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Dual monitors or one big one?
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Dual monitors or one big one? // Roundtable
Post by splinters // Jul 13, 2008, 1:05pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Hi guys, a bit of advice if I may ask;
I have two identical 19" Sony monitors (SDM-HS95D I believe). Both are 700:1 8ms DVI equipped but I sort of fancy a single 22"/24" widescreen monitor, such as the Samsung SM2232BW.
Maybe I am just getting tech hungry but is there any advantage, in your opinion, to having a single, bigger and widescreen monitor over two 4:3 monitors?
I realise I will actually have less screen but because of the way they are now I tend to run a program on each rather than stretching any over the two screen.
Any opinions, I can get the Samsung for £189 and it seems to get good reviews...:D
Cheers in advance...:) |
Post by prodigy // Jul 13, 2008, 1:53pm
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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Cheers Paul!
All depends, i love to work with dual monitors... Im writing this at full screen and on the other screen im working with truespace...
That's something imposible to do it with a single monitor or at least on the easy way..
I made a very nice layout to work with truespace with dual screens.
I have in full screen Workspace without any stack or panel.. just 3D and toolbars..
and on the other LE, Stack Panel and the AE, ME etc..
As i said, all depends on your needs and how you feel with dual monitors
TCare |
Post by splinters // Jul 13, 2008, 2:04pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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I would love to get my hands on that layout Prodigy, might affect my decision...;)
As for the options, well, the Samsung SM2232BW seems to get excellent reviews and I should almost cover the cost by selling my twin Sony's (they are still selling for £200+ each. I really like the dual setup, made better when the two monitors match but I am tempted by the 2ms refresh, High res and 3000:1 contrast of the Samsung (plus, it looks pretty nice): |
Post by Liger ZERO // Jul 13, 2008, 2:39pm
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Liger ZERO
Total Posts: 124
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I prefer the dual monitor set up over all just because it makes things a lot easier when working with 2 different programs. Let say you have a 2d app like photoshop open for textures and trueSpace.
The Samsung that your looking at is a good choice. I work at the local Best Buy and it is one of the best screens we have. I don't know if you have seen the new model they have of that one. It's the 2232BW+. It supports up to a 8000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8817505&st=2232BW&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1206749957578 |
Post by W!ZARD // Jul 13, 2008, 10:29pm
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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I was presented with the same dilemma not long ago when I upgraded from 2 CRT's to 2 widescreen LCD's. I looked at getting one big screen but it worked out to be far more economical to go for two smaller screens - less money, more screen real estate.
When using both screens my head movements tend to be more side to side where a bigger screen would also involve up and down movements. Running multiple apps, one per window, or in the case of tS have one entire screen as a working view and the stack, LE and Anim windows on the other screen works like a charm. With Vue I have the app maximised in one screen and render my test renders to the other screen. With the GIMP I have one entire screen as a workspace and the other screen holds the various tools.
Note that in my case I have 2 widescreen monitors 2x1440x900 giving me a total desktop of 2880x900. The widescreen format is more natural to the human eye than the traditional 4x3 aspect ratio so I find that I'm often working in just one window at a time and then switching to the other monitor as needed much like scanning from one page to another in a book.
Of course all this can be done with a larger single monitor but the dual screen approach allows you to maximise a window to a screen and still have another screen available - with a single large monitor you would be forever adjusting window sizes to suit.
Basically I agree with Prodigy and Liger ZERO. It may seem odd at first but I would strongly recommend 2 widescreen monitors rather than 2 4x3 monitors or one widescreen. From my experience it's more user friendly.
HTH
PS you are also welcome to my tS dual screen layout files if they are of any use to you. |
Post by Jack Edwards // Jul 13, 2008, 10:31pm
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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I agree with Wizard on this one. Go for two widescreen monitors.
I only use one widescreen monitor and even at 1600x1050 resolution it doesn't give me enough space to put two apps side by side. |
Post by splinters // Jul 13, 2008, 10:40pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Cheers guys, I only have option three left;
buy the widescreen and retain one of the 19" Sony's as an extra..:D
Might not look quite as good as a matching pair but I can't justify that cost just now.
