7 Reasons You Need A Widescreen LCD Monitor

True Confession: Last week I invested in a monitor similar to this one:Asus VE278Q 27-Inch Full-HD LED Monitor with Integrated Speakers. I have been using two monitors at work for the last year and a half, and have been telling myself I just don’t need a new monitor at home.  My old huge heavy 19″ CRT monitor was working just fine.  But then weekend before last my son brought out his 25.5″ monitor and set it up on my desk while I was outside.  I came back in and used it for the rest of the day.  He’d set it up side by side next to my old monitor and it was a bit distracting to work with because the difference in size, and the style of monitor (CRT vs. LCD).  At the end of the day he took it back as he uses it for his job.

The next day I had to work at home, and the task I was working on required me to have two windows open at once.  But they were so narrow that it wasn’t doing me much good.  I realized that I really needed to have a wider monitor, and I broke down and ordered myself this widescreen monitor. There was a $30 rebate so it came to just around $250 (gulp).

Since most of what I do on the computer is work on this blog and my husband’s accounting, I should be able to claim it as a business expense.  At any rate, here are the reasons I’ve come up with for having a widescreen LCD monitor.

  1. More room on your desk
  2. It’s like having two monitors
  3. But you don’t have to buy a second graphics card to operate a second monitor
  4. They are light weight and easier to move around
  5. You can watch movies on your computer
  6. You’ll save money on ink and paper
  7. You’ll become more efficient

More room on your desk

I’ve been using a 19″ CRT monitor that was huge and heavy.  Now that I’m using a flatscreen monitor, I have a ton more room on my desk.  Granted it’s behind the monitor, but I’m working in a small area and I need all the room I can get!

It’s like having two monitors

Having one widescreen monitor that is 25″ wide allows me to open two programs and work on them side by side, as if I had two monitors.

But you don’t have to buy a second graphics card to operate a second monitor

Most computers don’t come with the capability to hook up a second monitor, you have to install a second graphics card in order to use a second monitor. If you replace your monitor with a widescreen monitor, you just plug it in with the same cord you were using previously.

They are light weight and easier to move around

My previous monitor was very heavy and hard to move.  This new LCD monitor is lightweight and even I can move it around easily!

You can watch movies on your computer

Okay, you can watch movies on a smaller screened computer, but this monitor is nicer than our television set, and wider!  Today I swiveled it to face the living room and hubby and I watched a movie. It was really nice!

You’ll save money on ink and paper

I don’t get my checking and credit card statements by mail because I usually look at them online.  This was to save paper waste. Well, I’d end up printing out the statement anyway, when I sat down to reconcile the account.  Then I’d have to shred the statement since it shows personal information. Well, with this new widescreen monitor of mine, I can open the electronic statement in one window, while having Quicken open in another, side by side.  I reconciled an account the other night that hadn’t been reconciled for over a year. You know how the statements are, they are 3 to 6 pages at times, and usually the pertinent information is on the first and third page.  So when I would print them out, either I’d have to print page one, or print page three, or if I was in a hurry I’d just print the entire thing.  Anyway, now I don’t have to do that.  I’ll save on ink, paper and electricity!

You’ll become more efficient.

Yes, it’s true, you will become more efficient.  I say this because no longer will you need to open one screen and look at what is there and then open another screen and input that data.  There are a lot of instances when I need to have both things open on the screen and with my 19″ CRT square monitor it was impossible.  Sometimes I would even forget what I was doing from one screen to the next!

Do you have a widescreen monitor?  Can you think of any reasons to add to my list?

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13 thoughts on “7 Reasons You Need A Widescreen LCD Monitor

  1. I bought a widescreen monitor about 6-8 months ago and just like you, I loved it. It’s just so much easier having 2 windows open. I can just do so many things a lot faster. They’re on sale all of the time so if you want one just look around and you’ll find a good deal.

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    Mrs. Accountability Reply:

    @Kevin, I’m glad you agree with me! How much would you say they go for when on sale? I still need to do my rebate!

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    Kevin Foster Reply:

    @Mrs. Accountability,
    I got my 24in for $170 through newegg.com. I subscribe to their daily email deals and always see good deals on them. I’d say $180 is possible depending on the size.

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    Mrs. Accountability Reply:

    @Kevin, great price for one that’s not too much smaller than mine. Thanks for the tip on subscribing to newegg.com.

  2. It’s nice to have those wide LCD monitors. We’ve been requesting those big monitors at my workplace particularly because we are looking at spreadsheets and we just hate not to see reports in full view. We always have to scroll left or right. But it is not a priority right now and is not part of the budget so it would be set aside for a moment.

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    Mrs. Accountability Reply:

    @Ken @Spruce Up Your Finances, yes, after using this widescreen at home, I am wishing I could have one at work. Like your job, mine wouldn’t be too keen on upgrading either so I’m grateful for the two monitors!

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  3. Widescreens are becoming the norms in the workplace and at home. I’ve got a 25″ Hannspree (a steal at $170) connected to my MBP so it’s like having 3 regular monitors. I’d like to believe that it has made me more productive but there is no direct proof of that.

    One reason to add is: some monitors have HDMI ports, which is great for playing any HD content. (I hook it up to my PS3 for game + movies.)

    [Reply]

    Mrs. Accountability Reply:

    @Simon Zhen, WOW, that’s an awesome price! I will have to see if mine will hook up our Nintendo Wii, thanks for the tip Simon!

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  4. That sounds amazing-Time is actually more valuable than $$$$. I now will put one on my list! Thanks for the tip. (glad to hear I’m not the only pf blogger with unupdated Quicken accounts!)

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    Mrs. Accountability Reply:

    @Barb Friedberg, definitely! LOL. Yeah, I get behind sometimes. I REALLY need to consolidate some of my accounts! Thank goodness I only have to bother with three credit card accounts now. I should probably look to consolidating those as well. You’ll have to let me know when you get your new monitor!

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  5. I do most of my writing work on a notebook computer, so I have a 15″ widescreen monitor. The resolution isn’t high, but I’ve learned to live with it. I could hook it up to my 43″ HDTV or 32″ HDTV, but they’re not in comfortable viewing positions for working. I plan on getting a huge widescreen monitor when I buy a new desktop system, mainly for photography.

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    Mrs. Accountability Reply:

    @Flexo, OUCH. I could probably tolerate the screen size, but I hate, hate, hate, hate typing on a laptop. The widescreen monitor is awesome for Photoshopping. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! 🙂

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  6. I think the biggest advantage to LCD monitors is their size and weight,
    The other advantage that CRT monitors held over LCD screens is the ability to easily scale to various resolutions.

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