Should I kick the 24" widescreen to the curb?

[ajf3]

Hey all...

I just realized that it'd be almost a wash to unload my Dell fpw2405 and pick up two 20 inch lcd's instead...

I saw a buddies dual setup where he could drag apps from one monitor to the other, etc and think that may work better for me. Counting pixels I should have around 65% more real-estate using the dual 20's (2 at 1600 x 1200 v 1 at 1920 x 1200).

Anyone know if an X300 radeon can do dual monitors like that? I'm not really into gaming... mostly business apps / coding /etc.

 

[BW86]

I love my duals. Never going back to a single monitor

 

[xtknight]

Do you do enough to truly warrant that much space? I'd get a single high-quality/high-price 20" widescreen like the NEC 20WMGX2 and call it a day. If I needed more room, I'd enable virtual desktops or virtual resolution. If you decide to go the 2x20" route, just grab a couple of ViewSonic VX2025WM monitors, which are a great value (and display great performance at the same time).

 

[AmigaMan]

as a programmer, having dual screens is worth every nickel spent on it. While I could function with only one monitor using virtual desktops, it's not as nice as dual screens.

 

[NuroMancer]

I just finished my investment with

2005FPW 2405FPW 2005FPW

In total 3 moniters, honestly, I couldn't survive with one 24. If you program having dual moniters is a good investment.

A good multi-moniter controller is UltraMon, for once you get 2 moniters.

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: NuroMancer
I just finished my investment with

2005FPW 2405FPW 2005FPW

In total 3 moniters, honestly, I couldn't survive with one 24. If you program having dual moniters is a good investment.

A good multi-moniter controller is UltraMon, for once you get 2 moniters.

EDIT: Oh and the x300 could run both moniters.

 

[Lonyo]

Dual monitors > single.
I went from a similar situation (in a way), single monitor @ 1600x1200 to 2x 1280x1024 and dual monitors, while not so nice for gaming, are MUCH nicer for doing anything else, and I don't even code.

 

[mrzed]

I'm running dual 20's at work. I was given the choice of that or a single 24. No contest.

 

[GrJohnso]

I have to echo the statements above... Dual is the way to go for business & coding. I hadn't bothered with it much before my current job and would never go back. Productivity is much greater when you don't have to swap windows, screens, apps, etc... Date one monitor, output another, code one, runtime another, you name it...

Do it... You'll won't regret it.

 

[Raduque]

Yes, get the duals, and kick the 20" to my curb

 

[Velk]

Do you watch any type of video on the machine, or do much in the way of gaming ? If so, be advised that support for the second monitor is beyond atrocious in that respect ( e.g. directX overlay won't function on non-primary screen etc ).

 

[krotchy]

As a hardcore gamer and electrical engineer my vote is 2 monitors. Right now I have a 19inch main monitor and a 17inch 2nd monitor, (which turns off when I enable SLI) I must say, 2 Monitors is still better than 1. Sure I have to spend 20 seconds disabling/enabling SLI every time I play oblivion or something graphics intesive, and it only works on my 19 inch at max 1280x1024, but in the end I would still rather have 2 17 inches than a single 24, and your idea of two 20's would be fantastic.

The main reason is that I can open like a data-sheet on one side and program code or create circuit diagrams on the other. Or just browse the net on one and talk on aim on the other screen. Plus with one monitor, in order to have 2 apps open at once to read/use you need to manually set each ones window size, rather than just maximizing one on each screen.

 

[dug777]

Have used dual monitors for a long time, it's VERY painful going back to one, no matter how big it is

 

[sisq0kidd]

I went from dualies to a single 2405. Took me about a month to get used to.

I miss dualies

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
I went from dualies to a single 2405. Took me about a month to get used to.

I miss dualies

go dual by picking up a 2407FPW dual widescreen

 

[hemmy]

im getting 2 of these when they launch

http://www.westinghousedigital.com/pc-59-7-47-1080p-monitor.aspx

Because im that cool

 

[R3MF]

i am looking at getting two 17" dell ultrasharps to sit either side of my 2405.

in portrait mode they will be the same height as my 2405 and perfect for explorer/browser/chat windows.

starship enterprise here we come!

 

[Snakexor]

if you have two monitors, can you play a game on one and surf the web/aim/do hw on another?

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: hemmy
im getting 2 of these when they launch

http://www.westinghousedigital.com/pc-59-7-47-1080p-monitor.aspx

Because im that cool

Your not cool, you just happen to have the cash. I hate you

 

[NeezyDeezy]

single 24,

it's all about the 1080p

 

[Crescent13]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Do you do enough to truly warrant that much space? I'd get a single high-quality/high-price 20" widescreen like the NEC 20WMGX2 and call it a day. If I needed more room, I'd enable virtual desktops or virtual resolution. If you decide to go the 2x20" route, just grab a couple of ViewSonic VX2025WM monitors, which are a great value (and display great performance at the same time).

QFT! That's actually what I did. I love my 20WMGX2!!! Wouldn't trade it for 2 20inchers, or 1 24 incher.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: R3MF
i am looking at getting two 17" dell ultrasharps to sit either side of my 2405.

in portrait mode they will be the same height as my 2405 and perfect for explorer/browser/chat windows.

starship enterprise here we come!

Glorious idea!!

 

[ajf3]

Thx guys -- I think I am going to go with the 2 x20's... gotta research my card (x300) now though. I looked and it only has 1 DVI port - the other port is VGA.