Is Dual Monitors Worth it?

U

unearth01

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 7, 2005
Messages
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I ahve 1 Mitsubishi 930sb and want to get another. I want to do a dual screen setup.

Is it even worth it. pros and cons
 
If you do a lot of work and need the space... I could use them for work because I browse the net and have to write reports at the same time so instead of switching from window to window I could just have them both on either screen making things faster for me. Unless you're going to be doing anything like that though it's probably not worth it. No games or anything really take advantage of it.
 
well for me it's great because i can have 2 graphics programs at the same time...

or a DVD and the net...

or TV and a word document....

you get the point

make sure you'd actually use both monitors at the same time
 
i liked it for coding, nothing like having the browser open on the other side and the ability to see your code on the main screen.
 
for me, I never got use to using dual screens. I guess I've got alt+tab embedded in my brain.

When I did use dual I noticed I kept the same application open constantly on the second monitor. It was an equities matrix of a few stocks I was tracking. I hardly ever used the second monitor for anything else but that. I code also but I never got use to programming and using the second monitor to surf.

bottom line... ALT+TAB is still my friend.
 
Dual monitors kick ass, muchly so, but it takes a bit of getting used to, really. You have to think of things in terms of monitor a, monitor b, which my brain didn't switch into right away. It also helps to have them physically placed in a good configuration.
 
I can't wait to get another LCD for it, I used to use dual CRT's and I do miss it a lot. I loved keeping messenger windows on monitor 2 while browsing the internet on monitor 1
 
And having dual monitors raises your l33t status by at least 10 points!!! But seriously if you are doin any type of coding I've found them to be really helpful since I usually have a editor open in one monitor and a compile window and a run window open on the other. It speeds you up by allowing you to click or alt tab to one of the others instantly instead of searching on the taskbar for them. The last ASP project i worked on i had a full inderdev window open and then IE open on the other so i could see my changes update the page instantly, it was sweet!
 
Cuz it varies the reason why you get dual moniters in the first place. If its really useful for work etc, coding then yea it'd be worth it. However just to have dual moniters and not using them is sorta waste of money. In my opinion if you have the money and can afford it, i believe it is a good investment. I hooked up a set up for my dad for his work and it does wonders.
its a LG lcd dual mon.
 
just in case you wanted to know what two 930SB's looked like :)

dirk04.JPG





that is my roomates setup, personally i have two NEC FE990's

i really had no reason to go dual screen, i'm not a huge multi takser, but i will tell you one thing, i dont think i will ever have a single monitor ever again :)
 
Those 930's are nice monitors, my brother has one, he likes it alot more than the viewsonic G75F that his twin bro has.
 
unearth01 said:
I ahve 1 Mitsubishi 930sb and want to get another. I want to do a dual screen setup.

Is it even worth it. pros and cons
Click to expand...

Cons:
  • Uses more desk space.
  • More cables.
  • More power.
  • Annoying that some programs don't handle themselves well. Still.
  • Awkawrd to use a KVM for another machine, but you can get used to it.

Pros:
  • Larger desktop working area!
  • Makes debugging painting and focus problems easier.

.B ekiM
 
AMD T-type said:
just in case you wanted to know what two 930SB's looked like :)

dirk04.JPG





that is my roomates setup, personally i have two NEC FE990's

i really had no reason to go dual screen, i'm not a huge multi takser, but i will tell you one thing, i dont think i will ever have a single monitor ever again :)
Click to expand...


do they interfere with each other. I knwo when I turn my 930sb on it messes with my bros monitor across the room. I know when you degause but what about when they are just on next to each other. When out computers were together he and i would always get mobing lines on the screen, What is that
 
unearth01 said:
do they interfere with each other. I knwo when I turn my 930sb on it messes with my bros monitor across the room. I know when you degause but what about when they are just on next to each other. When out computers were together he and i would always get mobing lines on the screen, What is that
Click to expand...

both my roomate and i have had dual CRT's for over a year, havent had a problem yet
 
Blethrow said:
Heh, I'll be joining that club too in few months.
Click to expand...

How? You have a 3400.

And would it be a 2nd Apple or the upcoming HP L3035?

And I ask Denis the same question I ask you, would you recommend the 30" Apple? What are the good things and bad things about it in terms of performance and quality?
 
Happy Hopping said:
How? You have a 3400.

And would it be a 2nd Apple or the upcoming HP L3035?

And I ask Denis the same question I ask you, would you recommend the 30" Apple? What are the good things and bad things about it in terms of performance and quality?
Click to expand...


The card can change. Not sure which monitor version would be preferable, though a strong argument can be made for the HP just in terms of input options, if all else is equal.

My principle criticism would be that the contrast ratio is not high enough to be really great for film/TV, though it is quite acceptable.
 
but 250 cd/m2 is good enough for you?

What about the speed? Dell's 24" is kicking at 12ms, at people around this board keep saying 16 ms is not fast enough.

