Curved Large Format 4K Monitors.

Scottie_uk

I just wondered what your opinion was of these large screen curved monitors like this:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.314775300?WT.mc_id=US_datafeed_Google&gclid=CjwKEAiA64uyBRCVmKyT2vuAjzgSJADfINB63Ag4vJkuA6tt6rITrfIcDtMtIh1_yRJCfdMLko0wKhoCbunw_wcB

They have started appearing at my workplace and I had the pleasure of using one for a good hour today. I always thought the curve was a faddy thing. Now I have had a chance to use one for a meaningful task. I think they are objects of beauty, but still a fad. The straightness of lines is completely distorted by the curvature of the screen which some how did not feel quite right.

To be honest, if I was to buy a 4k 34" Ultra wide Monitor I go for a flat one.

1024MAK

Curved screens match the natural curvature of the human eye, so you get a more comfortable, more immersive viewing experience.

I smell advertising bull**** here. The human eye is curved, but the image processing done by the brain corrects for this. It does this far better than man made cameras. So why would you want a curved telly? How well would that work if you had friends round? Would just a few get a decent view? I suspect no. So,nope, I will pass on this type of telly thank you very much.

Mark

Vampyre

The problem with curved screens is that if you're not sitting at the optimal viewing place - i.e. dead centre - then there's a "bowtie" effect.

beanz

I was looking at a few curved screens at Fry's Electronics a few weeks ago...I don't see what all the fuss is myself...seems more of a gimmick than anything, especially for TVs...if you have 3 or 4 people sitting in a living room the view for those not directly in front of it can't be good.

Scottie_uk

Vampyre wrote: »

The problem with curved screens is that if you're not sitting at the optimal viewing place - i.e. dead centre - then there's a "bowtie" effect.

That's exactly what I have experienced and I was sat dead center but maybe perhaps to close because that's how they set up the workstation.

guesser

It's entirely a gimmick. They're only doing it "because they can" I think.

AndyC

Theoretically, for playing games or watching movies, if you're sat in exactly the right spot, they're better because they encompass more of your peripheral vision. For actually using for anything else, or for any situation where you're sharing the display or where you aren't optimally position they are unarguably much, much worse.

p13z

One of the reasons everyone got chuffed about flatscreens in the first place was the lack of eye-strain inducing reflections / glares. You have to be careful about where you put a curved screen, where you sit to watch it, and anyone having the nerve to open curtains or turn a light on when people are trying to watch.
With concave curved screens this old forgotten annoyance could be even worse, not to mention the fact that there will be only one spot where the curve doesn't distort the shape of the screen.
While TVs were getting thinner and thinner, this was pushed as being an advantage, as they took up less space. Seems a big step backward in this regard too.

murtceps

p13z wrote: »

One of the reasons everyone got chuffed about flatscreens in the first place was the lack of eye-strain inducing reflections / glares. You have to be careful about where you put a curved screen, where you sit to watch it, and anyone having the nerve to open curtains or turn a light on when people are trying to watch.
With concave curved screens this old forgotten annoyance could be even worse, not to mention the fact that there will be only one spot where the curve doesn't distort the shape of the screen.
While TVs were getting thinner and thinner, this was pushed as being an advantage, as they took up less space. Seems a big step backward in this regard too.

You're half way there, as screens get thinner and thinner, and Indeed bigger and bigger, their shape lacks internal support, and have an element of floppyness. Adding a curve induces support and ridgedness to the glass.

p13z

murtceps wrote: »

You're half way there, as screens get thinner and thinner, and Indeed bigger and bigger, their shape lacks internal support, and have an element of floppyness. Adding a curve induces support and ridgedness to the glass.

Yes, but you could use the same effective useful footprint to reinforce the case and glass of a flat-screen a lot more effectively than just adding a curve, and without adding unavoidable glare and distortion.
I wasn't aware anyone was claiming strength as an advantage / sales point of this gimmick.

dm_boozefreek

From what I've seen of the TVs with the curved screens they're a bit crap really. Sam's Club (Shut up mel, or anybody else from sunday RDR ;) ), have had them out for a while now, and I find them quite unimpressive.

I hope this is just a fad, and doesn't take off too well. Flatscreens are expensive enough, and when the TVs I have eventually break I don't want to be forced with having to replace them with one of these things, because I don't like em'.

p13z

If there really is a benefit to curved screens - then it should apply to both planes.
Handy that you only get a horizontal curve to 'immerse' you, as it is so much easier to manufacture than a genuine curved screen that would be needed to actually provide the hyped benefits.
I assume the manufacturers will point this out after people go and buy this generation of TVs.

zx1

Like 3D tv's, i hope it's just a gimmick.

beanz

AndyC wrote: »

Theoretically, for playing games or watching movies, if you're sat in exactly the right spot, they're better because they encompass more of your peripheral vision.

Not sure sitting 1ft from the screen is better for you...if you sit 6ft back you don't need your peripheral vision to see the whole screen

Antiriad2097

I wonder if they make sense for a work station? At work, I always arrange my monitors in an arc so they're equidistant. If I replaced those with one big curved monitor, it might make sense.

Scottie_uk

Antiriad2097 wrote: »

I wonder if they make sense for a work station? At work, I always arrange my monitors in an arc so they're equidistant. If I replaced those with one big curved monitor, it might make sense.

But each one of those monitors is a flat surface. With a curves monitor, the contents of the screen ceases to appear totally flat anymore unless what you are looking at is dead center on the screen and you are in the middle.