Or make monitors have a USB device profile, or just use the serial profile and have a command response protocol (http rest) for query and setting configuration. Standardize this protocol.
Now all displays could be configured using external standardized logic. I'd prefer something over SPI, but either is really ok.
Because they want to use essentially the same chassis case when they have 2 inputs or 20, and they have dozens of models over the life of the tooling to support. It's much easier to swap out the die for the backplate or to use a snap in backplate than it is to have a variable number of buttons, knobs and dials. The zero-bezel design craze is what makes them really difficult to use because they're a line of tiny, poorly labelled buttons on the front, or an awkward line of buttons on the back with tactile bumps.
The point of this joke is that as soon as the number of "things" (in this case input sources) is >1, someone somewhere starts looking at solutions as if that number might be 5, 10, 100, 1000, 1 million. Most monitors will have less than 5. Some will have up to 10. This number is known when you make the monitor.
Just let me buy a monitor with hardware input selection.
Also known as the Zero-One-Infinity Rule: http://catb.org/jargon/html/Z/Zero-One-Infinity-Rule.html
My monitor has one plug (DVI-D dual link). My monitor has 5 buttons.
But thankfully the manufacturer removed basically all software, so only the power button does anything, and the other 4 buttons are unconnected in the background. (Unfortunately this means the brightness can only be controlled by the connected computer's software)
The chassis is the same as more complicated monitors though.
What beyond me is that monitor firmware almost never have sanity check on input source switching. So every time I use wrong button I have to wait 2-3 seconds when it's attempting to switch to already active input.
I have an old display with hardware input source buttons, but if your display has 4+ inputs, and especially given most users aren't going to ever switch inputs, that's a lot of additional complexity with little point.
Isn't a single "next input" button (which cycles through) common though?
If not that, how about a simple Dpad at least!?
The problem with these manufacturers is that they don't give a shit about UX. It would be trivial to implement 3 clicks on the menu button to switch inputs or long press to switch input immediately.
any button
right x4-7 (depending on previous mode)
enter x2
down
enter
left/right (brightness)
exit
down
enter
left/right (contrast)
exit x3
I have a monitor with exactly 2 inputs (1 DP, 1 HDMI). What do I need to do to switch between them?
1. Press the Menu button
2. Move the option to Input Source
3. Select Input Source
4. Move from one to the other
5. Press Select
Some monitor will compress 1-3 into a single Input Source option. Still, 3 presses? Why does literally NO ONE make a monitor with hardware input source buttons? WHY?
I HATE OSD menus. With a passion. I don't care if it's a few cents cheaper. They are literally AWFUL. Just look at the Macbook touch bar and how much it's generally reviled.