How an Ultra-Wide Monitor Boosts Productivity
Is 49" too much to get things done?
I bought the largest monitor I could find, the Samsung Odyssey CRG Series 49-Inch Dual QHD Curved Gaming Monitor, to see if it would make me more productive. While I returned that specific monitor, the slightly smaller monitor that replaced it has served all the benefits with none of the literal neck aches.
In this article, we will look at the benefits of more screen real estate, how to take advantage of a bigger monitor to be more productive, and why I ‘downgraded’ from a 49-inch ultra-wide monitor to a measly 40' higher resolution competitor.
The Promised Land of More Screen Real Estate
According to a study by the University of Utah, using a widescreen monitor increased productivity by 52% over a single monitor and increased productivity by 18% over two smaller monitors. It makes sense, right? With a larger monitor, you can see everything you need simultaneously. The Graziadio Business Review explains that window management with a small monitor “is like constantly managing business papers on a small desk.” They posit whether it is “better to spend a large amount of time managing business papers and organizing them or is it better to spend most of that time exploring spread-out business papers on a large desk and gaining insight from them?”
Window management with a small monitor is like constantly managing business papers on a small desk. Is it better to spend a large amount of time managing business papers and organizing them or is it better to spend most of that time exploring spread-out business papers on a large desk and gaining insight from them?
How to be More Productive with an Ultra-Wide Monitor
Multitasking is a myth. And a deep dive into that issue is for another day. Let’s accept it and move on. But while the ultra-wide monitor may seem like it promotes so-called multitasking, its top use is for focusing on one task with all of the resources at hand.
Let’s say you’re writing an appellate brief or an answer to a complaint. Or, if you’re a normal person and not an attorney, let’s say you need to review a spreadsheet to write an email and do…business?
The traditional approach with a small monitor would be to flip back and forth between windows. You have to switch from Word to Lexis to review your research. Then from the complaint you’re answering back to the answer, you’re writing. Or from Excel to Outlook and back to Word to check that…memo? Yes, I understand office workers.
But with an ultra-wide monitor, it’s all in front of you simultaneously. So you can have one window with your case law, one window with the document you’re drafting, and the document you’re responding to all open at once, allowing you to cross-reference easily.
This approach means you don’t have to switch back and forth and risk getting distracted searching for a tab or window. It also means you can see things side-by-side for comparison. For example, looking at the case your opponent cited while reading their pleading can help you determine if it really does stand for what they are proposing. And does Susan need those TPS reports, but do you have to double-check the data from Gary? It’s all right there!
This approach can also reduce stress and ease friction when completing tasks, according to :
The ability to see more of one’s data reduces user stress as this utilizes more external memory (the monitor) and less cognitive memory. Just as writing a list down on paper can relieve the burden of remembering the information-which frees the mind up to perform the task at hand-having a larger monitor enables people to access more information at once and thus to focus more energy on solving the problem as opposed to remembering facts. In addition, increased display space can enable users to retain greater amounts of data in their long-term memories.
Besides having everything you need right in front of you, ultra-wide monitors allow every app to have its place. So rather than searching for your Teams window or Outlook, you can have everything in a specific spot right where you like it. This should not be underestimated. It’s the same principle as your car keys. If they are always in the same spot, there is no need to hunt for them. But if you sometimes toss them by the front door, sometimes on your nightstand, and sometimes leave them in your jacket, it won’t be great.
Similarly, you can create separate desktops for your windows and know that when you’re in e-mail processing mode, Outlook is always the left 1/3 of the screen, Teams is the top right, your VOIP provider is the bottom center, etc.
From Ultra-Wide to Too Wide Back to the Goldilocks Monitor
A Brief Review of the Samsung Odyssey CRG 49" Monitor
When Sam Mollaei posted a video raving about his 49" monitor, I decided to give it a go. I had been using a Samsung CJ79 34" ultra-wide monitor for a couple of years. It was not a tiny monitor by any stretch of the imagination, but upgrading to 49" meant 50% more inches. And who wouldn’t want 50% more inches? So I opted for a Samsung Odyssey CRG 49-Inch monitor. The 49" Samsung was bigger, had a better resolution, and could serve as a USB hub for several USB-A devices.
As I wrote in my review of the Samsung Odyssey, it was just too damn big. Even mounted on a monitor arm and pushed as far back as my setup would allow, I had to move my head from side to side to see everything. And I found myself losing track of windows more often, thus defeating the whole purpose of the “see everything at once” approach.
The Goldilocks Monitor — 40" of 5k
I then “ downgraded” to the HP Z40c G3 39.7" Ultra-wide. It’s smaller and more expensive than the Samsung CJ79, but it has a higher resolution, allowing you to see more in the same space. I have a first-impressions article about the HPZ40c, but for today’s purposes: it is fantastic. It is the right mix of size, shape, and features.
Conclusion — It’s Time to Go Ultrawide
If you are sitting in front of two 27" monitors, it’s time to up your game. Switching to one large monitor brings all the benefits I described above for your productivity. But it also brings a nice bonus for your ergonomics. With the right fit for your monitor (meaning it is far enough away), you can see everything on your screen at once. You don’t have to continuously move your head from side to side to glance at each monitor, and you don’t have dead space right in front of you where the monitors meet.
What do you think? Are you using an ultra-wide? Am I crazy for leaving the 49" monitor behind? Let us know in the comments.
Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on June 28, 2023.
