I have decided after long enough to get 2 decent sized monitors for programming on. I was really please to see that I can choose from endless really big, really cheap TFT LCD's - then I realised they are all wide screen! I don't want widescreen, I wanted a 4:3 running 1600x1200. I want as many lines of code on screen as possible.
So I was pretty dumbfounded after seeing all these widescreens, that there are NO 4:3 monitors around over 20" that don't cost a bomb :( This is really weird, but that's the way it is.
Should I just go for a 19/20 inch 4:3 or get a big 24/26 inch widescreen (for the same money) which can run at 1920x1200 and put it on its side? Would that work as good? I'm getting two monitors anyway, so as long as I don't lose out on the width, the portrait mode height is a plus. A 24" 1920x1200 widescreen in portrait vs a 20" 4:3 at 1600x1200 is going to be down like 30% on resolution (horizontally) but be about the same physical width right?
My main concern is that I have read that often when you put them on there sides 'things look funny' and 'text goes squiggly'. I need good image quality. Are features / screen types I would specifically look for and avoid here? Like IPS for example.. I don't know what that is.
Any help much appreciated, I'm really surprised at the zero 4:3 >20" value for money options out there and I'm confused what is best to do next.