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Monitor Shopping
Most of my time on the computer consist of array of things. Among the top 3 is blogging, photo editing and RSS reading but when you try to juggle more than one, it can become quite frustrating when the only canvas you have to work with is a 15” screen, which for me comes from a MacBook Pro. For that reason I’ve been in the market to purchase a monitor that would widen my workspace without slimming my pocket.
As an Apple aficionado, I think the Apple Cinema Displays offer features to justify the hefty price and I’ve always favored their products over any other alternative out in the market but this time, I had established making the exception of finding something that was comparable in specifications and style. Without delving too much into the long and arduous weeks of sifting through reviews, blog comments and forums as to what came close to an ACD, I made my decision on a HP w1907.
The 19” screen stands beautifully adjacent to my MBP and offers that ample space that I long desired while still keeping the inherent mobility you gain by having a laptop. This monitor has a very “cool” glossy black finish and its sharpness is out of this world. I also appreciated the slightly underused built-in speakers although I rely more on the JBL Spot system for that thumping sound. The only shock I experience upon final installation and usage of the monitor was getting accustom to that glossiness against the matte finish of the MBP but I’m willing to oversee that.
If your primary computer is a laptop and are in the fence if expanding your workspace is worthwhile, consider the following excerpt from a study conducted by Microsoft:
The researchers conducted user studies that proved the effectiveness of adding a second or even third monitor to your workstation, creating a wide-screen effect. Give someone a second monitor, let them use it for while, and then try to take it away. It just isn’t going to happen. They’ll never go back to a mono display. #
“With a bigger display you look at your work more the way you look at your desk. It took me some time to get used to it, but then something happens. You start you use tools faster and better, you can put things you need to have around open next to what you’re doing. You don’t have to scroll as much, and can use your eyes and your amazing brain to find information fast by scanning over text and visual information.” #
