Monitor Size Opinions

[LightPrism]

Finally moving off CRTs to LCD's.

Kicking around 2ea 23" or 1ea 30".

Seems like I get annoyed more often by not enough vertical space for mulitiple layers (scrolling up and down thru the layers). Rarely get bugged by not having enough horizontal space to see the timeline since it's so easy to key toggle timeframe of the timeline. Thus the thinking on one 30"

You folks' opinions?

[GrassValley_BH]

Get a display you can run in Portrait (tall) mode. Some of them support a hardware button that you can press to have the display image rotate.

[Jerry]

Finally moving off CRTs to LCD's.

Kicking around 2ea 23" or 1ea 30".

Seems like I get annoyed more often by not enough vertical space for mulitiple layers (scrolling up and down thru the layers). Rarely get bugged by not having enough horizontal space to see the timeline since it's so easy to key toggle timeframe of the timeline. Thus the thinking on one 30"

You folks' opinions?

A couple of years ago I had that same dilema. So, I coughed up for the 30" Cinema Display. Well, after about a week I went out and picked up a 24" gateway that also rotates for vertical viewing for my second monitor.
(Two of these might be the way to go for rotating purposes.) I have not seen a 30" that can rotate physically.

I have used 2 displays since way...........back.
If you are used to a 1 monitor setup, I would recommend at least a 24" but after having used my 30" would say to go that route...not necessarily Apple though. Not because of quality, but because of cost. I do want another one for a matching pair.
However, if you are used to dual monitor editing, go the dual 24."
All of that being said, make sure you have a dual dvi video card capable of displaying upto 2560x1600 resolutions on both outputs.

I just prefer all of the desktop space that I can get.
I recently had a project with 20 layers of video 6 of titles and 5 of audio.
I even had to scroll some with the 30."
But the second monitor carried the Bin structure, Vectorscope/Waveform, and info panels.

[LightPrism]

Get a display you can run in Portrait (tall) mode. Some of them support a hardware button that you can press to have the display image rotate.

That would be cool ... any leads?

Jerry ...

the 30" Apple Cinema Display is the one we were looking at and YES - hefty $ tag. Are you happy with yours (will be driving it with an nVida 8800GT which should support the resolutions recommendations you provided.

[GrassValley_BH]

My old NEC 1810s have a button, but it seems the newer monitors have sensors for such things.

Old, but should give you an idea...

http://news.softpedia.com/news/SyncMaster-204t-First-20-inch-LCD-With-Pivot-form-Samsung-8634.shtml

[STORMDAVE]

I would go for dual 22" Wide LCD's (Samsungs or LG) or a single 30".

The 30" ACD has been in my shopping cart for a long time...but you can go for the 30" Dell, it's $1049 right now, I think, compared to the $1,500 price tag on the Apple. They both use Phillips panels (AFAIK). The Apple seems to be much more respected in the graphics community, but if you're not really doing much that requires color precision, then a Dell should suffice. I mean you're probably going to have a professional monitor for previewing anyway, so...

I don't know why Apple & Dell are not adding Component and HDMI in with these monitors, I think it's time for them to do so. Maybe because 1080p will not fill the whole screen...dunno.

As far as rotating, I think it's a sweet deal. I rotated one of my 21" Samsungs and put in the After Effects tools in that window, it was a totally different experience.

Anyway, I would go with a single 30" and add another monitor like Jerry mentioned if you really need more room.

But remember, dual monitors have much more resolution horizontal resolution than a single 30", so keep that in mind.

Dual 24"'s is not a bad idea, but I don't think you'd have room for that, a single 30" would be good enough.

Few setups I found on google:







Dual 30" ACD's:

[GrassValley_BH]

Hey Dave, that top pic with the one portrait and one landscape - what size are the two mons? I like how the portrait one is the same height as the landscape one.

[SRsupport]

I was wondering the same. Looks good .

[STORMDAVE]

Hey Dave, that top pic with the one portrait and one landscape - what size are the two mons? I like how the portrait one is the same height as the landscape one.

I think the big one is a 30" ACD and the one on the left is 24" (Please correct me)...since my math skills aren't upto task these days, I'll let you figure this one out :|

Here's another cool setup:








I would hold off on the ACD, HDCP and HDMI features are on the horizon, so I would bet that the next gen ACD's will have these 2 features included, and you might even see better performance and price drop/inch raise.

[gdame]

Dual 22" wides are the best bang for your dollar 1680 x 1050 each for a 3360 x 1050 desktop for under $500. But if you like to use a lot of layers and tracks in Edius then a pair of 24" 1920 x 1200 would provide you the ultimate in vertical resolution and a whopping 3840 horizontal res. And if you really hate scrolling through tracks than get portrait capable ones as Brandon had mentioned and have a 2400 wide x 1920 desktop. This would be an awesome way to edit!

Let us know what you choose.

[Jerry]

That would be cool ... any leads?

Jerry ...

the 30" Apple Cinema Display is the one we were looking at and YES - hefty $ tag. Are you happy with yours (will be driving it with an nVida 8800GT which should support the resolutions recommendations you provided.

When I bought it, boy, did I complain about the price tag! But, everytime I use Photoshop with a high end graphic, I am glad about my decision.
I looked at the Dell and I have also looked at the HP. I did notice a color and detail difference in those as compared to the Apple. It is a personal choice for color and detail vs price that YOU have to make.

[redgum]

Notice none of those monitor shots show a video timeline. Also keep in mind that if you want to develop arthritis of the neck just add more real estate. I've been editing for 20+ years and ended up with 2 x 30" Dells which is far too much on the eyes and the neck unless you sit back with a keyboard on your lap. I got rid of them both and now have 2 x 27" Dells, one to edit on and the other as video monitor.
The original setup (2 x 30") required two video cards to get full resolution and defeated the purpose if I lowered it. There is a formula for distance to monitor and comfort in long edits and the optometrist worked out that a max of a 27" screen at 1920 x 1200 resolution was spot on.
I'm real happy with the current setup and I don't have to hang my eyeballs out to dry after short sessions.

[witchdoctor]

Although in general I'm not a great fan of Gateway, I purchased their 30 " 2560x1600 monitor a few months back and have been very happy with it. All of Edius Broadcast easily fits on it with lots of room for the monitor window. I did need to upgrade my video card to a Radeon x1650 to drive the monitor to full resolution, and I'm only working with single stream video from an HVX-200, but for my purposes this is a great monitor.

[GrassValley_BH]

My desktop at home actually has portrait 18" LCD, 22" CRT, portrait 18" LCD.
So my desktop is a weird shape (resolution-wise and physically)

I like having a non-split "middle" of the desktop, so Stormdave's first arrangement with matching portrait+landscape is very appealing to me.

[STORMDAVE]

BH, you might like this too: Swordfish:





:D