Ultrawide monitors

[SDAVE]

Hey guys
I have a 27" Apple display that's stil working well, but lately there has been some side bleeds.

Also another 23" older ACD that's dying.

Does anyone here use Ultrawide with macOS and design work?

Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BV1Q0L4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

or this:
https://www.amazon.com/LG-38UC99-W-...525556279&sr=1-2&keywords=lg+38uc99-w+38-inch
(but not the curved one).

Or I could just find a 2nd hand 27" LED Cinema display for the 2nd monitor for now.

 

[h9826790]

Hey guys
I have a 27" Apple display that's stil working well, but lately there has been some side bleeds.

Also another 23" older ACD that's dying.

Does anyone here use Ultrawide with macOS and design work?

Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BV1Q0L4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

or this:
https://www.amazon.com/LG-38UC99-W-...525556279&sr=1-2&keywords=lg+38uc99-w+38-inch
(but not the curved one).

Or I could just find a 2nd hand 27" LED Cinema display for the 2nd monitor for now.

I have a 32:9 monitor now. It's only leisure use for me, but works quite well.

And I believe the 38" 3840x1600 is a pretty good choice. Have good balance between resolution, aspect ratio, size.

 

[CLS727]

Go for the 49" Samsung CHG90.... it's awesome.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2013-mac-pro-xbox-one-x-49-samsung-chg90.2115578/

 

[haralds]

I am not a designer. But I use a curved Dell U3818DW with an EFI flashed GV-R797OC-3GD connected with a miniDP to DP cable.

It works well, but the Boot Screen does not support DP1.2. You have to toggle the display via a secret button sequence, which is tedious. You go to the Monitor input selection screen and select DP. Depressing the check button for 10s will toggle it. Since the thing is tiny, it's easy to slip off. I only use it, if I absolutely have to. This also means that FileVault2 is not a good option. As reported elsewhere, I tried it anyway and corrupted my install...

But apart from this the display is awesome at 3840x1600.

I use the HDMI.kext for audio. BootCamp does this natively. I use Brightness Slider of changing screen brightness.

That LG 38" looks very nice.

 

[SDAVE]

I have a 32:9 monitor now. It's only leisure use for me, but works quite well.
View attachment 760807
View attachment 760808
And I believe the 38" 3840x1600 is a pretty good choice. Have good balance between resolution, aspect ratio, size.

Thanks. I think I'm leaning towards a regular 16:10 or 16:9 since I do a lot of design work and ultrawide seems good for editors (which I'm not).

I might just get a 2nd hand 27" ACD for the 2nd monitor for now until maybe see what Apple comes out with next year.

Go for the 49" Samsung CHG90.... it's awesome.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2013-mac-pro-xbox-one-x-49-samsung-chg90.2115578/

That does look really cool. However I'm afraid I'll hate curvature on the monitor.

Maybe I should just get a higher end 16:10/16:9 4k monitor and get it over with (I need dual monitors though).

I am not a designer. But I use a curved Dell U3818DW with an EFI flashed GV-R797OC-3GD connected with a miniDP to DP cable.

It works well, but the Boot Screen does not support DP1.2. You have to toggle the display via a secret button sequence, which is tedious. You go to the Monitor input selection screen and select DP. Depressing the check button for 10s will toggle it. Since the thing is tiny, it's easy to slip off. I only use it, if I absolutely have to. This also means that FileVault2 is not a good option. As reported elsewhere, I tried it anyway and corrupted my install...

But apart from this the display is awesome at 3840x1600.

I use the HDMI.kext for audio. BootCamp does this natively. I use Brightness Slider of changing screen brightness.

That LG 38" looks very nice.

Yeah I'm trying to stay away from curved. Looks really cool though.

Would love if these monitors were 2160p and not curved.

 

[CLS727]

That does look really cool. However I'm afraid I'll hate curvature on the monitor.

Maybe I should just get a higher end 16:10/16:9 4k monitor and get it over with (I need dual monitors though).

I wasn’t a fan of the curved screens either, but for something THIS wide....... it kinda has to be in order to see everything.

It’s a weird thing to get used to when you’re working on something on the far right, but then you get an iMessage on your window on the far left..... you really have to turn your whole head to look over at it. Without the curve you’d have to roll your chair over there or something. Lol.

If you can imagine, it’s like having 2 27” screens next to each other.... you wouldn’t have them both perfectly parallel to each other, they’d both be at a diagonal on your desk so you can see them both.

For me it’s the perfect command center.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

I'm an Ultrawide user too, I went with the Curved Dell Ultrasharp U3415W. For about the first few hours the curve left me with a bit of seasick feeling, but you adjust to it quick quickly and I don't even notice the curve anymore when I use it.

I do both graphic design and video editing. The extra real estate is great to have. I'm also game occasionally in Windows and it really enhances the experience.

A few negatives that you should keep in mind:
The volume and brightness controls etc. on your keyboard won't function with third party monitors (this is relevant to all monitors not just Ultrawides).
It's a bloody long way, even from the middle of the screen, to the application menu bar. I try to hotkey just about everything so I don't have to go there anymore.

