How do you use 2 displays?

[jarablue]

I wanted to know how do you guys use 2 monitors when using your pc? Do you shut off the 2nd one when gaming? I always notice that the 2nd monitor, when starting a game, goes through a fit of resolution changes. For gaming how do you guys setup and use your 2 monitors? How do you keep your mouse locked to 1 panel? I always get the game to minimize if cross over to the 2nd panel.

Also desktop speaking what apps, gadgets do you guys have setup?

Thanks!

 

[Pringals]

I have two Dell Ultrasharp 2005fpw widescreen monitors. My main display directly in front is in Landscape mode, and the other to my right is in portrait mode. I usually websurf, MS Word, and html edit on the portrait screen and watch HDTV via windows media center, video & photo edit as well as use Autocad, and do my gaming on the landscape monitor. Both use their native resolutions and I get no changes to that like you described as long as the game is adjusted to your monitors resolution. Sounds like you may be gaming in "window mode" if you are having a hard time locking the mouse to that screen. Game in full screen and be sure to set your game up with the resolution your desktops are set at. Then just ALT+Tab to switch out of the game if you need to get out and look at something for a second.

As far as how do I use them during gaming... I usually leave the portrait mode one on with my Steam friends list up to see who logs on and what game they join. I also have a windows 7 clock widget on there to keep track of time and a couple status widgets to monitor my Case, CPU and Graphic temps. Sometimes I may have an IM client on while gaming too as well as Ventrilo. I'll have both of those on that portrait mode monitor so I can keep an eye on who's coming and going while I game in the Landscape monitor. This to me is a perfect setup. Unless ATI can get Eyefinity to use a PLP setup, I don't see me changing anytime soon.