Considering ultrawide

[StarsMars]

So at home I currently run one monitor with a KVM build in.  I'd like another monitor for studying and writing papers. 

2 problems. 

If I get a second monitor, I'd need an external KVM.

I wouldn't be able to mount it on a VESA mount because the exam proctors don't allow multiple monitors. So I'd need to be able to remove it easily.

 

Not sure if it makes more sense to get a KVM and 2nd monitor or go ultrawide.

I feel like ultrawide would be a pain because of the way windows snap in windows11. 

 

Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated.

[Donut417]

3 minutes ago, StarsMars said:

feel like ultrawide would be a pain because of the way windows snap in windows11

Easy solution, use power toys from Microsoft, it makes windows snapping better. 

[GuiltySpark_]

44 minutes ago, StarsMars said:

I feel like ultrawide would be a pain because of the way windows snap in windows11. 

Ran a 34" 3440x1440 ultrawide as my primary monitor from 2016-2022. The move to Windows 11 made things 1000x easier with the massively improved window snapping functions. Could finally ditch the clunky as hell FancyZones in power toys. 

 

What exactly would the issue be? 

[OddOod]

My partner dailies a 49" DQHD superwide and adores it. Little configuration of FanxcyZones and you're off to the races
As for quick dismounting, that's not hard. Most of the available mounts from VIVO are slide in, though you'll really want a safe place to set it down which is easy if it's flat (just lay it on the bed and don't forget about it), but if it's curved, you might want to actually get two mounts and have one in a storage location. 
PS, BIG bummer about the profs. So silly to disallow second monitor

[StarsMars]

1 hour ago, Donut417 said:

Easy solution, use power toys from Microsoft, it makes windows snapping better. 

Ok, I'll give that a try.

 

45 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

Ran a 34" 3440x1440 ultrawide as my primary monitor from 2016-2022. The move to Windows 11 made things 1000x easier with the massively improved window snapping functions. Could finally ditch the clunky as hell FancyZones in power toys. 

 

What exactly would the issue be? 

When you have two windows on each half of the screen and you want to bring in a 3rd application or window. It freaks out and wants to minimize the others and disrupts things. It's just not quite the same as having multiple monitors. Maybe I just need to mess with it more.

 

33 minutes ago, OddOod said:

My partner dailies a 49" DQHD superwide and adores it. Little configuration of FanxcyZones and you're off to the races
As for quick dismounting, that's not hard. Most of the available mounts from VIVO are slide in, though you'll really want a safe place to set it down which is easy if it's flat (just lay it on the bed and don't forget about it), but if it's curved, you might want to actually get two mounts and have one in a storage location. 
PS, BIG bummer about the profs. So silly to disallow second monitor

Sweet. I might just go for something like this. It's basically a wide version of my current monitor. https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Monitor/M34WQ

Yea it does suck. Exam proctors are weird. They all have their requirements. One made me put a sheet over my TV.

[GuiltySpark_]

1 minute ago, StarsMars said:

It freaks out and wants to minimize the others and disrupts things. It's just not quite the same as having multiple monitors.

Maybe i'm not understanding things but i'm not familiar with this at all. 

 

[Donut417]

1 minute ago, StarsMars said:

When you have two windows on each half of the screen and you want to bring in a 3rd application or window. It freaks out and wants to minimize the others and disrupts things. It's just not quite the same as having multiple monitors. Maybe I just need to mess with it more.

I haven’t messed with the inner workings of Fancy Zones much. But I use Magnet on my Mac and I can create custom sized windows for my applications. So I can make 3 apps fit. Though some apps do have limits to how far you can shrink them. I’m pretty sure fancy zones has the same capabilities. 

[GuiltySpark_]

W11 made things much much easier to snap things to all sorts of configurations.

 

[StarsMars]

8 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

W11 made things much much easier to snap things to all sorts of configurations.

 

The ones on the right.

Idk how I haven't noticed the feature. Ultrawide it is.

[OddOod]

48 minutes ago, StarsMars said:

It freaks out and wants to minimize the others and disrupts things. It's just not quite the same as having multiple monitors. Maybe I just need to mess with it more.

Ah, you need to disable aero shake, I hate that thing
 

[spacepickle]

Looks like you’ve got your issue figured out, but why do your proctors not allow second monitors? Surely you aren’t taking exams in your room on your computer, right? And what’s better about an ultrawide?

 

or is the issue that they use some kind of test taking software that fullscreens itself

[Donut417]

18 minutes ago, spacepickle said:

Surely you aren’t taking exams in your room on your computer, right?

In some cases you do. I graduated from University in 2017, and by that time most classes were 50% online or more. Tests and such were generally done online. They did use special software to prevent cheating. 

[spacepickle]

1 minute ago, Donut417 said:

In some cases you do. I graduated from University in 2017, and by that time most classes were 50% online or more. Tests and such were generally done online. They did use special software to prevent cheating. 

That’s wild that your college did that 8 years ago, tbf I haven’t been to college but my mind is blown.

[Donut417]

1 minute ago, spacepickle said:

That’s wild that your college did that 8 years ago, tbf I haven’t been to college but my mind is blown.

Back in 2006-2009 when I went to community college they started 50% online classes all the way back then. So not wild at all. It allows collages to offer more classes with the same amount of space. 

[spacepickle]

2 hours ago, Donut417 said:

Back in 2006-2009 when I went to community college they started 50% online classes all the way back then. So not wild at all. It allows collages to offer more classes with the same amount of space. 

Kinda blows my mind to be honest, the most technologically involved my education has ever been is using Word for English class