@haralds My Dell has a choice buried in the settings menu to turn off DP 1.2. You sure you've not got one too?

 

[h9826790]

I'm an Ultrawide user too, I went with the Curved Dell Ultrasharp U3415W. For about the first few hours the curve left me with a bit of seasick feeling, but you adjust to it quick quickly and I don't even notice the curve anymore when I use it.

I do both graphic design and video editing. The extra real estate is great to have. I'm also game occasionally in Windows and it really enhances the experience.

A few negatives that you should keep in mind:
The volume and brightness controls etc. on your keyboard won't function with third party monitors (this is relevant to all monitors not just Ultrawides).
It's a bloody long way, even from the middle of the screen, to the application menu bar. I try to hotkey just about everything so I don't have to go there anymore.

@haralds My Dell has a choice buried in the settings menu to turn off DP 1.2. You sure you've not got one too?

For your info. Combining Karabiner and NativeDisplayBrightness, you can use the Apple keyboard dedicated key to control the monitor's brightness again. I use this on my Samsung CHG90, work perfectly.

Volume key won't work on digital output (SoundFlower can be the work around), but still work on the 3.5mm output.

 

[iMactouch]

I have here a LG 34UM95-P (21:9) which has 3440x1440 in 60Hz with 10bit colors. It is connected via Thunderbolt 2, so picture, sound and USB 3.0 are going via one cable to the monitor.
Before this monitor was attached to my Mac mini 2012 where it also works without any problems (normally only in 50Hz) via Thunderbolt.

I think this monitor only has one problem. You will never want to work with a smaller one.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

For your info. Combining Karabiner and NativeDisplayBrightness, you can use the Apple keyboard dedicated key to control the monitor's brightness again. I use this on my Samsung CHG90, work perfectly.
View attachment 760847
Volume key won't work on digital output (SoundFlower can be the work around), but still work on the 3.5mm output.

Cheers mate, didn't know about Karabiner. Never had much success with SoundFlower. These days I just use my bluetooth headphones, much easier.

 

[h9826790]

Cheers mate, didn't know about Karabiner. Never had much success with SoundFlower. These days I just use my bluetooth headphones, much easier.

Just a simple setting in Karabiner (make the F1 and F2 really work as F1 and F2), then the brightness control will become "native" again.

SoundFlower was very good, but I don't think it still work in High Sierra.

In fact, I am also looking for a good BT headphone. My speakers works well, but sometime can't use it (e.g. mid night when the kids are sleeping). Any suggestions? Or anything I need to play attention? Million thanks in advance (for OP, sorry to hijack your thread)

 

[CLS727]

Just a simple setting in Karabiner (make the F1 and F2 really work as F1 and F2), then the brightness control will become "native" again.
View attachment 760881

SoundFlower was very good, but I don't think it still work in High Sierra.

In fact, I am also looking for a good BT headphone. My speakers works well, but sometime can't use it (e.g. mid night when the kids are sleeping). Any suggestions? Or anything I need to play attention? Million thanks in advance (for OP, sorry to hijack your thread)

Can Karabiner be used to make F19 on the Apple Magic Keyboard with NumPad launch the Calculator App? So annoying that's not a hard-coded macOS feature already.

For BT Headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 35 works great... I use all day with my Mac.

 

[h9826790]

Can Karabiner be used to make F19 on the Apple Magic Keyboard with NumPad launch the Calculator App? So annoying that's not a hard-coded macOS feature already.

For BT Headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 35 works great... I use all day with my Mac.

Yes, for testing purpose, I just did it.

It cost me about 30min in total.

First, study the karabiner.json Reference Manual in order to create a Complex Modifications rule

https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/json.html

Then I just make a rule for the key F19

Once you created this rule, activate it

And now, all you need it just make a service in automator to allow F19 to launch Calculator.

Without the rule, F19 cannot launch calculator even with the service. But with the rule, even the key still ident itself as F19 (obviously there is something wrong in my json file), but it can launch the calculator.

 

[haralds]

...It’s a weird thing to get used to when you’re working on something on the far right, but then you get an iMessage on your window on the far left..... you really have to turn your whole head to look over at it. Without the curve you’d have to roll your chair over there or something. Lol.

Agreed that it takes getting used to. Now a regular screen feels like I have blinders on.
I also got a second dock for my Nintendo Switch for a quick work break or when my son hogs the TV in the living room with his game.
[doublepost=1525655496][/doublepost]

Just a simple setting in Karabiner (make the F1 and F2 really work as F1 and F2), then the brightness control will become "native" again.
View attachment 760881
SoundFlower was very good, but I don't think it still work in High Sierra.

SoundFlower works. Soundflowerbed is broken with sleep. Prevents sleep, when sleep is forced, it does not survive it in a functional state.

 

[InuNacho]

I assume you guys are running Sierra or later, but has anyone tried an ultra wide on Mavericks? Every now and then I think about switching to one from my pair of older Dell Ultrasharps due to the heat they generate.

