rayc83•1d ago

Switched from a single monitor to a vertical dual setup last week

I used to have one big monitor on my desk and it felt like I was constantly alt-tabbing between my design software and reference images. A buddy in Portland told me to try stacking two monitors vertically instead of side by side. I grabbed a used arm off Facebook Marketplace for 30 bucks and now I have my canvas on top and my tools on the bottom. Has anyone else tried a vertical stack or are you sticking with horizontal?

2 comments

2 Comments

bailey.sandra1d ago

Canvas on top and tools on the bottom" - that's exactly what I needed to picture to get why vertical works. I've seen people do this for coding with the code up top and the terminal below, but for design it makes so much more sense to have the big visual stuff on top. Do you find yourself craning your neck a lot, or is it pretty natural once you get the height right? I tried a vertical stack once with two old Dell monitors and hated it because they were different sizes, so the seam was super annoying.

the_aaron1d ago

Neck craning is real if you don't get the height right. I had a cheap VESA arm that barely moved and my neck was killing me after an hour. Ended up buying a proper gas spring arm and it changed everything, can tilt the top monitor down toward me a bit so I'm not looking straight up. Different sized monitors with mismatched seams is honestly the bigger dealbreaker though, that bezel gap would drive me insane. Not sure this setup is worth all the fuss for most people honestly.