how many people work with dual monitors?

[tux]

How many people have dual monitors setup?

[duluthboats]

I don't see the need. I very seldom split my screen.
Gary:D

[Willallison]

I Have no experience with multiple screens - like Gary, I can't really see the need though. But this is one place where bigger IS better....

[pedja]

I work on two monitor it is wonerful, it is best

[Polarity]

I did try but could not find the "old" hardware needed by my old version (Me) of windows. (it needs a supported video card, all the cards I could find were "no brand" and not supported aarrg). the 500$ for a split screen card did not seem worth it just to play with...

Paul

[snakefeet]

I used to think of dual screens as a bizarre luxury - like leather-grip pliers or a fur lined bicycle seat. But I was put on a workstation at work with two monitors and I'll never be able to draft on one screen again.

If cost is a problem, watch ebay for last years's model of dual-head card. I got myself a Matrox 450 for under $50 and it has done a great job under both Win2000 and RedHat 7.2.

[Tom_McGuinness]

I've been using multiple monitors for the past 4 years. All you need is a second standard video card, which sell for less than $100 ea.

In my opinion, a second monitor provides a bigger increase in productivity than any amout of RAM or MHz.

[yipster]

one big CRT but use a KVM ( keybord video mouse ) switch code on my keyboard, that way i draw on one and render on the second pc via one KVM setup on the desk

[bhnautika]

Dual monitors are great and improve productive (19 in), cad on one, spreadsheet on the other. I do know someone who runs three.

[Herbert lotz]

If you are using some thing like micro stations it is nice to put all your toolbars on one, or a pic of your girlfriend in the nic is always fun to.

[Andrew Mason]

It depends on the work you are doing. For CAD work I prefer 1 large monitor. I currently use the Dell 24" LCD, 1920 x 1200 pixels. Dell is now doing a 30" but it is very pricey.

However, one large monitor is not necessarily ideal for other tasks. Programming environments, word processing documents and web browsers are too big when zoomed up to the full size of the screen.

For this sort of work my ideal setup would be dual screens, preferably the Dell 20", 1600 x 1200 LCD, both set up in portrait mode. Cost is about the same as the one large 24" but total screen real estate is greater.

[Ari]

During my days at control panel we use to have 8 to 16 19 inches screens..:eek: it do enable fast and continuos observation and control..done it..recently just chuck off 1 screen;) , am left with one desk screen and one portable now..but only utilised one at any one time:) .

[Wellydeckhand]

do they have dual touch screen model?

[Ari]

Touch screen ..yes there is..:) Honeywell..Foxboro..Yamatake..Yokogawa..masoneilan..but..dual touch..I had never came across..dual pinch..yes..!:D

[marshmat]

Normally I'm working on a Toshiba laptop with 15.4" WXGA. OK, but really not enough for serious CAD. Best monitor setup I use right now is a trio of XGA-resolution Compaq V75s (about 17" I think) on a turn-of-the-century workstation; ok computer but sweet screen space. Would be nice to have OpenGL and DirectX on all of them though; current card only supports that on one of the 3. Still could use more space- dual 30" would be my ideal setup. The screen's really a limiting factor on a CAD station, much more so than the processing power itself which is almost always huge these days. More screen = more productivity.

[lewisboats]

Jusst upgraded to a Gforce 6600 and it had dual monitor support so I figured...what the heck. You couldn't get me to go back to only one now. It is nice to be able to have a tutorial on one screen and the program you are learning on the other, or two different design programs if you are trying to match a curve or something in one from the other.

Steve
PS if I had the $$$s and the desk real estate I would have 3 or 4 monitors...Gotta have one for the solitaire game and one for the slide show of tropical paradises...the ones you want to sail to.

[skyl4rk]

I use three monitors.

