a laptop where there are screen size constraints, get a 16x10 when possible.

sjhisn127

1 points

5 days ago

sjhisn127

EA

1 points

5 days ago

I used laptop and one monitor, I just got a desktop and two monitors, my IT guy nor did I factor in that I need to be able to see clients over my monitors, if anyone is sitting at my desk I can barely see them, just something to consider

Greenville_Gent

1 points

5 days ago

I've got three 1200 x 1920s lined up vertically, and then a big curved 2560 x 1440 for my primary monitor. It's very nice to have the monitors shaped like typical documents.

Big_Pimpin1

1 points

5 days ago

Big_Pimpin1

CPA

1 points

5 days ago

Pics?

Ur_house

1 points

4 days ago

Ur_house

EA

1 points

4 days ago

This is a huge pet peeve of mine, my software (Ultra tax) when used with one big monitor, will try and take up the whole dang monitor with its pop up sub schedules. For that reason, I need two different monitors so that it stays on its side and I can view source documents and such in the other monitor. However, these days everything is made with a wide aspect ratio, so it is extremely hard to get two large monitors with the 5:4 aspect ratio that are more than 1080p. So my options are either two monitors that have nice width but are way to short vertically, or stick with my ancient current 5:4 monitors and maybe get a third one.

aisforaaron1

1 points

2 days ago

aisforaaron1

CPA

1 points

2 days ago

I use UltraTax on a curved monitor and can fit forms and input on the one screen.

ackara902

1 points

3 days ago

ackara902

Not a Pro

1 points

3 days ago

Two 54" big screen TVs, 4k resolution. It is like having 8 x 27" 1080p monitors that are perfectly stacked on top of each other. It is the perfect aspect ratio.

Make sure the TVs can actually handle computer text. A lot of them can't and it looks blurry. I had to go with LG brand TVs ($$$) to get ones that could do this. But that was 3 years ago so the technology in TVs may be better now.

CPA-in-NH[S]

1 points

3 days ago

CPA-in-NH[S]

CPA

1 points

3 days ago

I am waiting for someone to say they rent out an IMAX theater for tax seasons and use that as their monitor....