![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nym_wibblyI'm always amazed at how computer technology marches on, leaving the clutter of obsolescence behind it. The external monitor that seemed like the bee's knees and felt like an acre of real estate when I bought my HP laptop now feels cramped and restrictive. I tend to have everything set quite big to help my wobbly braincell get through tasks - big text, big icons, which means scrollbars everywhere and a lot of scrolling to read even something short. Dreamwidth is good that way - the titchy font that I used to swear at when the site first lauched is now ideal on my current setup - I barely have to scroll at all while I'm writing or reading on this site, even when I zoom to 300%. But it's a definite exception.
I was looking out for a replacement monitor on Amazon Prime Day, but nothing I wanted came up. So I did my research instead, and squatted for the last few days, waiting for some major store to offer a deal. Yesterday, I got one, and scored myself a 4K monitor, for a good price. 4K alone would be a big leap from my current 1920x1080 setup, but I've also gone large. I've gone huge, and ultrawidescreen because the bulk of what I do on my computer - writing, editing writing, website coding, indexing, moving files around, and family history research - involves copying something from one window to another. That operation also happens to be one of the hardest things for my ailing brain to accomplish, so being able to keep both in view at once, without fussing about with overlapping windows or scrollbars, would be amazing. It didn't seem worth upgrading unless I ended up able to do that, but I may have overcompensated. I think this new monitor may overhang my desk, it's so wide.
My Microsoft Surface tablet/computer/thing is a mixed blessing. It's silent, portable, reliable, and functions well as a desktop replacement if I hook it up to the necessary externals. On the downside, it's 3x the price of my usual level of PC, finnicky about accessories, was designed to be used with an expensive proprietary dock if you want to use it like a desktop (Kensington just launched a better version than Microsoft's and it's over £300 - more than a low-end computer!), has only 1 USB hole, and uses a MiniDisplayport for video output (while apparently preferring HDMI connections, meaning you need an adapter even if your monitor has a DisplayPort). With the right cable (active rather than passive), I'm hoping it won't choke on either 4K or the ultrawide aspect ratio. Cuz if it does, I have one monster of a white elephant on the way, and it'll be a nightmare to return to sender.
Here's hoping the Tech Gods are smiling on my choices, today.
ETA: Other than not being able to adjust the tilt angle (probably because I'm scared of breaking it by applying the necessary force), I declare success! It's like having 2.5 normal monitors side by side, only neater.
I was looking out for a replacement monitor on Amazon Prime Day, but nothing I wanted came up. So I did my research instead, and squatted for the last few days, waiting for some major store to offer a deal. Yesterday, I got one, and scored myself a 4K monitor, for a good price. 4K alone would be a big leap from my current 1920x1080 setup, but I've also gone large. I've gone huge, and ultrawidescreen because the bulk of what I do on my computer - writing, editing writing, website coding, indexing, moving files around, and family history research - involves copying something from one window to another. That operation also happens to be one of the hardest things for my ailing brain to accomplish, so being able to keep both in view at once, without fussing about with overlapping windows or scrollbars, would be amazing. It didn't seem worth upgrading unless I ended up able to do that, but I may have overcompensated. I think this new monitor may overhang my desk, it's so wide.
My Microsoft Surface tablet/computer/thing is a mixed blessing. It's silent, portable, reliable, and functions well as a desktop replacement if I hook it up to the necessary externals. On the downside, it's 3x the price of my usual level of PC, finnicky about accessories, was designed to be used with an expensive proprietary dock if you want to use it like a desktop (Kensington just launched a better version than Microsoft's and it's over £300 - more than a low-end computer!), has only 1 USB hole, and uses a MiniDisplayport for video output (while apparently preferring HDMI connections, meaning you need an adapter even if your monitor has a DisplayPort). With the right cable (active rather than passive), I'm hoping it won't choke on either 4K or the ultrawide aspect ratio. Cuz if it does, I have one monster of a white elephant on the way, and it'll be a nightmare to return to sender.
Here's hoping the Tech Gods are smiling on my choices, today.
ETA: Other than not being able to adjust the tilt angle (probably because I'm scared of breaking it by applying the necessary force), I declare success! It's like having 2.5 normal monitors side by side, only neater.