When you’re multitasking like mad, a standard-aspect-ratio monitor can’t
provide enough real estate to display every open window without many of them
overlapping and obscuring one another. For this reason alone, any editor,
grader, animator or audio engineer will have at least two monitors on their
desktop. As monitor technology evolves, mostly with thanks to In-plane
Switching technology, new wider monitoring devices are on the horizon.
Using multiple displays isn’t a cure-all to the need for space. First, you need a
graphics card that can meet the demands you may have for two or three
displays. Second, multiple video and power cables add clutter to your work
environment. Third – and most important – a gap between the displays is
inevitable, no matter how carefully you arrange them. Even the narrowest bezel
creates a blind spot as your mouse pointer crosses from screen to screen.
Four years ago Ostendo brought out a curved wide monitor branded as an
Alienware 43 inch. The resolution of the Ostendo CRVD was 2880 by 900 pixels
(32:10 aspect ratio) which was not perfect, although it did offer an amazingly
good response time of 2ms. While it was a great looking monitor, it was pricey
(at around US$6 800), really heavy and required the user to be directly in the
centre of the screen to reduce the effects of vertical lines in the projections.
With the advent of In-plane Switching (IPS) screen technology, numerous tech
companies have worked hard in developing thinner and more flexible and
subsequently longer LCD displays. The technology allows IPS panels to display
consistent, accurate colour from all viewing angles and without having any blur.
Unlike older LCDs, IPS panels do not lighten or show tailing when touched,
which is important for touch-screen devices. The panels can process high-speed
signals without data loss by using copper wiring with low resistance values
giving clearer images and stable response times.
While we would all love massive monitors on our desk we are still limited in size
and it seems that most tech-research has concluded that 29 inches diagonally is
a comfortable size to deal with. Great examples would be the Dell UltraSharp
U2913WM, the Admiral Overseas Company AOC Q2963PM, the NEC MultiSync
EA294WMi, and the ASUS MX299Q Ultra-wide IPS Monitor. Each display
measures 29 inches diagonally but what makes them unique is the aspect ratio
of 21:9 vs the standard 16:9 monitor. Generally, ultrawide monitors sport a
2560 x 1080 resolution but what makes them special is the ability to support
screen split functionality, 100 percent sRGB colour space expression, a 178/178
wide viewing angle and 2ms Grey-to-Grey response times.
Dual Link interfaces allow for two external devices to connect simultaneously to
the monitors with a regular serving of connectivity including DVI-D dual, HDMI
(inclusive of a MHL port), USB 3.0 ports, Display Port, PC audio in, as well as
headphone audio jack. Each of these models delivers a very wide range of
acceptable off-axis viewing angles (an especially important feature when you’re
dealing with an ultrawide display). And each screen uses environmentally
friendly LED backlighting, which shortens warm-up time, lowers energy costs,
and reduces the quantity of damaging chemicals that eventually find their way
into landfills at the end of a product’s useful life.
Sounds great, but then LG crafted something even better: a 34 inch Ultrawide
Real 4K monitor featuring an IPS display that renders incredible details thanks to
its 4096 x 2160 screen resolution. Hardware calibration-ready with superb
picture quality, the 34MU95 is an unbelievable piece of kit perfect for those
working in design, film and other creative industries. LG believes that 21:9
aspect ratio monitors are critical to the commercial success of the growing
monitor market. Hyoung-sei Park, Head of the IT Business Division at LG
Electronics, explains: “The latest monitor is a remarkably versatile device with
exceptional picture quality to bring video and content to life, helping creative
professionals work smarter and more efficiently. We are committed to providing
a solution that is second-to-none and we are excited to bring the newest model
in the line up to the market, allowing users to enjoy stunning colour accuracy
and an incredible level of detail for an advanced viewing pleasure.’
The 34UM95 sets a new benchmark in connectivity with its support for
Thunderbolt™ 2, a revolutionary cable technology that simultaneously supports
high-resolution displays and high-performance data devices through a single,
compact port, allowing professionals to create an incredibly efficient work
station. With features like their True Colour Pro calibration software, giving it the
ability to express 99 percent of the Adobe RGB colour space, it’s leaps ahead of
the rest, in fact they’ve widened the gap delivering an unparalleled immersive
experience that’s put a smile on every editor’s face and a frown on the brow of
the financial director!
