Using a vertical monitor can greatly improve productivity, especially for tasks that involve reading and writing, such as coding, writing, and data analysis. However, it requires careful consideration of several factors, including the stand, monitor height, and software compatibility.
Most digital documents are written with a vertical layout, even though our monitors are horizontal. This means you cannot view the whole document on screen at once and are forced to keep scrolling. People often increase their screen area by using two monitors for work or just buying a wider screen. While these methods work well, why not just turn the screen sideways?
Turns out you actually can do that. A PC monitor can be installed vertically, and operating systems like Windows or macOS have a portrait mode option to match this layout. In theory, this turns all the content you view into a vertical layout as well, including applications and websites. The advantages are very obvious; whether you are a coder or simply an office worker, being able to view entire documents on one screen without scrolling sounds wonderful. A vertical monitor is the more natural way to interface with text and information-dense dashboards, and is becoming very popular.
Invest in a good stand
The first thing you must ask yourself before you try to turn your monitor sideways is whether you even have the right stand for that. If your monitor’s default stand can just adjust the height but not pivot, you cannot use it for a vertical setup. The best option in this case is to buy a VESA mount instead, letting you put up your display at any height and orientation you want. Thankfully, most modern computer monitors come with stands that allow for vertical setups, so buying a new mount might not even be needed.
Position at the correct height
Choosing the correct monitor height is another thing complicated by going for the vertical setup. Normally, the monitor extends horizontally, so you just place the top at your eye level, and everything else aligns automatically. But when you turn the monitor 90 degrees, the length now extends vertically. Computer desks are usually designed to accommodate horizontal monitors, which means a vertical monitor placed upon one will end up going way over your eye level. The same goes for most chairs.
Pick the right monitor
While there is no such thing as a vertical monitor, not every monitor is ideal for a vertical setup either. Sure, you can technically rotate and install any PC display, and it would work as long as your OS supports it. But vertical rendering has some quirks that can ruin the experience on most monitors. Even when the software side supports portrait mode, the hardware may not be optimized for this kind of orientation.
Go dual-screen for maximum flexibility
Vertical screens have amazing advantages for coding, writing, or any such productivity tasks. But they aren’t great for entertainment or visual activities like watching videos or gaming. Now you can always keep flipping your screen between the vertical and horizontal layouts, but that can wear out the stand, and it’s going to be cumbersome anyway. The more flexible answer is a mixed dual-screen setup.
Mind the cables
Organized cable management is recommended for any computing setup, but a vertical monitor makes it even more essential. This is because monitors, by default, are designed around the horizontal layout, which means they have cables going in from the bottom, naturally hiding them behind the stand. But when the same monitor is turned 90 degrees, the ports now face a side, and the cabling is not that conveniently concealed. Worse, depending on which side of the computer the monitor is situated, you might end up needing a lot more cable than normal.
Ensure your software supports vertical mode
Before you jump into buying new gear for your vertical setup, make sure that your applications even support it. The OS, of course, has support built in, with both macOS and Windows including a portrait mode toggle. The same goes for leading web browsers like Google Chrome, which can switch to a vertical layout seamlessly. The problem is other applications.
Never share the whole screen
Screen sharing is often required when collaborating with your colleagues at work. It is often the easiest way to show a problem you have encountered or demonstrate a solution. But if you have a vertical monitor and they have a standard one, how will screen sharing work? Not very well.
Don’t go too tall
Usually, when you are shopping for a display, the only limiter is your budget. The bigger the screen you can get, the better, right? Not quite, at least if we are talking about vertical monitors. We have already mentioned how turning a monitor vertical introduces certain issues like viewing angles, but those are easily fixed with a better display.
For more information on how to get the most out of your vertical monitor setup, be sure to check out our other articles on using two monitors for work and common Wi-Fi mistakes. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of vertical monitors, you can also read about simple mounting arms and cheap gadgets that can fix cable clutter.
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