Best monitor for productivity?

[jadar]

I'm in the market for a new monitor, and I'm weighing my options. I'm a computer science student on a budget, and I don't do a lot of gaming (I know, pretty heinous,) so I would mostly use it for productivity. I don't know if I should go for a normal 4K monitor or if I should look for something like a 21:9 ultrawide. What have you guys found is the best bang-for-the-buck and useful for productivity?

 

ADDENDUM: I'm probably looking to spend around $300 US or less.

ADDENDUM 2: I also currently have two 16:9 23" 1080p monitors that this would be replacing. Since I'm plugging into a laptop I think it's easier to just have one large one instead of two smaller ones.

[Slottr]

Whats the budget?

[jadar]

2 minutes ago, Slottr said:

Whats the budget?

That would be helpful information, wouldn't it? I updated the OP but probably in the sub-$300 range.

[Dedayog]

Best monitor for productivity is the cheapest 24 or 27 inch monitors you can find.  Dual or triple setup.  

 

4k isn't useful when you're reading text on a screen.

 

If you do game a little, a 21x9 UW is the goods for both.

 

 

[markr54632]

If you have 2 decent monitors upgrading for productivity is a waste. Buy a usb 3.0 docking station so that you only have one cable to plug and unplug.

 

That being said a stand that can rotate one of the monitors is also helpful. I usually use one in landscape and the other in portrait.

[LyondellBasell]

10 hours ago, jadar said:

I'm in the market for a new monitor, and I'm weighing my options. I'm a computer science student on a budget, and I don't do a lot of gaming (I know, pretty heinous,) so I would mostly use it for productivity. I don't know if I should go for a normal 4K monitor or if I should look for something like a 21:9 ultrawide. What have you guys found is the best bang-for-the-buck and useful for productivity?

 

ADDENDUM: I'm probably looking to spend around $300 US or less.

ADDENDUM 2: I also currently have two 16:9 23" 1080p monitors that this would be replacing. Since I'm plugging into a laptop I think it's easier to just have one large one instead of two smaller ones.

 

10 hours ago, jstudrawa said:

Best monitor for productivity is the cheapest 24 or 27 inch monitors you can find.  Dual or triple setup.  

 

4k isn't useful when you're reading text on a screen.

I would like to disagree. Here's my case:

I use multiple 4K panels at work, for purely "productivity" applications. With a 4K panel, not only is the text you're reading sharper, but you have sufficient room to view documents, websites, and source material side-by-side.

Snap two browser windows open, each covering one half of the screen, left and right. You now have two 9:8 windows, perfect for reading articles in page format.

 

I would recommend something like the LG 32MU59-B.

It's the right size to be able to read text very legibly at 4K resolution, it's not overly fancy, and it has a reader mode that tones down the amount of blue light coming from the screen so it's easy to read from for hours and hours. I realize that it is slightly above the $300 mark, but as a durable good, I believe its usefulness makes the case for such an investment. Cheers!

 

[Dedayog]

8 hours ago, LyondellBasell said:

 

I would like to disagree. Here's my case:

I use multiple 4K panels at work, for purely "productivity" applications. With a 4K panel, not only is the text you're reading sharper, but you have sufficient room to view documents, websites, and source material side-by-side.

Snap two browser windows open, each covering one half of the screen, left and right. You now have two 9:8 windows, perfect for reading articles in page format.

 

I would recommend something like the LG 32MU59-B.

It's the right size to be able to read text very legibly at 4K resolution, it's not overly fancy, and it has a reader mode that tones down the amount of blue light coming from the screen so it's easy to read from for hours and hours. I realize that it is slightly above the $300 mark, but as a durable good, I believe its usefulness makes the case for such an investment. Cheers!

 

I don't find the text on a 4k that much sharper but I also don't shrink things cuz I'm getting older.  The OP and his young eyes may find benefit there, it's a nice monitor and we agree on UW aspects.  Price isn't bad, and has a long useful life.