[westlawn5554X]

Like these? I wonder what hardware support 3 monintor just with one PC, other upgrade must be consider but I still dont know, anyone out there have an idea?:)

[Tim B]

I'm using a mixed WinXP / Mandriva Linux system. The Linux Box runs as a server and research machine, and XP handles all the CAD work. I can also use the system for twin Linux Boxes for those larger CFD problems.

The older box is a P4 2.4 GHz (overclocked to 2.5GHz), the newer is a P4 505 2.66GHz. Both machines have 2GB of Ram and ATI Radeon 9550 gfx cards. It seems to be a good solution.

One Machine with dual monitors? probably wouldn't cut it for me. That said, I'm slowly rackmounting my two machines. So I am using 1 machine with no gfx card at the moment. It's REALLY quiet though.

Tim B.

[skyl4rk]

At work I run a laptop (display #1) with a usb docking station connected to display #2, and the video port on the laptop is used to connect display #3. I am using windows XP, it was very easy to set up using the control panel.

[westlawn5554X]

WOW... How many monintor can windowXP actually plug in? I am trying to get AMD64 and Window 64ver , how can I set up that dude, mojo cool.:)

[skyl4rk]

I'm not an expert, I started with the laptop connected to a usb docking station with a separate monitor. I just tried plugging a monitor in the back of the laptop and it worked.

Control Panel - Display - Settings, it apparently recognizes the monitors automagically, then you move them around on a screen to fit how you have them arranged.

[Speng]

Yeah dual screening is the shiznit. I first had on my last machine which was Win2k. Got a second video card and you're off. With Xp it's even easier. I have a laptop in the docking station. Digital outs go to the LCD and the RGBs go to the CRT both are the same size and you setup with the screen properties.

If you're reading Seahorse in the AM and you want to surf to a webpage you've got email on screen and IE on the other. Or if you're working with two huge spreadsheets or editing multiple PDFs etc.

[marshmat]

WOW... How many monintor can windowXP actually plug in? I am trying to get AMD64 and Window 64ver , how can I set up that dude, mojo cool.
(Last year's thread, I know....)
Four monitors on XP is easy if you have a graphics card that can handle it. Eight is possible with twin 4-head cards. More are possible, but difficult, because you start to run into serious memory addressing limitations if the three separate graphics cards you'll need are any more than basic non-3D VGA units.

[Verytricky]

16 is theoreticall possible....

But why anyone would want more than three is beyond me. Three is perect, balanced nicelyleft, centre, right.

Left is email, any chat boxes, forums you are waiting for an answer in. Middle is the 'active work' screen and is my largest monitor. CAD, spreadsheets, etc in this screen. Right is for manuals, tutorials or source documents for what you are working on. It is the 'dumping ground' of multiple explorer screens...

[PsiPhi]

I work in an office of around 40 software engineers and half a dozen testers.
We ALL have 2x 20in flat screens, we couldn't work effectively without them. Since upgrading to 2 monitors productivity has increased (tell your boss, it's fact not fiction).
If you work in any environment where you have to wait for the computer to do something, open something, process or compile something, you can benefit from two monitors.
If you have to compare documents, or specifications, or work from an on-line manual, you can benefit from two monitors.

[Bergalia]

I work with two monitors - plus at times a split screen on my main Mac. But I'm no designer...simply use it for comparing manuscripts (original and edited versions) when writing.

[lazeyjack]

i work with 2, the main is flat screen the other is 36x24x 36 she sits on my knee and takes notes

[PsiPhi]

One more point - most of us have one monitor in horizontal format and one in vertical.
You get wide pages and you get long pages.
Vertical is great for documents and webpages etc., horizontal for applications with thier own interfaces (which are usually designed to be horizontal format).

[Frosty]

One more point - most of us have one monitor in horizontal format and one in vertical.
You get wide pages and you get long pages.
Vertical is great for documents and webpages etc., horizontal for applications with thier own interfaces (which are usually designed to be horizontal format).


Oh!!! Ive gone one better than that I use 2 key boards on one monitor.

