this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2024
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Monitors

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Can you help me find a solution. Can I get a monitor on an arm or something? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by Willie@lemmy.world to c/monitors@lemm.ee
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So, long story short, I have vision problems, and I need to work closely with my monitor. So I'd like to have a solution where I can grab my monitor and pull it close to my face for use, and push it back over the desk when I am done with it. I don't really know what what I'm looking for is called, or if anything like this even exists. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable in the subject than I am can help me out here.

While I am at it, I am hoping to replace my monitor as well. I would like it if the monitor had a harder material on the screen, rather than the fragile feeling plasticy stuff that computer monitors are normally made of, since my nose frequently bumps the screen, resulting in me needing to clean it often.

Once I remove my current monitor, I will have two displayport ports and one HDMI open on my card.

I am hoping to find a solution that costs less than three-thousand dollars. But with niche hardware like this, I understand that it may be more expensive.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Thanks for reading my post and considering helping me out!

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[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I found some handles that attach behind a monitor leveraging the existing mount. (Handles exist is my point, so I don't know if the link I provided has the best prices.)

Rear mounted handles would negate the need to invest in hardened LCDs, me thinks. With the arms that others suggested, these handles look neat.

https://www.ergomart.com/components-guide/arm-adjustment-handles

A monitor cable extension and the creative use of zip ties could allow for frequent moment, like you described. Retractable monitor cables I found look most bad quality.

[–] Willie@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Those handles look like a pretty good idea, but I don't quite think they'd solve the need for a hard monitor. Since I'll still end up getting the screen dirty and needing to clean it frequently like I have been lately. Though, knowing that any monitor I get will have to meet the mounting requirements set forth by the arms further limits my choices, meaning, I might just have to do without, especially since no one even seems to know of any hard monitors that exist anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

Ruggedized monitors exist, for sure. I'll point you in the direction but you have now stumbled into the industrial realm, my friend. (My own pocketbook has just scampered off somewhere in fear just by thinking about it.)

The biggest problem with ruggedized equipment is that it is generally smaller (for durability) and usually a generation or two behind current market. It's usually got durability certifications or military approval attached to it.

Military grade aside, you probably want to focus on restaurant or factory grade equipment. Unfortunately, that stuff generally also comes with an industrial price tag.

(tl;dr: I found a company at the last link that may be a good happy medium between military and general commerical.)

https://www.stealth.com/ruggedlcds/ruggeddesktoplcds/

https://www.stealth.com/ruggedlcds/

https://zmicro.com/solutions/displays/

This looks like it might be an interesting path: Casino game machine displays:

https://crystal-display.com/products/low-cost-gaming-and-casino-monitors-and-touchscreen-products/

Beetronics might be what we are looking for:

https://www.beetronics.com/c-monitors

[–] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'd wager that nearly all monitors use the VESA standard, so finding mounts shouldn't be too hard.

[–] Willie@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah, I was surprised at the amount of choices I got when I punched the VESA sizes listed by the arm I was looking at into the monitor filter. I guess my current monitor is not the norm and that most are built for this kind of thing.

[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Just curious, but have you tried just making things bigger in software? There's vision accessibility tools tied into all the major OSes.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-magnifier-to-make-things-on-the-screen-easier-to-see-414948ba-8b1c-d3bd-8615-0e5e32204198

Otherwise the amazon basics monitor mounts are basically an ergotron clone for way cheaper.

A touchscreen monitor is basically designed to be pushed on, and might be a good option for more resilience

[–] Willie@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Yeah, I have, and while I can use the computer thanks to this software, I still have to get my face close to the screen to see the stuff on it.

You do bring up a good point with the whole touchscreen thing, I never really thought too much about it, but yeah, I haven't used a touchscreen since the early 2000s that wasn't hard. It's totally worth looking into.

Thanks for the idea!

[–] Cad@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I've never seen a hard modern monitor. They do make hard plastic TV/monitor screen protectors. A nice movable mount, the handles suggested, and a screen protector might bring you close to the setup you need.

[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

Would one of those adjustable arms work? Something like this but not necessarily that particular one. (It's the first listing I saw, I'm sure there's better ones out there) https://www.amazon.com/MOUNTUP-Adjustable-4-4-17-6lbs-Computer-MU0004/dp/B07Z7ZGHD5

[–] DerisionConsulting@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A monitor arm is exactly what you want, the brand Ergotron has been my go to for a while.

As for a hard screen, I don't really know about a commercial solution.

[–] Willie@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yes! Some of their items look like exactly what I need. They have a lot of information about the distance that they can move too.

My desk is a little bit on the depthy side at around 23 inches, and I haven't seen anything that looks quite long enough yet, which makes sense, since at some point you'd be battling with physics, but realistically, I could just drill a hole into the center of my desk and put one of these in, right?

[–] SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Assuming you can work out any glare/coating issues a standard “arm” and some kind of protective sheet may work.

The handles for moving it and the sheet to give you something to “clean” when it needs it or replace without having to buy a new monitor or move up to the durable/expensive line of products.