One of the most overlooked pieces of tech that has undergone a massive transformation in the last twenty years is computer monitors.
Those clunky off-white bricks we use to rely on in conjunction with our Windows 98 operating systems are as good as antiques at this point. Nowadays monitors are rarely more than an inch in thickness and come in several different designs, including the trendy curved monitors of the last few years.
For those who use their computer to check their e-mail and look at pictures of corgis in cute outfits, they may not need a multi-monitor setup that looks like something out of a superhero’s hideout. However, if you have a vested interest in the stock market, cryptocurrency, gaming, or silky smooth 4k video, you may start looking into a pair of tastefully curved monitors.
Do they benefit you overall, or is this more of an aesthetic choice to let people know how seriously you take your Tetris? We will get into all of this and more below, to give you the best idea of how important a Dual Curved Monitor setup really is.
Are Curved or Flat Monitors Better (Single & Dual)?
Single Monitor Setup
While curved screens have been around since roughly the fifties, the household monitor with a slight tilt to it is fairly new to the scene.
Like most shiny new pieces of technology, the eager consumer without self-control (me) immediately goes out and buys a new 24-inch curved Sceptre monitor without doing much research beforehand. But what purposes do a curved monitor serve and how can one serve you better than a flat monitor?
Well, thankfully for both of us there are a few reasons why a curved monitor can serve to aid someone who spends most of their time staring into a screen.
The first benefit that can be observed quite literally is the fact that a curved monitor offers more in terms of the three dimensions our eyes can perceive. This creates a visual experience that is both more captivating and enjoyable than what a flat monitor has to offer. Additionally, it also makes images feel larger by comparison – which is always appreciated for those with smaller monitors.
This also lessens the visual static that can be seen on the edges of your screen on a flat monitor. While not a common occurrence, there will be times on a flat-screen monitor that you experience light distortion, particularly towards the borders of the screen.
One way that helped me understand this is that the visual part of the eye is angled into a curve, with the sides being known as peripheral vision. With a curved monitor, it accommodates this part of the eye in a way that a flat-screen never can.
For those of us who spend the majority of our week staring at a screen for work or leisure, you also have less ocular strain over longer periods of time with a curved monitor than with a flat one.
I could throw a lot of confusing multi-syllable words I don’t really understand to impress you but suffice it to say that the natural curve of our eye appreciates the curve of the screen and this creates less discomfort over a longer period of time. This is backed by studies that show fewer examples of visual strain in those that used a curved monitor compared to those that used a flat one.
Dual Monitor Setup
This is also true when you add in an additional monitor for those looking to add another monitor to their desktop collection. This is especially true if you can find two monitors that both follow that natural curve of each other, which will minimize strain on your head and neck throughout the workweek.
The biggest problem that this poses is that your overall cost will be much higher with curved monitors as they are without question the far pricier option currently.
You also need to consider the fact that curved screen monitors are somewhat cumbersome and take up a lot of space.
With that in mind, if your setup or desk does not offer a lot of free space you may be investing in something you struggle to find room for down the road. If this is the case but you still really want to invest in a curved monitor, one individual curved monitor still serves the purpose you desire.
Lastly, be careful about purchasing a monitor that doesn’t give a significant enough curve. There are plenty of monitors nowadays with a very slight curve that serves no actual purpose besides a pleasant aesthetic.
While these things do come down to personal preference at the end of the day, provided that money isn’t an issue and you have the room, the curved dual monitor setup is going to be superior to the flat dual monitor setup.
This does not mean that you can’t get the same amount of productivity or enjoyment out of two flatscreen monitors, it simply means your level of immersion for gaming, videos, and other visual mediums will be slightly improved.
Also, for those who labor long hours in front of a well-illuminated liquid-crystal display – you will not feel the visual strain quite as intensely as you would with the boxier flat screens.
Are Dual Curved Monitors a Good Setup?
In some cases, absolutely.
Whether or not this impressive visual setup is going to be appropriate for you really comes down to how much you are going to need from it. If you work at home, online, or put a good amount of time into your computer-based hobbies, it should prove fantastic.
If you are someone who doesn’t mind possibly dropping anywhere from 500-1500 dollars (or more) on two curved monitors, then it is also a good choice and will lessen the burden on your eyes as a result.
This setup is not going to benefit people who don’t spend several hours in front of their computer or prefer to watch videos and play games through a console. While I am hesitant to tell anyone how they should spend their money, putting a grand down on two monitors you will not use regularly simply isn’t worth the unbelievably high price tag.
If I had to offer up a healthy middle-ground I would say that a quality single curved monitor that spans the length of your desk and has a good arch will prove far more useful to most.
If you are using a multiple monitor setup to keep track of seven different stocks or cryptocurrencies (my deepest condolences) then I completely understand — make your life easier. But outside of that, for the money and the quality you will get out of it, a dual-curved monitor setup might be a bit overkill when considering how big some of the single monitors really are.
Bottom line: The dual-curved monitor setup is cool, futuristic, and makes you look like you work for the Pentagon. While it isn’t a bad purchase, it is a very expensive investment and most avid internet wizards could get by with one ultra-wide curved monitor – or smaller if you aren’t super committed to the digital world.
If your heart is set on it, however, then by all means do it. It is not without its clear benefits in comparison to the flat-screen alternative and improves one’s ability to multi-task.
Conclusion
Folks love their “battle station” setups and I would hate to suck the wind out of your sails if you had your heart set on some top-of-the-line curved monitors.
These dual monitor setups certainly have a good amount of utility, but in my subjective opinion, only about ten percent of techies could get any real benefit from this pricey purchase. If that minority sounds like you though, by all means, get started on your own personal bat cave!