[PsiPhi]

And how many mices Frosty?
- or is that technology beyond you!

[Bergalia]

That's an unfair question PsiPhi - when you know full well the correct technical term is 'meece'....

[PsiPhi]

14954
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/gaming-desk-for-the-socially-challenged-206462.php

[tallen]

Two? pff... I love my three monitor set up. I dominantly use rhino so I put two views on one screen, two on another, then the third has all the pallets, tools, or other software.

[masalai]

I would love an extra screen or two. One 17" 1920x1200 lcd is not enough space, even with 6 linux pages, page swapping is a pain. I was thinking of a projector to give me a 48" or so presentation for overview etc..

May wait till someone else has "made that wheel"

Like the idea of multiple screens.

[Andrew Mason]

Have a look at the Dell 30" monitor, 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Currently $A1500 and worth every penny.

Once you have used one you won't go back to dual monitors.

[masalai]

Thanks Andrew!

[Andrew Mason]

I just had a look and the 30" Dell is currently $A1798 but including a free clour laser printer. I bought mine for $A1498 about 6 weeks ago so I would expect Dell to offer it at that price or better in the near future.

It's the unfortunate thing about Dell, their prices jump around all over the place and sometimes you just have to be patient and wait for them to do a special offer on what you want.

The other thing you will need if you buy this monitor is a good video card, many of the older video cards won't drive a monitor this big (it needs dual link DVI output) and very few laptops are capable of it.

[masalai]

Andrew, Where was it made? - I mean the manufacturer? possibly Quanta or Compal. It should be on the compliance label.

[Andrew Mason]

I've had a close look at the labels on the back and apart from Dell's name I cant see any other manufacturer's name. It does say "Made in Dong Guan China" if thats any help.

[masalai]

Ok from a search of about 7 manufacturers I can find it if they are on the web.

Thanks Andrew, is now on my to-do list

[Frosty]

Dell was the last bloke that owned it.

The last bloke what owned mine was a guy called Pat Pending.

[Andrew Mason]

Have a look at the Dell site here (http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/3007wfp_hc?c=au&cs=audhs1&l=en&s=dhs) for more details

[Fanie]

And how many mices Frosty?

when you know full well the correct technical term is 'meece'....

Mouses. Even I know that, and I didn't even make grade 1 the first time. Seriously. I flunked grade 1 because I was allergic to clay and couldn't write exams...

[Frosty]

Ive got a real big mouse --I call it a moose.

Actually I found it in the garbage. It even had a USB plug on it. Once I got the yoghurt and some other vile stuff off it it worked fine and even has a little light on it that flashes on and off --its great.

I normally check the garbage every few days but now I check every day.

[Butch .H]

Fanie was Clay the school bully

[Knut Sand]

I have a 17" laptop, docking station, and a 22", keyboard and trackball etc. connected to that again, I thought it would be a problem with different screen sizes, but I can't say that I notice it. I look at SolidWorks (or CosmosWorks) on the big one, and pick parts/ information, other viewers and internet on the smaller. The laptop solution gives me some flexibility (but far lower WAF...), even though I will consider a 17" to be relocateable not truly portable... I just hate carrying stuff around.

Yes, and of course it's a HP... Running XPP.....

[Fanie]

Fanie was Clay the school bully

I saw that !! :mad: ;)

[u4ea32]

I have three 24 inch LCDs. I want to up upgrade to three 30 inch soon.
I use them all, all the time.

