Dell ships curved 34-inch display: a good thing for CAD and BIM?

Dell previewed its curved Dell UltraSharp 34 Monitor U3415W last summer and now the 34-inch, WQHD (3,440 x 1,440) resolution display is shipping.

Dell says the curved screen optimises the field of view and minimises eye movement to deliver a more comfortable viewing experience than a flat screen.

While I’ve always considered curved TVs to be a bit of a gimmick, from my limited exposure with curved monitors I actually think manufacturers like Dell could be onto something.

Unlike the family TV where everyone is scattered all over the room, professional users can control exactly where they sit so they get an immersive experience from a central viewpoint. It’s not unlike the three screen setup, promoted by AMD FirePro Eyefinity – with a CAD modelling window in the middle, flanked by supporting applications. However, in the case of the Dell UltraSharp 34 Monitor U3415W and other curved displays like the HP ENVY 34c (also called the Z34c), you have one continuous screen instead of the gaps between monitors.

The Dell UltraSharp 34 Monitor U3415W includes Dell Easy Arrange to help users keep applications, emails and windows organized on one screen. The monitor also features Picture-by-picture or Picture-in-picture features so users can display content from two different PCs at the same time. One keyboard and mouse can also be used to navigate content from both PCs, via the USB 3.0 upstream ports.

The Dell UltraSharp 34 Monitor U3415W is available now for £729.