Large Computer Monitor

[Raizinman]

With all the great sales (Black Friday) coming up, it is obvious the time to purchase. I’m looking for a large monitor to help a partially blind fellow. He currently has a 40” on his desk but want bigger, perhaps a 50 or 55. He wants clear and crisp 1920 x 1080 or so.

Should he go for 120 Hz or 240 Hz?
Should he go for a 2560 x 1080p resolution?
Dynamic Contrast of 1,000,000 or higher such as 6,500,000?
Response time: 8ms or better such as 4ms?

He will use it for 90% computer usage such as Office, and will use it only 10% for TV watching. There will be NO 3D or NO game playing.

What specs are important for this type of monitor usage?

 

[aaksheytalwar]

I don't think 1440p is available beyond 27/30"

 

[jackstar7]

With all the great sales (Black Friday) coming up, it is obvious the time to purchase. I’m looking for a large monitor to help a partially blind fellow. He currently has a 40” on his desk but want bigger, perhaps a 50 or 55. He wants clear and crisp 1920 x 1080 or so.

Should he go for 120 Hz or 240 Hz?
Should he go for a 2560 x 1080p resolution?
Dynamic Contrast of 1,000,000 or higher such as 6,500,000?
Response time: 8ms or better such as 4ms?

He will use it for 90% computer usage such as Office, and will use it only 10% for TV watching. There will be NO 3D or NO game playing.

What specs are important for this type of monitor usage?

Simply go big and stick to 1920x1080. Ignore 120Hz/240Hz in this case. Response time doesn't even matter much given that he's using it for productivity and not gaming. I would just find the size he wants with the hookups that he needs and hopefully a decent panel with good viewing angles.

But it does not sound like he'd benefit from extra bells and whistles for his needs.

 

[96Firebird]

Since you're looking at a TV and not a monitor, refresh rate is going to be 60Hz no matter what. The 120Hz/240Hz/etc use interpolation, which is not the same as an actual 120Hz panel that some expensive monitors are capable of.

Also, there are no (affordable) TVs in the 50"-55" range which go above 1920x1080, so stick with that resolution. Plus, a higher resolution screen will not help if he is partially blind, like you say. It would actually make things smaller, just fit more of them on the screen at the same time.

Contrast ratio is a tough thing to compare between brands, since a lot of them measure this differently. It'd be best to just read reviews and see what others have to say.

 

[KingFatty]

A hidden factor that may be overlooked: whether to get a matte or glossy screen?

Find out more about his room lighting, it may be that one type may be much better in his situation than another. I'd suggest a matte finish just to be safe, as I don't see how a glossy could benefit him but I can see how the glossy would be to his detriment in certain lighting/usage conditions.

Also see about adding bias lighting (that lighting that goes behind the display to shine rearward) if the display will be anywhere near a back wall to help with room lighting contrast.