[Fanie]

He he... For you bigger and better guys do remember it is the OLD guys with the WORST eyes that needs the BIGGEST monitors :D

I have this large monitor and magnifying glass thing beat. I have a projector, and the screen is 2m wide ;)

[yipster]

magnifying glas, big CRT monitor and a ball of confusion renewing monitor
nobody knows why tv's and monitors are still at different floors in the shop
regular TV, HD ready and HD resolution dont reduce font sizes and heavy duty
video cards go over but dont support HDTV 1920x1080 resolution
dont know if my media center does HD and a 42" full pip has me thinking

[pashbe1]

I use 2 20" LCD's. One has my main CAD window, and the buttons are on the other. My Outlook opens on the button screen so that I can monitor it throught the button bars. The button screen also functions as a web search screen when researching parts for the drawing. Another great thing is running my CAD on the main screen and ISO spreadsheets and lists on the other. That way I have data from the model easily accessible.

More important than a 2nd monitor for productivity is a 3d mouse (3dconnexion or similar). I can live without a second monitor but not the 2nd mouse!

p.s. I have tried one big monitor but found covering all that real estate cumbersome. For some reason with 2 screens the controlls tend to be concentraded in the screen I am using.

p.p.s. I have a Whiteboard on the wall infront of my monitors and a project on to it for my bosses. I project the model onto it and they mark it up with fat crayons. Then I take a picture and work off of that. :-)

[marshmat]

We have a couple of those "smartboard" things in the office... they sound like such a good idea, and then nobody bothers to figure them out and so people just write on them with normal dry-erase markers.

My own setup now has evolved a bit.... a 20", 1680x1050 Acer LCD has joined the Toshiba's built in, 15.4" 1280x800. This seems to do nicely for now, although the next computer will definitely have better screen space. If only the poor Radeon 9000 graphics card could drive the big one at any kind of decent frame rate.... SolidEdge and Rhino shaded/rendered views are almost painful to rotate and pan when a big model is open, unfortunately.

3dconnexion controller is definitely on the wish list....

[pashbe1]

The 3dmouse is to CAD what a graphics tablet is to Photoshop.

I'll never use anyting but Nvidia graphics cards again. The FX series is made for CAD work.

[BHOFM]

The three setup only runs on one computer, we use for
flightsimulator. The center runs on all five through a
KVM switch.

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4038/dscf0675dt4.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8373/dscf0698ni8.jpg

[yipster]

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/gri/lowres/grin1028l.jpg
checked (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3d_mouse#3D_mice) on a 3d mouse becouse i know a good big mouse or bal is nice for cad, but 3d around your finger? looking a bit further i see all sorts of devices
including pc guns and flashed back to early ninetys when i was jumped by customs that saw my just bought at the same miami airport pc game with gun
on the rontgen, my game had to be transported in the cockpit that looked again much like the split screen set-up above, msfs?

see i made some progres since my last post, low cost wifi sticks now network to extra pc in the living room on a new tv, think i should be drawing tho :rolleyes:

[schakel]

The small screen is for the commands.
The large screen is for the mouse and the template and the DWG.

And yes we are talking about Autocad applications then.

[lazeyjack]

save me searchin' I have got the duels up and runnin, but cloned, how can I config to show different, I am in Rhino, thank you muchely

[marshmat]

Right now you're showing the exact same thing on both monitors- one's just a clone of the other? In Windows?

Open the Windows "display properties" box (right click on the desktop, select "properties"). Choose the "Settings" tab. Select the black rectangle representing your second monitor, check the box saying "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor", and drag the rectangle to match where your monitors physically are.

You should now have your usual Windows taskbar on one, and a blank desktop on the other, to which you can drag program windows as you use them.

In Rhino4, the command "NewFloatingViewport" will create a mobile viewport in its own little window, which you can drag to a secondary monitor.

[lazeyjack]

ta everso Matty,
oh you added lazyjack stead of lazeyjack, my mistake, je suis desole:)) now lemme try this

[lazeyjack]

so you cant actually work on the other? ah i get it, , I can remember when i first started:(( I am onto the wheels for you in 3 d

[aprilpaxton]

Many will say that having dual monitors will increase productivity by as much as 20%. The heck with percentages, I really get more work done since I got dual monitors, finally freeing me from that alt-tab routine just to switch screen.