WFH setup – PC Monitor Recommendations

[Inneedofchocolatenow]

I’m currently getting ready for a new WFH position and am looking for 2 PC monitors around 24”. The offer on the one I was looking at has ended and there are so many recommendations. My previous job provided 2 x Dell monitors, but I’m looking at other brands as I want to have my own setup, also for my home use.

Can you recommend a reliable monitor that has served you well?

Will you have a desktop or a laptop? I have a laptop and use it on a stand as a monitor (I have a separate keyboard), along with 2 other monitors - a standard presumably cheap one that my work supplied and a small Dell folding one (also on a
stand) that I bought. I think this is a pretty flexible set-up actually.

It will be a laptop for work which they provide and a PC for my own use. I was initially looking at screens under £70 but am reading of issues such as ghosting, lines across the screen and colour issues after a short while. Think I may have to increase my spend!

I really like having 3 screens, but that’s probably aligned to the work that I do. My partner went down a different route, and got 1 wider screen instead (that he switches between a personal and a work laptop).

If you want 2 screens, could you maybe ask work to buy you 1, and you buy 1? Do you know that the laptop will support 2 screens?

Some workplaces will also buy a desk and chair etc., so it’s definitely worth asking about that. My colleague tried to claim back tax for these, but HMRC were having none of it.

It's worth spending a bit more considering you will be looking at it for hours at a time

We have a mix of mid-range iiyama and samsung ones, about 200-250 ish. The 100-200 ones tend to be a bit crap. For office you don't really need 4k either.

Watch out you don't get ones with speakers or USB hubs etc if you don't want that because it just pushes the price up.

You will probably need a docking station or splitter adapter to plug two screens into one laptop as there are usually limited connection ports. They aren’t very expensive though.

Firstly I would check if the laptop will support two external monitors. Some cheapo ones don't. (like the POS that my work gave me).

Second I would look for a Monitor that's got 2 HDMI inputs, a VESA mount and a minimum of 1920 x1080 resolution. Ideally with a narrow bezel so they can be placed close to each other.
I would use the speakers on the laptop, or separate ones.

For example : Link

Personally I would go for a 27" and two separate desk stands.

@UnilateralDecisions I’m a freelance designer so depending on my contract, work will provide a laptop, screens, docking stations etc. This is the setup I’ve had on a few occasions with the laptop as a third screen. I have had a home setup for years but need new screens as one has developed a fault. I also work using my own business so sometimes go into design studios with my laptop.

@NormalAuntFanny thank you for the brand names which is all I am looking for – I’ll check those out.

@OnGoldenPond, yes I plan to get a new docking station.

Thank you for your replies but am just looking for reliable monitor brands as my previous ones were Dell but I’ve heard from colleagues their customer service is now terrible.

We've got an ultra-wide LG monitor.
No need for two screens when your only screen is massive!

Our IT company recommended and supplied iiyama screens for the office, virtually frameless. I find them to be really nice to use, and when one of mine at home broke I readily accepted the same ones. I got white ones for home as they make my workspace look a bit lighter.

I have this in the 34" size, it is incredible. Prior to this I had a 24 and 27" monitor side by side, this wide monitor gives the feel of having more working space.

A great feature is that I have my own Mac connected to it by a USB C cable and then connect my work laptop using a HDMI cable. Whichever keyboard I press brings the screen to life on that system. Before this I used to have to connect with a port and actively mess about with cabling.

Monitor

Thank you @MittensTheKittens, @LottaHogs & @Naaaamechaaaanged

Looking at liyama monitors as well now.

I have worked with 1 large screen before, 2 seems to work better for me but I’ll look at the wide screens and see whats out there.