[Dabhand16]

I'm thinking about getting a bit more space to work in. The 15" LCD monitor I've had for getting on for five years has served me well, but as I'm doing more and more photo work and video editing, my screen is getting really cramped. I like the idea of keeping the tools and palettes on one screen and the workspace on the other. Those who use two displays always swear they would never go back to one.

I am contemplating either getting two identical larger (19"/21") LCD monitors, OR one 21" LCD widescreen. Desk space is such that a widescreen would be easier to accomodate.

Anyone out there using a dual setup or widescreen who can offer any advice/tips/opinions?

[stepheno]

I can't justify having dual monitors so I went for a widescreen. Never looked back since, it's brilliant for editing. If you've the space and the mullah go for twin widescreen

[Dabhand16]

Stepheno, am I right in thinking that a widescreen will enable tools/palettes to be put on the side of the screen, leaving the workspace free for the image?

[stepheno]

That is correct - your image shows in the centre at the same resolution, but you have more screen to place your palettes.

[Dabhand16]

Thanks for that. My prefered option was to have one widescreen. To have two screens would have been tight on my workstation.

[nicklovick]

having worked with a widscreen (28 inch veiwsonic) and my current setup (dell 20inch 1600x1200 & old CRT 17inch) I would be inclined to dissagree with stepheno.
I find that having the two screens sepperates my work space nicly. Also if one goes wrong then I have the other for backup.
I found that the widescreen was great for panoramic and landscape work, but for portrait shots I was needing to scroll in and out to much.
This was probably just a problem with my perception but I found it anoying.

As for your workspace, you can always mount two screens over and under thus giving you more desk space (todays flatscreens are relativly lightwait compaired to crt monitors.

Hope this helps

[Dabhand16]

Good points, Nicklovick. I'll take that into consideration. I suspect that two monitors will be dearer than one widescreen, so that might be the decider in the end, along with the cramped workstation. I recon a widescreen will be progress from what i have now, even if it is not the ideal.

've never tried it, but could a portrait be rotated 90 degrees to avoid having to move the image around?

I can always hang on to the old one as a standby.

Thanks for the input, everyone.

[stepheno]

Originally Posted by nicklovick

I would be inclined to dissagree with stepheno.
I find that having the two screens sepperates my work space nicly. Also if one goes wrong then I have the other for backup.

I thought that was what I said - "If you've the space and the mullah go for twin widescreen" I would certainly have two screens if I had the space

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

've never tried it, but could a portrait be rotated 90 degrees to avoid having to move the image around?

I can always hang on to the old one as a standby.

Thanks for the input, everyone.

If you go for a widescreen monitor some already have tilt and swivel stands that will allow you to rotate the whole screen through 90 degrees so that you can have portrait or landscape. If your chosen monitor does not come with a suitible stand with that capability then make sure that it can support a VESA wall braket. This is a braket that uses industry standard mounting holes and will allow almost any orientation of the monitor when connected to one.

Obviously if you are rotationg your monitor through 90 degrees then the mouse directions would be wrong but here again there are some great options. First off the majority of the major graphic card manufactureres allow for hotkey selection of monitor orientation through their driver software and there are also third party solutions that are very cheap as well.

HTH