 

[iMactouch]

I started using the LG 34UM95-P with my Mac mini in February 2015. I don‘t know which system I was using at that time. But the monitor worked since then without any problem.

 

[CLS727]

Yes, for testing purpose, I just did it.

It cost me about 30min in total.

First, study the karabiner.json Reference Manual in order to create a Complex Modifications rule

https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/json.html

Then I just make a rule for the key F19
View attachment 760916
View attachment 760915

Once you created this rule, activate it
View attachment 760917

And now, all you need it just make a service in automator to allow F19 to launch Calculator.
View attachment 760910
View attachment 760914

Without the rule, F19 cannot launch calculator even with the service. But with the rule, even the key still ident itself as F19 (obviously there is something wrong in my json file), but it can launch the calculator.

Wow! Thank you!

 

[orph]

wow NativeDisplayBrightness is relay cool works on both my Benq displays, kind of fun to see them both dim and brighten
https://github.com/Bensge/NativeDisplayBrightness/releases
super handy app

 

[BillyBobBongo]

In fact, I am also looking for a good BT headphone. My speakers works well, but sometime can't use it (e.g. mid night when the kids are sleeping). Any suggestions? Or anything I need to play attention? Million thanks in advance (for OP, sorry to hijack your thread)

I use a pair of BeatsX, I was after something lightweight that I could use on the go as well as at my desk. I still have to use a pair of wired headphones when I'm editing video so I was shopping on a minimal budget. I'm afraid I'm not going to be of much more use than that.

 

[haralds]

@haralds My Dell has a choice buried in the settings menu to turn off DP 1.2. You sure you've not got one too?

Thanks for that hint, got me Googling. There is a hidden command that toggles the mode by pressing the DP Input Ok-Check button for 10 seconds. Awkward, but distinctly easier than being underneath the desk swapping connections. I am not sure, why they cannot toggle that automatically the way it is done with HDMI.

 

[h9826790]

I use a pair of BeatsX, I was after something lightweight that I could use on the go as well as at my desk. I still have to use a pair of wired headphones when I'm editing video so I was shopping on a minimal budget. I'm afraid I'm not going to be of much more use than that.

Didn't know about this thing. Seems like a good option for late night gaming. I don't need extreme noise insulation / canceling etc. I prefer able to hear some "background" noise, just in case the kids yelling for me. And it won't be too noisy at home in mid night anyway.

Just wonder what the W1 chip offer in this case. e.g. it can answer phone call from iPhone, even I am using it for the Mac?

This really can be a good choice for me. I love something light and handy. The big headset looks comfortable, but I wonder will it be "too hot" to cover the whole ear in summer time.

 

[SDAVE]

OP here. I went ahead and just bought a second 27" Apple Cinema Display (in mint condition) off Craigslist.

I'll be holding off getting a new monitor until 4k/5k ones come from Apple next year and maybe I will upgrade to the 2019 Mac Pro.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Sounds good, they really hold their resale value...as long as that damn mini display port cable doesn't start fraying. Enjoy!

 

[SDAVE]

Sounds good, they really hold their resale value...as long as that damn mini display port cable doesn't start fraying. Enjoy!

Yeah even though it's older, it still works fine. It generates heat, but it's alright. For $350 I couldn't say no to a 2nd one.

I just want a 4k or 5k monitor that's 16:10 (not curved) and I hope Apple delivers along with a new 2019 Mac Pro. My current Mac doesn't have a Thunderbolt 3 port, so I have to use TB2 and no support for 5k.

I was eyeing this one last time before I pulled the trigger on the Apple LED display.

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LC32HG70QQNXZA-C32HG70-32-Inch-Monitor/dp/B06XT6WQCJ

I just think curvatures on a display is a gimmick. I work in design so maybe if I was in a different industry I would go for it.

I am just so used to the Apple display colors, I know what I'm going to get in the final product that if I switch to another Panel, I have to re-learn a lot.

 

[h9826790]

I just think curvatures on a display is a gimmick. I work in design so maybe if I was in a different industry I would go for it.

That's my believe as well. And even up to now, I still don't like curve TV.

However, in my own experience now. I found that curve monitor isn't that bad, in fact, works quite well for real ultra wide monitor. When I look at the CHG90 at store, it looks really curved. But when I use it, I actually can't quite feel it (unless I keep move windows sideway). It feels just like two 27" monitor pointing to me at the correct angle.

IMO, the 2 main factors are

1) View distance (view point). For TV, it's so hard to stay at the optimum view point. And usually more than 1 person use the TV. So, only one person (at most) can really at the correct view point (if we can get the distance right without any restrictionfrom the living room design). But for monitor, we can always stay at the optimum position.

2) Surface type. IMO, curve monitor + glossy surface will make it looks really bad. All reflections on the screen is distorted. Which keep reminding our brain that the surface is curved. But this won't happen on matte surface. Therefore, after a short period of time. I basically won't realise my CHG90 is curved, but just use it.