
Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
If you’re setting up your desk right now you’ll probably default to dual monitors.
That’s what everyone does.
But after using both ultrawide and dual monitors for years… I think that’s the wrong default.
🖥️ 5 Reasons I Prefer Ultrawide (After Using Both)
I’ve been using a single ultrawide for a long time now and I wouldn’t go back.
Here’s why:
1) No bezel splitting your work
With dual monitors, you’ve always got that line down the middle.
It sounds small, but it constantly breaks your focus especially for:
timelines
spreadsheets
editing
anything visual
Ultrawide has one continuous canvas.

Source: TechRadar
2) Simpler window management
Dual monitors should feel organized but in reality:
windows get lost
things open on the wrong screen
you’re constantly dragging stuff around
With ultrawide, everything lives in one space.
3) You actually gain usable space
With an ultrawide, you effectively get:
left workspace
right workspace
+ a usable center area
That “middle zone” often becomes your:
Slack / messages
notes
reference content
It’s like getting a third monitor without adding another screen.
4) Cleaner setup and better cables
With a good ultrawide (especially Thunderbolt):
1 cable → display + charging + accessories
fewer cables overall
cleaner desk
Dual monitors means more cables, more complexity, more mess.
5) Hardware has caught up
Ultrawide used to be niche. Now there are serious options:
Samsung 57” ultrawide (basically two 4K monitors in one)
⚠️ Where Dual Monitors Still Win
There are a few cases where dual monitors still make more sense:
🎮 Gaming
Not all games support ultrawide resolutions
Can lead to stretching / black bars / weird UI
🧩 Strict separation workflows
If you need:
completely separate environments
different inputs (e.g. 2 computers)
or dedicated “one app per screen” setups
Dual monitors can be better.
🎯 Quick Decision Guide
If you… | Go for | Why |
|---|---|---|
You want a clean, simple setup | ✅ Ultrawide (34”–45”) | Everything lives in one place |
You hate dealing with windows and dragging apps around | ✅ Ultrawide | Easier window management |
You want the best “flow” when working | ✅ Ultrawide | No bezel breaking your focus |
You work mostly on one machine | ✅ Ultrawide | One cable, less setup friction |
You want maximum immersion (and have space) | ⚠️ Large ultrawide (49”–57”) | Incredible, but can be overkill |
You need strict separation between tasks or screens | ⚠️ Dual monitors | Clear split between workflows |
You regularly use multiple devices (e.g. 2 laptops) | ⚠️ Dual monitors | Easier to dedicate one screen per device |
You’re mainly using it for gaming | ❌ Usually dual monitors | Better compatibility across games |
📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:
In this episode of Aspiring Creator, I break down why YouTube views are quietly collapsing for established creators and why it’s not just “bad content” or “a slow week.”
Something bigger is shifting.
Why established channels are seeing views drop (even when content is strong)
The shift from subscriber distribution → algorithm-first discovery
What “good metrics, bad views” really means (and why it’s happening more)
Why you might not even be reaching your own audience anymore
The two failed monitor videos and what they revealed about the system
How I’m thinking about content strategy differently because of this
🎧 New episodes every Wednesday

