What is benefit of having a dual-monitor setup?

[Need4Deal]

Once in a while, I read about a video card that has a "dual monitor" capability. What exactly is the benefit you get by connecting tow monitors to the same PC? Does it display half the "desktop area" on one monitor and the rest on the second monitor? Even if so, what exactly is the benefit here?

Thanks.

 

[tenoc]

Most use it for the ability to view two apps at once.

Word proc on one, spreadsheet on the other. Surf on one, watch DVD on the other. Etc.

 

[Need4Deal]

So, it is basically to increase the "real estate" of the "desktop area" (but maintaining the same resolution), right?

 

[tenoc]

Obviously more real estate, but with two windows open at once.

As for the resolution thing, some cards let you run at different resolutions easier than others if the monitors are different sizes.

It is possible to set it up so that one window is spread across both screens for, say, a racing game.

 

[viper118]

it's also very handy if you do 2d/3d work... especially in photoshop.. you can have all the palettes opened on the second monitor, and just be looking at the pic on the main monitor.. it saves from always moving the palettes to fit your needs.

 

[stevewm]

And you don't need a video card with dual outputs to have a multiple monitor setup ethier.

A multimon setup can also be done with multiple regular video cards.

 

[kyu614]

i put all my chat windows on the secondary monitor while i do my stuff on the main monitor so i can read what people say without having to always bring up the window. it is convenient, and i had an extra monitor lying around

 

[Grimner]

If you have any situation where you Alt-Tab between programs, you'll like a dual setup. Also, as Viper118 said, separating palettes and workspace cuts down on your mousing/keyboarding.

Any dual setup handle an extended desktop at the same resolution. They also should handle extended desktops at different resolutions, but you'll need to read up on the graphics card(s).


Windows XP will handle two cards, but one of them will have to be a PCI card (to my knowlegde, there are no motherboards with two AGP ports).


I recently went dual, and I ain't going back

 

[Need4Deal]

Thanks everybody for all the information.