Multiple displays?

[simon445]

Well, looking into upgrading. And was curious as to how many of you use multiple displays, and what you think about them if you do, or if you don't.

[Dark0ne]

2 monitors with a laptop on the side. Can't work on the sites without them now.

 

Well I can but it's not half as efficient/nice.

[bben46]

I have been running 2 monitors for quite a while now. It has made a big difference in my productivity. I can run 2 separate firefox, or multiple browsers (Firefox on one and Chrome on the other) or do research on the internet while writing an article on the other. Skype, with several chat screens plus internet or something else. And lots of other tricks.

 

However, most games are far behind on the use of multiple monitors. You can span the game between 2, but then your crosshair is on the gap between them. 3 might be usable in this way. I would like to see a way to play on one screen while displaying the inventory and other info on the other. You still must alt-tab out of the game to use the second monitor for anything as the game only recognizes a singlr monitor (it sees spanned monitors as a single monitor)

[Vagrant0]

Was using 2 monitors for awhile, then noticed frequent problems due to the cursor getting stuck in one when playing a fullscreen games, and other minor inconveniences. At the moment my other monitor is hooked up to my old computer should I ever feel like installing linex on it to play around and use as a network file server. This is a good thing since the space on my desk where my other monitor used to sit is now occupied by a rather large collection of beer cans, and I don't have the heart to try and relocate them quite yet.

[LHammonds]

I have been using 2 monitors for a VERY long time...usually with 2 video cards but only recently have I used a single video card to power both monitors.

 

I typically have a browser on one screen and my editors on the other...usually output on one side and input on the other such as video editing on one screen and viewing the end-result on the other and making changes while still seeing what I did in the last version. Same goes for building HTML pages, Blender models, etc.

 

Another handy-dandy feature is if you are playing a game and want to see a "walk-thru" on a web site at the same time. Very handy ability which keeps me from having to print on paper to see what I want while in a full-screen DirectX game...especially those games that do not like being ATL+TAB'd out of.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/Conan_Lon/NewPC/Samsung2343BWX.png

 

LHammonds

[grannywils]

I have been using two monitors for a long time on my "serious" computer. But for my game computer I just use one, but it is a huge 42" plasma tv screen that we replaced recently with an LED tv. My husband insisted on setting it up for me for my games. I am very greatful, but thought it was a little "overkill". Of course, now I love it an feel very spoiled.

[ub3rman123]

I've been considering getting another screen, or at least a widescreen monitor (Especially after my brother got one and I developed a massive amount of jealosy), but I wasn't sure about what multiple screens do to gaming, for fear of it splicing the game in twain. YOu're right about how nice the extra space is, though. I loved the 20 minutes of modding my brother let me do on the widescreen.

[TheTerminator2004]

I have dual monitors atm, and I don't know how I managed without it. I used to have a 15" monitor, then I got a 22" widescreen, and that was a big improvement. Then it occurred to me that I may as well put the old screen to good use, and I'm so glad I did. Even though they're different sizes and resolutions, the extra space is so useful. Games don't make any use of it at all, with a few exceptions, which is a shame, but I guess its not really common enough to be worth it. Supreme Commander had a cool multi-monitor setup, you had the actual game on one screen, then a big strategic map on the other, which you could zoom in, and give orders on, like the main window. Was kinda handy, but ultimately nothing special. It would be nice if more games made the effort though, because it was still kinda handy, especially if you're fighting two battles at once in different places.

[evilneko]

I use dual monitors now. I used to use a monitor, plus have my TV connected to the s-video port on my video card. New video card doesn't have s-video, and can't be forced to output a tv-compatible signal, so I have replaced my tv with an actual monitor. I have not missed my TV one bit.

 

I would not even try to span games onto the second monitor even if the other monitor were the same aspect ratio as my primary. (16:9 vs 5:4...) Seems like too much hassle to do that, and my primary is big enough and close enough anyway I don't feel the need.

 

I do kinda like having one wide and one squarish monitor, gives me some nice perspective for how things look swapping between them.

 

I still usually use my second monitor for video-playing. I usually put up some tv or a dvd on it while I browse and chat on my primary. Now that my second monitor is an actual monitor, I can actually browse the web and IRC on the secondary if I wanna watch a widescreen movie on my primary monitor. I couldn't do that with the TV before. :tongue:

 

I also usually have my laptop next to me, which I use for checking gamefaqs or the fallout wikia, since usually games capture your mouse to the monitor they're running on.

[bootsox]

five here, it is master race.