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Why aren't computer monitors more commonly square, specifically in the workplace? (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by Quicky@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Almost all business applications have horizontal menus and ribbons that take up a decent percentage of a landscape monitor instead of utilising the "spare" screen space on the left or right, and a taskbar usually sits at the bottom or top of the screen eating up even more space (yes I know this can be changed but it's not the default).

Documents are traditionally printed/read in portrait which is reflected on digital documents.

Programmers often rotate their screens to be portrait in order to see more of the code.

Most web pages rarely seem to make use of horizontal real estate, and scrolling is almost universally vertical. Even phones are utilised in portrait for the vast majority of time, and many web pages are designed for mobile first.

Beyond media consumption and production, it feels like the most commonly used workplace productivity apps are less useful in landscape mode. So why aren't more office-based computer screens giant squares instead of horizontal rectangles?

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[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Nothing would look good on a square monitor.

If you want a tall monitor, turn it sideways.

[–] Quicky@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

What do you mean by look good though? My question is based on productivity, and why software seems geared towards having top-down functionality on screens that generally provide more width.

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

A vertical monitor is better for productivity than a square one.

What is a square monitor good for? Seems a jack of all trades and master of none.

[–] Quicky@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Yeah but vertical monitor with extra width is even better 😂