Samsung 34" ViewFinity S5 Ultra WQHD Monitor

So you want to connect multiple devices to one monitor? It's possible, but way too hard to set up. Also, this feels like a $250-$350 monitor, not a $799 (list) or $499 (Amazon as of March 21, 2024) monitor. UPDATE MARCH 28, 2024: I got a replacement due to the cosmetic damage and manufacturing defects, I had 2 of the same 4 problems (see below) with the replacement. Definitely some quality control problems, but the picture looks great. FEATURES: Yes, this ultra-wide will allow you to display two desktops in side-by-side or picture-in-picture mode. It's not quite the right proportions for two 16:9 displays to fill the screen. So you have black bars at top and bottom of this screen. (Actual ratio is 21:9. There are 32:9 monitors available, if you want two fullscreen side-by-side displays.) The refresh rate of 100Hz is good, but most gamers are looking for 120Hz. The 5ms response time is good, though most gamers are looking at times closer to 1 or 2ms. The source-switching and KVM-switching works well, once you get everything set up. But the audio doesn't switch when switching "focus" from one PC to another. I'm using the Thunderbolt/USB-C cable as a one-cable setup alongside the HDMI plus USB3 cable on a second PC. The USB3 doesn't carry the audio and video, but it is still necessary for the keyboard and mouse when using the HDMI (not sure if the DisplayPort connection would carry the keyboard and mouse). I had a terrible experience setting up the keyboard and mouse via the included USB ports. The built-in settings menu has several overlapping settings, meaning that in certain modes, picture controls are disabled. And it's not obvious how to change the settings to unlock these basic functions again. It's confusing to navigate, and frustrating to set up. The "Easy Setting Box" software from the product's website doesn't work on either PC I installed it on. And there's absolutely no documentation how to set up this device. It's plug-n-PRAY. Also, there aren't any good videos on their website or video sharing platforms, either (as of 3/21/2024). DESIGN: The monitor looks a bit strange with a bulging back side (to hold all the built-in power supply and electronics). Also, the ribbed texture on the back doesn't add much to the design. The screen has a black border of about 8mm or a little over 5/16" around the top and two sides and 2mm or about 1/16" along the bottom. I would have expected no black border/wasted screen space with such a thin bezel. It would look better to have a wider bezel than this black border or to make the bezel consistently thin (2mm is tolerable). I actually was looking for the screen size adjustment (there isn't one) to get my display to fill the screen when I first set it up. The cables included with this white monitor are all black, and the cable-management doesn't conceal the cables. So it's kind of a disappointment, aesthetically. The power LED is set to off by default. Which is a nice touch. The Samsung logo looks printed on, and is not illuminated, which it looks like it should have been. The stand is actually nicely designed (except for the poor cable management). Height adjustment, tilt, and swivel all work well. The base is simple, thin, and unobtrusive. Assembly was a snap (literally and metaphorically). There are two complaints: poor cable management and on both of my stands, the plastic has a split at the bottom of the front seam, where the pole meets the base. BUILD QUALITY: The overall shape and feel of this monitor is kind of cheap. The stand has a vertical tube that has open gaps in the seams. The bezel had several nicks and scratches from the factory. This monitor does put out noticeable heat as well. Likely this is caused by the built-in power supply and the high-end processor. It's not a lot, but, you can feel it if you put your hand over the vents. The screen's low glare coating is pretty good. PICTURE QUALITY: The images are good, and there are some nice adjustments available. Eye relief (high, low, or off options) reduces the brightness and blue light. Brightness, contrast, sharpness, and HDR (on/off) settings all work. Some of the other settings didn't make any visible difference, including gamma, HDR adjustment, and color temperature. UPDATE: Monitor 2 did show visible changes when making these adjustments. Scrolling images quickly does blur sometimes (brave browser, RTX 2060 over HDMI). But generally the screen seems to show crisp, clear, and bright images. AUDIO QUALITY: The included speakers are fairly powerful, giving enough volume to fill my small home office. However, there's not a lot of bass punch, and the high tones sound a little harsh. It's not an audiophile's dream, but dialog is clear and music is enjoyable. So you can definitely live with these. Overall, it's decent, but not worth the extra money compared to other ultra wide screen monitor options.