EDIT:Just saw that BRIGHT monitors are not your thing. ROFLMAO!!
I'll leave what I wrote in this post just in case someone else reads this who "might" be having dim/bright monitor issues.
Hi, I'm use to BRIGHT monitors, so any LCD/LED Monitor under 300cd/m2 gives my eyes problems.
I went from using 19" NEC CRT flat Screen monitors to using Dell Ultrasharp 19" LCD monitors when I made the switch. So, 250 cd/m2 and below look DULL/DARK to me and it strains my eyes.
If you are using only one monitor I would suggest you go get this and install it:
Winsplit Revolution
I've got 3
Dell Ultra Sharp 24" IPS 1920x1200 @ 60 hz monitors on my latest workstation setup and still use that program to give me 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18 screens. Also, I recently added a LG 50" [ame="http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-50LN5700-50-Inch-LED-LCD/dp/B00BB9OPR8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390813046&sr=8-1&keywords=50LN5700"]LG 50"[/ame] TV 1920x1080 @ 60hz on it so I can now have up to 24 windows/screens and I'm able to do work on it without needing my glasses or contacts to read the screen without changing the resolution. (Oh, and all monitors & the TV have a brightness of 300cd/m2.)
It's free and you could have up to 6 windows/screens open on that 23" and still be able to see what you're doing in them. Two windows open on a 23" monitor will be similar to having two netbook sized screens to work with.
Give it a try.
Like was stated above, I HATE to keep tabbing between windows!!! lol
P.S. Since "I" like BRIGHT monitors,
F.lux was HORRIBLE for me. 250cd/m2 and lower monitors hurt my eyes within MINUTES of looking at them.
Also, I'm looking at my monitors no less than 14 hours a day and I wear both Contacts and Glasses. (Not at the same time though. lol )
P.S.S. I just looked this up (Not knowing which 23" Acer you have,)
Acer G236HLBbd Black 23" 5ms Widescreen LED Monitor 200 cd/m2 ACM 100,000,000:1 (600:1) - Newegg.com at only 200 cd/m2 "I" would not be able to work at it without getting a serious headache and watery eyes.
Most LCD Monitors are 250 cd/m2 on average, like this Acer:
Acer G246HLAbd Black 24" 5ms Widescreen LED Monitor 250 cd/m2 ACM 100,000,000:1 (1000:1) - Newegg.com
If you're on a Budget and might like something brighter, maybe look at this Monitor:
PLANAR PLL2410W Black 24" 5ms Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 - Newegg.com
Most of the reviews of the Monitors I have were BITCHING about how bright they are. All that did was tell me that they were a good candidate for me!!
In my book, you can always turn DOWN the light level, but you can only go as HIGH as it's brightest rating.
Lulz