Dual Monitors: How should the monitors be?

[Research]

I'm a bit confused by what various people have to say about dual monitors ... I've heard some people say that it is great if the two monitors are exactly identical. This produces seamless, least confusing, most effecient set-up. Others state that it just doesn't matter. What's your take on this?

Your answers will determine whether I should sell one of my monitors and buy a new one ....

 

[GnomeCop]

I have a Samsung 191T LCD as my primary LCD, and a 172W widescreen 17" LCD as my secondary.
It works fine for me. I play games on my 19" and watch DVDs/HDTV on my widescreen.
for work, I place winamp, chat windows, downloads on my secondary. Works well enough for me.

 

[daveshel]

It works best if they are the same in my experience, but even then they might not display the colors the same. I have a pair of aging NEC Multisyncs I have used in this way for several years and they are very close but my friend chose 2 from the same batch and they aren't even close.

 

[Neurorelay]

I have dual monitors. In addition I have had them in the two configurations you speak of. One monitor was 19"(hp 1903) and the other 18"(Mits NX85) and it was okay......but for that feeling of seamlessness, it just did not cut it. Mind you, for functionally it was fine, but if you sit them both together, they should look the same and be the same size and rez and so forth, dual screen wallpapers are much better that way. So again, functionally different models, sizes are fine for dual setups, but for aesthetics, the same model, color and size go a long way to giving you that complete feeling. I currently run two HP f1903 (19"), very pleased with the results.

 

[Jamin3D]

Yeah, if they colors don't match, it really bothers me. If the size doesn't match, it's a pain in the ass (cursor ends up in a different spot when you go from one to the other).

At work I use dual Viewsonic 181VP's on 3 machines (6 screen total) and at home dual Samsung 710T's. All the pairs of LCDs match up seemingly perfect.

I used to have dual Samsung 955DF's at home, and their brightness was different, even thought they were the same model. It seems matching up LCDs is easier than CRTs... and having them match makes for the most pleasing use.

 

[blodhi74]

I have a 17" LCD as a primary and a 17" CRT which is used for watching TV and running IMs

 

[CSMR]

Economic to have one more expensive primary and one less expensive secondary, since one screen will probably be used more than the other.