Why 2 monitors?

[DJFury]

I just got a free Dell 19" Ultrascan P990 and am thinking about connecting it to my X800XT via analog.

What are the advantages of having two monitors simultaneously? The desktop on my current dell 20" LCD is more than big enough. Can i play video games on one while surfing the web on the other? What do people usually do with two? Will connecting 2 put more strain on my video card?

 

[dionx]

why not?

there are a multitude of advantages and the only disadvantage i can think of is that you need space for 2 monitors rather than 1. do a search for dual monitors because this topic has been discussed over and over

 

[ShadowBlade]

i use two monitors in things like autocad, photshop, flash MX....i have my workspace on on monitor and all the things that normally clutter my workspace on the 2nd monitor

 

[Penth]

djfury: I used to run a dual monitor setup and will start again next week when I build my new rig. Less alt+tabbing. It's much easier to work when using two or more programs at a time as well. Just try it out and I'm sure you'll find uses for it.

 

[stevty2889]

Since I have been using dual monitors I could never go back. I can play a game on one screen, surfing the web or chating on the other, or even play a differant game on each monitor(assuming they will both run in windowed mode that works). It's not a neccesity of course, but once you start runnin dual monitors you'll get used to it and find more and more uses.

 

[blazerazor]

Ya, dual monitor is good. Really handy to have winamp, win explorer, etc. open while actively working in another. But 2 crt monitor produce alot more Heat. This is a problem for me in the summer months, but i live in the south.

 

[akugami]

No one needs dual monitor. Not even high end pro's doing stuff like CAD or a graphics pro working on multiple apps at the same time. For instance, someone working in Photoshop at the same time as Painter and having a page layout program open. Now, that's not to say it doesn't help their productivity immensely to have multiple monitor support.

That said, dual monitor is something that grows on you. It's one of those things where if you've never experienced it you will never miss it. However for those who have gone the multiple monitor route then you know that it simply increases the user experience. It's great being able to play a game but at the same time browse a web page without having to switch foreground apps. You can see all the happenings in the game while browsing at the same time because all it takes is a glance to see if your attention is needed on the game. Sure, you can do the same thing on a single monitor but sometimes things happen on the game that needs your attention right away but you won't realize it cause your web browser is the foreground app. Another use is web page development. You can have all your editing tools on one monitor with a web browser in the other that you can instantly update to see the changes without having to switch foreground apps since both the editing app and the browser app are effectively in the foreground on their respective monitors. One thing I do sometimes is watch recorded shows or a DVD on one monitor while browsing the web on the other during quiet scenes. Not everyone needs dual monitors but it's nice to have.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Since I have been using dual monitors I could never go back. I can play a game on one screen, surfing the web or chating on the other, or even play a differant game on each monitor(assuming they will both run in windowed mode that works). It's not a neccesity of course, but once you start runnin dual monitors you'll get used to it and find more and more uses.

I feel the same way. I hate going to university and using a single monitor setup. Im constantly looking to my right for my other monitor.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I use 2 monitors because I don't have the money or the room for more than that. Though I do have 3 on my desk (one is connected to another box though).

Ideally, I think I'd like 6 20inch displays on my desk, 3 stacked on top of 3. or maybe one of those really expensive sony widescreen 24inch CRTS that can do insane resolutions at great refresh rates, surrounded by 5 smaller monitors.

 

[EngenZerO]

so i can use this wallpaper

Wallpaper

plus there are added benefits of multitasking and using multiple programs at the same time without having to switch windows all the time.

 

[imported_CromsDog]

I NEED a dual monitor setup. I am the IT director for a cluster of 6 radio stations and I am constanly working on multiple PC's at one time. I can run multiple instances of VNC or Remote Desktop sharing on my main computer to diagnose and or fix probs on remote machines. Without out this setup my productivity would be halfed. Long live the god who invented this setup!

 

[Baked]

Photo on the left one, video on the right. One's portrait, the other's landscape.

 

[Giantwasp]

I use dual monitors both at home and at work and find it very useful, in fact I can't stand using single monitor now. It is not the same as having one big monitor because the 2 monitors generally get used for seperate tasks, whereas wth one you have to tile everything. A common example of my usage is while developing, having the source code on one screen and a website that I am refering to on the other. BTW I also know people that use 3,4 and 6+ monitors on one machine.

 

[Deskstar]

I have used dula monitors (initially a pair of CRTs and now a pair of Dell 18: LCDs). The result is nothing short of excellent. I keep on or more spreadsheets open on one screen and type summary using a word document on the other. Or a Word on one side and a PowerPoint being created on the other. A phot program on one and a PowerPoint on the other. And on and on.

Switching back and forth using one monitor would be a waste of time. At work, I have just one monitor and find it much less productive.

 

[tallman45]

Originally posted by: akugami
No one needs dual monitor. Not even high end pro's doing stuff like CAD or a graphics pro working on multiple apps at the same time. For instance, someone working in Photoshop at the same time as Painter and having a page layout program open. Now, that's not to say it doesn't help their productivity immensely to have multiple monitor support.

Ever seen a stock traders turrent, these are workstations with 3 monitors.

 

[mauiblue]

I love my dual monitor setup. I did a google on dual monitor setup and I was amazed on the confirmations people did. I took the plunge and I cannot see how much more easier it is to work on my photo/video editing, web browsing, etc. Two monitors is enough for me though. Any more monitors, I would have to remodel my computer station.

 

[bigal40]

Not to thread jack but is it possible to use dual monitors and dual keyboards/mice to have a cmputer that 2 people can use simulstaeously

 

[Koing]

I have a fat 23" Sony lcd that runs 1920x1200

It would be SO sweet to have another but too pricey.

I have thought about getting another 17" that runs 1280x1024 though. That would be great but it would be smaller . My mate has bought a 20" dell widescreen and he'll leave it around my place when he goes back home so I'll be able to use that. If it is worth while I 'may' somehow find the money to get the 20" widescreen though.

Koing

 

[kento46]

I have 2 monitors one I use as a TV essential to go along with my Sapphire 550 Theatre chip, and the other I use for everything else.

 

[silent tone]

I started using 2 monitors at work. Now I want 3. The less flipping between apps the better.

 

[mindwreck]

dual monitors just gives you a lot more room to work with. I use my 2nd monitor when I'm word processing, spreedsheets. surfering mulitple sites. Its just more easier to work when you don't have to constantly swtich windows.

 

[mercanucaribe]

You can't play games and have other apps on the other monitor. In some games the mouse cursor won't go over unless you alt tab out (first person shooters don't HAVE a cursor). Other games will minimize once you click in another window.. and rightfully so. Would you expect to be able to control a game and type in another window at the same time?.

 

[Techno Pride]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
You can't play games and have other apps on the other monitor. In some games the mouse cursor won't go over unless you alt tab out (first person shooters don't HAVE a cursor). Other games will minimize once you click in another window.. and rightfully so. Would you expect to be able to control a game and type in another window at the same time?.

it is possible to lock the cursor to a particular monitor with a hotkey. You can pause the game, unlock the cursor and go over to the other monitor to do other stuff.