With a lot of people using their laptops as a desktop computer replacement, you'd think that smaller monitors might be better, but in all honesty, if you're looking for a new monitor, your best bet is to read on to find out what we think about computer monitor sizes.
Your best bet is to get the biggest computer monitor that you can. There are a bunch of reasons why you should do this. If you have a MacBook, then the new 27-inch LED Apple Cinema Display is one of the most convenient monitors to have, thanks to its host of features that are geared towards MacBooks.
You'd think because laptops don't have extremely powerful graphic cards that you could stick with smaller screens, but there is so much that you can do with a big computer monitor, that your best bet is to get a big one. Currently, the ones that make the most sense are 27" or 30". There are a few companies that make 27-inch LED LCD computer monitors, and those should be the ones to get. The ones from Dell, Gateway, and Viewsonic also are quite affordable.
If you haven't thought of this before, a big computer monitor is a good HDTV replacement, especially if you are a student or someone working with limited space. You can easily stream or watch your favorite shows in HDTV format on your computer. This also lets you cancel you cable TV, something that I haven't paid for in years.
If you're a gamer, then plugging your video game console into your big computer monitor is also quite an experience. This is because a computer monitor has a much higher resolution than HDTVs. You'll end up seeing quite a few more details this way.
[images via ZDnet, Apple, Treadstone Studios]
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What about getting a tv as a second monitor? What are the pros and cons of that versus this?
Resolution matters. There is a huge difference between a 1920x1080 27" monitor and a 2560x1440 27" monitor, even though their outside dimensions are going to be the same. The 1440 monitor holds almost double the screen content of the 1080 monitor, at much smaller size and higher definition. You can fit the same amount of content on a 21.5", 23", 23.6", and 27" 1080 monitor.
This is a useful tool for visualizing the relationship between monitor sizes: http://tvcalculator.com/
Increasing the diagonal size of a monitor without increasing resolution will result in larger, but less sharp, text and you will fit less on the screen. There are a lot of people who like a 32" 1080 television as their monitor (the LG 32LD450 is pretty popular, iirc), but TVs occasionally interject some lag because of extra processing, have conflicts with overscan, and have inadequate sharpness, particularly with colored text on a colored backgroud.
There are some hdtvs that work well as monitors, and they can be bought in the ~$500 range. They have nice panels and some swear by them. You can find some recommendations at avsforum.
For me one 24 wide screen (1900x1200) and one 19 (1280x1024) do the trick. 19 does well for internet, email. 24 for work related tasks and games. I sometimes rotate the 24 vertically.
24" seems to be the sweet spot for me. Not too big, not too small. 30" requires me to move my head to see most of the screen or sit too far back.
The best size monitor is the largest one you can get that fits your work space, the last part being important. I have a rather small desk, and while I can physically fit a 30 inch monitor on it, said monitor is painful to use because I sit so close to it.
I also prefer a two monitor solution over a single, huge monitor, because the dual screens function better in a work environment than a single large screen. Until you can zone desktop areas to function as separate screens/workspaces in the OS treats this will remain true. I run a 22"16:10 IPS panel with a much cheaper 18"4:3 TN screen in portrait mode.
This is also something I recommend, if you can get an IPS panel GET ONE. Do not cheap out on a TN panel. In some cases you have no choice, I was unable to find an 18" 4:3 monitor with an IPS panel that was under a grand(it is a specialty display by todays standards), but even a 100 dollar premium would have been worth it. The TN panel just looks sad next to my IPS panel. It works well enough, and serves its purpose, but I can sit on the floor and my IPS panel still looks great, while you can just see the view angle crushing the contrast on the TN
24-inch works for me. Any bigger and I will need a desk with more depth to push it further away. But I think I'm in the minority of people who keep their monitors pushed back. I don't need it in my face.
Here I thought my 22" monitor for the desktop computer was big...I couldn't imagine one bigger.
@ChrisGal, there's almost always someone with one bigger.* ;)
*Or smaller, if that's the aim.
randomname - Agreed....just found it weird. Seems anything bigger is more of a TV than just a monitor.
I for one think for me my to 24 inch 1080p lcd monitors connected together by way of desk mount & I can't forget for my mac mini media center fix is my Samsung 1080p 42 inch lcd, but I have to admit using the 42 incher up close is blinding & I got half of the brightness cut down to half. Anyway I tend to sit back way away from my desk/media center/entertainment what ever so I won't blind my self & I love it because also I have some eye issues & anytime anything is to small I then an blow up the size of my hand if I want to. Yeah I am a computer/tech geek, but proud of it!
2 x 22" - and even they are too big. I really wanted 19" square monitors but couldn't find them anywhere when I needed them.