An update on my 4-monitor LCD setup...
I got an Ergotron "quad" stand, (arranged in a square) after discovering that the stock "4 wide" product would not accomodate my 21.3" monitors.
It is possible to make a 4-wide setup, but it requires a custom configuration, and the cost really shoots up when ordering the parts. The best way to do this is to figure out what standard product to start with, and then add the parts necessary.
After living with the quad for a while, I decided that it was just too annoying. The standard mounts tilt either up and down or sideways (not both). Even if you got the mounts that tilt both ways (many $$$) it's impossible to get a "seamless" quad configuration unless the entire surface is perfectly flat - which is far from ergonomically-correct, and nearly useless with these size monitors.
I opted to tilt the monitors vertically - so that the lower monitors tilt up (the bottoms were nearly on the desktop) and the top monitors tilt down. You wind up with a "diamond pattern" gap which is pretty annoying, but you eventually get somewhat used to. Looking up to the top monitors is difficult, and the bottom monitors seem unnaturally low.
So, what I did is convert the quad to a kludged 4-wide that is better than the "official" 4-wide configuration.
The 4-wide comes with two bases and two crossbows each with an extension off the end. The crossbows connect in the middle, making it a single structure and perhaps making it a bit easier to set-up. The problem with the standard 4-wide is that the crossbow and extensions are not wide enough for my monitors. The standard dual and quad configurations, though, are fine with this monitor size.
After talking to an Ergotron engineer, we determined that it really would be better to go with two 2-wide setups side by side, without the special crossbows and extensions. This means that the two pairs of monitors are independent, without any physical connection in the center. This is actually a blessing - the engineer said that it isn't possible to get the center seamless with the standard setup. With the setup that I have now, it is possible to make all of the gaps seemless. (i.e. no space between the bezels).
It does take considerable fiddling with the mounts to get it all lined up nicely. Still don't quite have it. It helps to line up the based square with the desk and measure the distance from the edges to get it symetrical on the desk.
I only needed to buy a base and two short poles to convert my quad to two duals. This is possibly cheaper but certainly no more expensive than buying two dual stands to start with, and I now have the option of going back to the quad configuration if I so desire.
With the 4-wide, I set it up to tilt the monitors left to right. Actually, if optimally set up, there should be no tilt. (If your space is limited, though, you can tilt the monitors to create more of a "U" shaped configuration and use less desk space.) The crossbows are designed so that with no tilt, each monitor is equal distance from your eyes. (You have to carefully place the two bases to acheive this, of course.)
Once I reconfigured to the 4-wide configuration, I configured it according to their ergonomic guidelines - the top of the monitor should be level with your eyes. Most monitors are probably set too low. This really makes a difference. It also gives you room under the monitors for some of that desktop clutter. :)
What I miss about the quad setup:
- It is ideal for trading and doing something else at the same time. I used the top two monitors for eSignal, and the bottom two for browsing, email, and software development (expanding to the top two also when doing software development - allows me to work on two projects, view documentation, and browse the web and use e-mail without having to minimize anything.)
The 4-wide is less useful for this. It's awkward having esignal on either the left two or right two displays. Nothing is in your central focus - you are always looking one way or the other. Somehow, over and under seems more natural. The upper two displays are ideal for eSignal, since you generally aren't glued to the charts. It also did work out well for reading documentation when doing software development, since this is something you generally only refer to occasionally, with your focus on the editing windows most of the time.
- Watching TV from the dining room on one of the top monitors. I guess I need to replace that old 20" set with the shrinking screen (it only shows half the screen)...
I would recommend this set-up to anyone contemplating a 4-monitor setup. That is, get the Ergotron quad (available from some online retailers are a substantial discount) and then add the second base and short poles (buy direct from Ergotron) and then you can experiment and see which way works best for you. |
