24" monitor too big for web surfing?

Stephane · 01-18-2009, 11:15 PM

Hi guys!

I'd like to get myself a nice 24" monitor, but I'm not a gamer and I don't watch movies on my computer. It's mainly for web surfing and that's why I'm still hesitating.

I was thinking...since web pages won't appear bigger on a very large monitor at its max resolution, and you obviously need to sit at a greater distance from the screen to be confortable, isn't better for a web surfer like me to go for a smaller monitor (a 22" for instance) ? Because the way I see it, not only web pages won't be bigger, but I'll have to sit farther away from the screen! Unless there's something I'm not getting here

I know I could zoom in on web pages or increase the text size, but not without messing up the page's layout most of the time.

So do you guys think a big 24" monitor is going to make things worst compared to a smaller one if all I do is websurf ? What is your experience in this regard ? Isn't better to go smaller and sit closer

Thanks in advance!

Stephane

**zuluclayman** · 01-19-2009, 04:45 AM

I have a 22" monitor which I find to be quite adequate for all purposes that myself and my 18 yr old son use computers for:
I use it for: video & still image & audio editing where I want to be able to see large, detailed views of images and have toolbars where I need them, document/spreadsheet writing and editing - it easily sits 2 A4 documents side by side, net surfing including watching lots of full screen videos, gaming (Need for Speed etc.) and lots of other things - iTunes etc.
My son uses it for: online gaming (LOTRO), web surfing, MSN, music etc.
IMHO 22" monitor will do you fine - larger than that really is only needed if you're doing detailed layouts in graphic design, watching videos if you've got a comfy chair and good sound or you are an intense gamer.
I do have a secondary monitor set up but only use it with some software that has lots of toolbars etc or when i need many programs or documents open at once.

dai · 01-19-2009, 06:58 AM

people use 42 inch plasma for monitors
i use a 26 inch lcd hdtv arms length in front of me with no problem
the bigger the better

DonaldG · 01-19-2009, 08:23 AM

Hi Stephanie - Welcome to TSF

Go for it - If you budget allows, that is...

I have a 24" Dell that runs at 1920x1200 pixels. The most useful thing I find when surfing is that with a big screen is that you can have two separate instances of a browser open side-by-side at the same time. You will be surprised on how useful that is...

I will never go back to below 24" (except on my laptop - I don't think I could carry a laptop with a 24" screen!

)

Stephane · 01-19-2009, 09:00 AM

Thanks for the quick answers guys!! This place really rocks!!!

Donald, are you sitting fairly close to your screen, despite its size...so you can easily read what's on it ?

If you guys think it's not necessairly uncomfortable to sit fairly close to such a big monitor, the fact that web pages aren't bigger on a larger screen won't be a disadvantage then!!

Thanks again guys

Stephane

**wmorri** · 01-19-2009, 09:14 AM

I have to agree with donald and dia. If you can afford a bigger monitor then go for it. I might be looking to be a bigger monitor, or just get a second one myself. My 19 isn't cutting it any more.

01-18-2009, 11:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stephane Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista home premium	24" monitor too big for web surfing? Hi guys! I'd like to get myself a nice 24" monitor, but I'm not a gamer and I don't watch movies on my computer. It's mainly for web surfing and that's why I'm still hesitating. I was thinking...since web pages won't appear bigger on a very large monitor at its max resolution, and you obviously need to sit at a greater distance from the screen to be confortable, isn't better for a web surfer like me to go for a smaller monitor (a 22" for instance) ? Because the way I see it, not only web pages won't be bigger, but I'll have to sit farther away from the screen! Unless there's something I'm not getting here I know I could zoom in on web pages or increase the text size, but not without messing up the page's layout most of the time. So do you guys think a big 24" monitor is going to make things worst compared to a smaller one if all I do is websurf ? What is your experience in this regard ? Isn't better to go smaller and sit closer Thanks in advance! Stephane

01-19-2009, 04:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: 24" monitor too big for web surfing? I have a 22" monitor which I find to be quite adequate for all purposes that myself and my 18 yr old son use computers for: I use it for: video & still image & audio editing where I want to be able to see large, detailed views of images and have toolbars where I need them, document/spreadsheet writing and editing - it easily sits 2 A4 documents side by side, net surfing including watching lots of full screen videos, gaming (Need for Speed etc.) and lots of other things - iTunes etc. My son uses it for: online gaming (LOTRO), web surfing, MSN, music etc. IMHO 22" monitor will do you fine - larger than that really is only needed if you're doing detailed layouts in graphic design, watching videos if you've got a comfy chair and good sound or you are an intense gamer. I do have a secondary monitor set up but only use it with some software that has lots of toolbars etc or when i need many programs or documents open at once. __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

01-19-2009, 06:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: 24" monitor too big for web surfing? people use 42 inch plasma for monitors i use a 26 inch lcd hdtv arms length in front of me with no problem the bigger the better __________________

01-19-2009, 08:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
DonaldG Manager Home Support, Assistant Manager Articles Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 10,164 OS: XPsp2 Laptop & Vista Ultimate Desktop My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: 24" monitor too big for web surfing? Hi Stephanie - Welcome to TSF Go for it - If you budget allows, that is... I have a 24" Dell that runs at 1920x1200 pixels. The most useful thing I find when surfing is that with a big screen is that you can have two separate instances of a browser open side-by-side at the same time. You will be surprised on how useful that is... I will never go back to below 24" (except on my laptop - I don't think I could carry a laptop with a 24" screen! ) __________________ . Lest we forget... "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." Submit New Articles Here TSF's Photographer's Corner . Last edited by DonaldG; 01-19-2009 at 08:24 AM.

01-19-2009, 09:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stephane Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista home premium	Re: 24" monitor too big for web surfing? Thanks for the quick answers guys!! This place really rocks!!! Donald, are you sitting fairly close to your screen, despite its size...so you can easily read what's on it ? If you guys think it's not necessairly uncomfortable to sit fairly close to such a big monitor, the fact that web pages aren't bigger on a larger screen won't be a disadvantage then!! Thanks again guys Stephane

01-19-2009, 09:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,814 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: 24" monitor too big for web surfing? I have to agree with donald and dia. If you can afford a bigger monitor then go for it. I might be looking to be a bigger monitor, or just get a second one myself. My 19 isn't cutting it any more. __________________ Linux Forever!