And when I talk about speed, I guess I need to know if you can response in terms of games until you do primarily business application.
 
Happy Hopping said:
but 250 cd/m2 is good enough for you?

What about the speed? Dell's 24" is kicking at 12ms, at people around this board keep saying 16 ms is not fast enough.

And when I talk about speed, I guess I need to know if you can response in terms of games until you do primarily business application.
Click to expand...

When there is a brighter one available of equal or greater size, I will buy it. But for now, as it is the only option in this size range, I still consider it distinctly worthwhile.

As to speed, I haven't noticed any ghosting. The difference between 16ms and 12ms is 60Hz versus 80Hz; if someone finds a way to drive HL2 at full res at 80 fps, perhaps I'll start worrying about the matter. The whole refresh rate thing is diminishing returns anyway, since in the end you're limited by the refresh rate in your retinas and that's a lot less than 80Hz. Of course these monitor refresh ratings are always rather optimistic, so maybe 12ms is really ~16ms in practical terms.
 
Blethrow said:
When there is a brighter one available of equal or greater size, I will buy it. But for now, as it is the only option in this size range, I still consider it distinctly worthwhile..
Click to expand...

Is 270 cd/m2 not bright enough? did you set yourself to max. out at 270 cd/m2 currently?
 
I do a lot of things at once, and need the desktop space. Dual is my friend!

desktop.jpg
 
I've always wanted to use dual monitors, however I've never had the space or money. I'm in college and there just isn't enough room for even 2 LCDs on my desk (cause I have a shuttle on my desk as well). My question is, would you rather have 2 3:4 monitors or one large widescreen such as the 2405?
 
Having dual displays is really nice, especially when you have the added features using Ultramon.

Some LCD's are the best for gaming while lacking in other areas. You can buy one LCD thats really fast for gaming and then another all purpose LCD for everything else.

I have a Dell 2005FPW and a Hyundai L90D+. The L90D+ is faster then any of Dell's LCD's but it lacks in the fact its a 6-bit display and the viewing angles aren't that great.
 
I used to run a 15inch main and a 14 secondary monitor (poor days), but I had to use Ultramon to get the wall paper not to stretch over both monitors (asslooking). Is there any way built into windows to setup 2 different wall papers?

-wil
 
NVIDIA's drivers have the option for seperate wallpapers, in the desktop management desktops menu
 
You can also put to images together in photoshop and then span that one image across both monitors as well.
 
Is this even an question? Man if I could I would run 10 monitors. =) I monitor a lot of servers though and love to fullscreen Remote Desktop on each screen and I am also a programmer among other things.

Dual monitors is a _minimum_ for me now. 3 is my favorite so I can have one dead center in front of me.

If all you do is web surf and play games, it may not be as essential to you though. I think I would always want at least 2 though. After having dual/triple its REALLY hard to go back to one. Always feel like I am moving windows out of the way.
 
As a triple monitor user, I would say that dual monitors will totally be worth it--you will find unexpected was of making them useful. I have two desktops, one primarily for work, and one primarily for media. So I can run a movie, or TV, on one while working on the other two. I usually keep one stocked with all my IM/downloads/information widgets, one with some kind of media going, and one for whatever I'm doing. Last night, when I had to translate some middle english for a class, it was so handy to have the online dictionary, the original text, and my translation open on their own monitors. I would say go for it--I'll be upgrading to quad monitors this summer.
 
when you have the dual monitors, can I play a game on my main screen and then have my Aim, Downloads,Ventrilo, Irc open on the other one.
 
unearth01 said:
when you have the dual monitors, can I play a game on my main screen and then have my Aim, Downloads,Ventrilo, Irc open on the other one.
Click to expand...
thats exactly what i do... best thing to do...

XeRo_Dark said:
hell yah dual monitors is worth it, i cant live without them
Click to expand...
i suffer from withdrawal whenever i travel because i miss my second monitor so much... :rolleyes: :eek:
 
TheExile said:
NVIDIA's drivers have the option for seperate wallpapers, in the desktop management desktops menu
Click to expand...

Is there a way to do this in extended mode using ATI drivers?
 
burningrave101 said:
Is there a way to do this in extended mode using ATI drivers?
Click to expand...


you might check ATI's hydravision, if not there is always ultramon.
 
Whats going to be more enjoyable in the long run:

Dual monitor setup with (2) 17" Samsung 710N's (analog) or single monitor setup with (1) 19" Hyundai L90D+ (DVI)?

For games (CS:S, HL2, etc...), general web browsing, IM'ing.

710N's can be had for 200$ shipped after rebate at newegg right now, L90D+ for 402$ shipped.
 
Pt3000 said:
How about 1 L90D+ now.......... and 1 L90D+ later :D
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Mmm dual 19inchers... The 710N's should treat you ok. I don't know if I'd buy an LCD right now tho, with all the new models coming out soon from Samsung, I'm gonna wait and see. If anything the new models will push the prices of the older ones down.
 
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