Dual monitor question

[strangeuncle]

Hello, I have just recently learned that it is possible for my video card to support dual monitors? However, I have many questions in how does dual monitor work? Will I be able to surf the net in one monitor and play a DVD in the other monitor? Will I be able to watch a movie in one monitor and message my friend on msn on the other montior? How does dual monitor work? I do not understand how I can watch a movie on the first monitor and click on the chat window of the second monitor to reply my message? How do I switch between the two monitors? I am very very new to this dual monitor idea. Can anyone tell me how it works?

 

[phisrow]

Fairly simple: The most common dual monitor configuration is the extended desktop. Essentially, your OS sees one large screen(the sum of the areas of your monitors) and windowed programs behave normally, as you would expect from moving them around on a single monitor. For full screen programs, the program in question occupies the entirety of one screen(typically the one selected as "Primary" during the setup. One thing to note is that, with some cards, the capabilities of the primary and secondary video out are asymmetric. For example, you may only be able to play video or use hardware 3d acceleration on the primary. This depends on card and driver, though.

Mouse cursor behavior is exactly what you would expect from using a single monitor, save that if you push the cursor to the edge of one screen, it will move over to the other. You get used to managing windows across two screens very quickly indeed. The only nuisance comes up when a program(many games are like this) grabs cursor focus. This prevents you from moving your cursor over to any other program. Say you are playing an FPS, for example, if you move your mouse over, your gun will track the pointer as normal; but you won't be able to leave the window. This is good for the game, and control would be a pain without it, but when you have dual monitors, you can see the chat window(or whatever other program) that you cannot access, which is a nuisance.

In conclusion. Try it, you'll like it. A Lot.

 

[strangeuncle]

Think you for a detailed description. Does most people use extended desktop and simply multitask since you have lots of desktop space now? or does people use dual view, and set up each program to open in their desinated monitor. If I use dual monitor, where each monitor has their own resolution and refresh rate, how do I control the second monitor? For example, if my primary monitor is being used for web surfer, and I see that someone have msg me in ICQ, how to do control the ICQ program and reply the message?

 

[Czar]

Think of it like you have only one monitor, except its bigger. The desktop gets wider and you just move the mouse over to the other side just like you would when using one monitor.