Benefits of two monitors?

P-E · 28-08-2006, 16:30

After upgrading my LCD I am now left with an idle NEC MultiSync 2080UX LCD.

I have flirted with the a two monitor setup but never continued with it......so anyone use two together and what do you consider the benefits?

I know in Photoshop I could have the pallets, tools etc on one monitor and the picture on another but I manage OK all on one........O and the 2080UX will work in portrait orientation.

I could just sell it but doubt I would get a decent price for it.

Any thoughts appreciated.

**Dabhand16** · 28-08-2006, 18:08

Keep it as a spare? Just in case.

***Dave*** · 28-08-2006, 18:13

Not knowing how many windows you have open, you can never have enough screen space

Last time I was working 2 monitors would have been a god send for Spreasheet work, comparing figures / tables etc.

P-E · 28-08-2006, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

Keep it as a spare? Just in case.

That was my initial thought.

orangepeel · 29-08-2006, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-E

so anyone use two together and what do you consider the benefits?

I use 3. 2 19" widescreen lcd's and a 22" CRT giving a total res of around 4,480 x 1,200 pixels

Personally I'd rather chew my arm off than give up the real estate.

However the 3 screens are less useful for photoshop as I only really use 2 of them. Other development tools I use like Dreamweaver, FlashMX and Delphi however could easily use another screen!

At the end of the day it's down to productivity. You can use PS on a single screen if you want. It just means you do a lot more zooming and scrolling coz your work area is smaller.

However if you've got a spare monitor just gathering dust I'd at least try it for a month or so.

The downsides are electricity usage and desk space.

P-E · 29-08-2006, 09:17

Cheers OP.

Forgot to mention I too have a 22" CRT on the desk as well

I might just try the LCD in portrait mode and see how it works.

**Markulous** · 29-08-2006, 19:53

Trouble with 2+ monitors is that it's impossible to go back to 1!

***Steve*** · 31-08-2006, 09:18

I'd use it in portrait mode for browsing etc and the new one to maintain maximum productivity. As OP said, having the extra screen space would be a god send depending on how you utilise it and what your most used programs are.

Currently I am living with several applications all open at the same time as I am working on the site updates here, Photoshop, my web design console, my ftp client, the web page(s) that I am altering and the admin control section of this website are all open most of the day. Currently I have to tab through these but if I was using a multi monitor setup I could chose which screens to have open on which monitor and it would make my life so much easier.

What programs do you use very regularly and do these get used side by side? If so then the multi monitor route should appeal and give you the perfect use for your now redundant NEC

P-E · 31-08-2006, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

What programs do you use very regularly and do these get used side by side? If so then the multi monitor route should appeal and give you the perfect use for your now redundant NEC

At most I have my emails, IE, CS2, and a RAW editor.........not much really apart from I probably have more than one site up in IE.

***Steve*** · 31-08-2006, 13:02

Well thats more than two screens worth

You could have cs/raw editor open on one and your surfing screens/email on the other and they would then not interfer with each other at all?

P-E · 31-08-2006, 13:13

Suppose it is worth giving it a go for nothing.......and nothing is what I would probably receive if I tried to sell it.

P-E · 07-11-2006, 08:16

I finally got around to trying dual setup but.........

It appears to be causing a few issues with spectraview on the primary display.

I am just wondering if I would be better to use a seperate video card if my motherboard will accept one (754 socket)

.

Any advice appreciated

***Steve*** · 07-11-2006, 08:20

Two things come to mind here...

What software (if any) are you using for the dual monitor setup?

and

Using two graphic cards will/should work on your MB depending on the actual cards however I don't know if it would remove the 'issues' with the spectraview. What are those issues?

P-E · 07-11-2006, 08:34

That was a quick reply Steve

I have tried dual setup with and without software (UltraMon).

With the second monitor fitted to the video card the Spectraview software will prompt me to obtain the license whenever I try to calibrate the primary monitor.......also the Hardware calibration (monitor LUTs) option is greyed out.......I use the monitors LUT to calibrate the Spectraview monitor instead of the video card.

It is as though it sees the second monitor as the primary one

28-08-2006, 16:30	#1 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,797	Benefits of two monitors? After upgrading my LCD I am now left with an idle NEC MultiSync 2080UX LCD. I have flirted with the a two monitor setup but never continued with it......so anyone use two together and what do you consider the benefits? I know in Photoshop I could have the pallets, tools etc on one monitor and the picture on another but I manage OK all on one........O and the 2080UX will work in portrait orientation. I could just sell it but doubt I would get a decent price for it. Any thoughts appreciated.

28-08-2006, 18:08	#2 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 9,771	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Keep it as a spare? Just in case.

28-08-2006, 18:13	#3 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 15,615	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Not knowing how many windows you have open, you can never have enough screen space Last time I was working 2 monitors would have been a god send for Spreasheet work, comparing figures / tables etc.

29-08-2006, 09:17	#6 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,797	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Cheers OP. Forgot to mention I too have a 22" CRT on the desk as well I might just try the LCD in portrait mode and see how it works.

29-08-2006, 19:53	#7 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 10,144	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Trouble with 2+ monitors is that it's impossible to go back to 1!

31-08-2006, 09:18	#8 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468	Re: Benefits of two monitors? I'd use it in portrait mode for browsing etc and the new one to maintain maximum productivity. As OP said, having the extra screen space would be a god send depending on how you utilise it and what your most used programs are. Currently I am living with several applications all open at the same time as I am working on the site updates here, Photoshop, my web design console, my ftp client, the web page(s) that I am altering and the admin control section of this website are all open most of the day. Currently I have to tab through these but if I was using a multi monitor setup I could chose which screens to have open on which monitor and it would make my life so much easier. What programs do you use very regularly and do these get used side by side? If so then the multi monitor route should appeal and give you the perfect use for your now redundant NEC

31-08-2006, 13:02	#10 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Well thats more than two screens worth You could have cs/raw editor open on one and your surfing screens/email on the other and they would then not interfer with each other at all?

31-08-2006, 13:13	#11 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,797	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Suppose it is worth giving it a go for nothing.......and nothing is what I would probably receive if I tried to sell it.

07-11-2006, 08:16	#12 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,797	Re: Benefits of two monitors? I finally got around to trying dual setup but......... It appears to be causing a few issues with spectraview on the primary display. I am just wondering if I would be better to use a seperate video card if my motherboard will accept one (754 socket) . Any advice appreciated

07-11-2006, 08:20	#13 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468	Re: Benefits of two monitors? Two things come to mind here... What software (if any) are you using for the dual monitor setup? and Using two graphic cards will/should work on your MB depending on the actual cards however I don't know if it would remove the 'issues' with the spectraview. What are those issues?

07-11-2006, 08:34	#14 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,797	Re: Benefits of two monitors? That was a quick reply Steve I have tried dual setup with and without software (UltraMon). With the second monitor fitted to the video card the Spectraview software will prompt me to obtain the license whenever I try to calibrate the primary monitor.......also the Hardware calibration (monitor LUTs) option is greyed out.......I use the monitors LUT to calibrate the Spectraview monitor instead of the video card. It is as though it sees the second monitor as the primary one

07-11-2006, 09:07	#15 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468 </