27" or second 22"

I want a monitor upgrade. I have a 22" 16:10. Trying to decide if I get more by going with a second similar sized monitor or going huge. I know I get more screen real estate with the second LCD, but that also takes up a lot more desktop space.

Also, assuming I can't get exactly the same monitor (it's 3-4 years old, so unlikely) is it annoying to have mismatched dual monitors? Colors and brightness slightly different, mismatched bezel sizes, etc?

the physical mismatching never really bothered me, its the color profiles that get annoying when they are different. I dont think you will ever get it right unless you get 2 of the same panel.

As far as size, thats up to you, for continuity on the desktop I always liked matching sized monitors.

I have a 22 and a 19", the 19 is much more vibrant but its so bright it hurts my eyes so my main is the 22. I have a 27" TV sitting on my desk also. I think a monitor that size would be too big.

I have miss-matched sized monitors and it doesn't bother me and I partially would rather have it that way. I check out a friend of mine who had dual 24" next to each other and just seemed like too much looking around even though you have more 'work space'. Both of my monitors are Dell Ultrasharps and are near the same 'age'. There is some difference but nothing too drastic.

As as far as them taking up room on your actual desk, I highly recommend getting LCD arms. It's worth the investment!

I went through this over the years. I had two 20" displays that I ran in portrait mode side by side for years. Then I moved to a 30" and was happy with the change. Raw real estate was better with dual, but Sometimes you want to just have one big one and that was impossible. I also tried a 30 + 20 beside it... portait mode it was the same height. Did that for a while and finally pitched it because it was just too distracting to have that much space, and filled my desk. Now I have a 27" Thunderbolt Display on MacBook Air and love it... its just the right size and I use my iPad sometimes to do some things if I need addiional "space", and just use apps on it like for browsing, email, etc. Sometimes more space isn't necessarily better.

I have a 27" imac and its plenty big. I think it would bug me not to have matching monitors. I DO prefer 16:10 though. I am going to try and take my old 22" monitor and place it vertically to the left of the imac and see about using it for PS brushes....

Strictly my opinion, I am just saying...

2 monitors trumps one large monitor every time, even if the monitors do not have the same color rendition. (I currently have 2-24" monitors)

1. process on the better monitor
2. the 2nd monitor is not bad either, as one gets to see what others without calibrated monitors are seeing when viewing their images.
3. The second monitor can be used for so many of the process parts and opening other programs, or it can be off, not effecting the processing if it bothers you.

Mine is off now as I am surfing. There are times I have about 20 windows open between the 2 monitors, as I have learned how to use the setup to the best of my ability.

4. If you need additional desk space, get a file cabinet with wheels and place it under the desk, wheeling it out when necessary. I did this about 10 years ago (before I got into photography), and it rarely gets wheeled under my desk space anymore.

pbelarge wrote in post #15474681
Strictly my opinion, I am just saying...

2 monitors trumps one large monitor every time...

This is key. Everyone is going to have a different opinion and the only way to know what you like best is to try both unfortunately. I tried dual and absolutely prefer the one big one. So neither trumps the other really... its purely personal preference. You'll see some people that swear by 3 monitors all 27-30".

Why can't you use a 27" as a second monitor?

Within the past year, I went from having dual 19" wide monitors to 24" and 27" monitors.

It might take some work to get the color calibrated but the 1920x1200 and 2560x1440 desktops are worth it, imo.

I recently purchased a dell 24" and was thinking the same thing, should I also use the 22" LG alongside. When the 24" arrived, I hooked it up alongside the 22" and it hasn't moved. I love having both. I can play with photos on the Dell and look up tutorials on the LG. Works for me.

peeaanuut wrote in post #15467545
the physical mismatching never really bothered me, its the color profiles that get annoying when they are different. I dont think you will ever get it right unless you get 2 of the same panel.

As far as size, thats up to you, for continuity on the desktop I always liked matching sized monitors.

Got to agree on all points, another note, just make sure they are the same actual monitors