Remember, this was a whim really; I don't need to update as the Sony's are working fine...I was just looking for a WS format and better colour/contrast.
I would love to get my hands on either of those layouts guys. I have real trouble getting tS to work across both screens and, when I do, it never seems to stay on the same screen when I re-open...:o
My day seems to have gotten busier, but I will take a walk down to the PC store later and have a look at the Samsung monitor. I better keep a tight hold on my wallet. |
Post by TomG // Jul 14, 2008, 2:51am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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I work with unmatched monitors and it does fine - one is LCD one CRT even :) So while not as pretty and not as effective as two matched monitors, it still beats one larger monitor.
HTH!
Tom |
Post by prodigy // Jul 14, 2008, 2:57am
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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Hoo and another point..
I prefere 4:3 monitors.. Compare a 19" wide with a 19" 4:3... Is a huge diference :D
19 wide is like a 17 4:3 but a bit larger.. The day i left the CRT for a LCD must be a 4:3 for sure :D
*** About the Layout... sure.. i will share with you asap.. |
Post by Matski007 // Jul 14, 2008, 3:14am
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Matski007
Total Posts: 539
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Why not use one of each? I did that, still do and its brilliant. They dont have to be identical you know. I have recently bought my 22" Hyundai wide screen LCD, but have also been using it with my Hyundai 19" normal LCD. I could be surfing the internet on my 19" and be modelling on the 22". |
Post by splinters // Jul 14, 2008, 4:09am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Good points guys and the 22" doesn't look all that big when you use this diagram. I measured last night and I effectively have a 36" (very)widescreen monitor if you ignore the plastic bezels in the centre...:D That makes a 22" look real small. And the 22" WS is actually smaller in height than a 19" 4:3...:o
I just got a whole heap of requests from clients while I was trying to make my Barn Buddies Quiz...I might be to busy to even look at this today...:(
I seem to be talking myself out of this don't I...... |
Post by marcel // Jul 14, 2008, 10:25am
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marcel
Total Posts: 569
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One big only if you choose a 24 with 1920x1200. You will have the same surface of 2x19 and you can see your movie in 16/9 in full screen.
I work with one monitor and a video projector in high definition. 16/9. It is better for an immersive experience in real time when you have a screen with 3 meters size!
depending of your money....but it is for my job. |
Post by prodigy // Jul 21, 2008, 1:37pm
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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Cheers Paul!
How it was with my dual layout?? :D |
Post by noko // Jul 21, 2008, 9:43pm
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noko
Total Posts: 684
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I have a 24" Wide, 1920x1200. It is nice but two monitors I think is better. Previously I had two 17" LCDs and that worked out really well. I think I will go back to two monitors, if I can, another 24". |
Post by RAYMAN // Jul 21, 2008, 9:48pm
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RAYMAN
Total Posts: 1496
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I have 19 and 17 and realy like 2 monitors too !
And as I come from a Mac background my virtual desktop on both
screens is full of folders ...:D
Peter |
Post by splinters // Jul 23, 2008, 8:25am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Cheers Paul!
How it was with my dual layout?? :D
I never actually got to try it Marcel...maybe tonight, I just got back home.
I went to look at the 22" Samsung though and was not that impressed. I will stick with my twin 19" Sony's until something unmissable comes along...:D |
Post by prodigy // Jul 23, 2008, 9:28am
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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until something unmissable comes along...:D
You will find it very very soon.. i promise :D |
Post by prodigy // Jul 23, 2008, 1:14pm
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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Now Paul, you catch the idea??? :D |
Post by splinters // Jul 23, 2008, 2:35pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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MMm...not sure what you mean Prodigy...is there some big news?
;) |
Post by splinters // Jan 11, 2009, 12:50am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Almost 6 months late but an update on this one.
While perusing the sale in PC World yesterday I saw a boxed Dell SP2008WFP 20" monitor for just £79 so I bought it. Seems to get very good reviews and has a built in web cam and USB hub so ideal for my needs.
In a fit of madness I removed my twin sony monitors and put this in its place. Image quality is much, much improved and, so far, I am not really missing the dual monitors but very much enjoying the uncluttered desk and extra space.
Maybe I am mad...who knows. But at least someone will get a bargain as the Sony's are now on eBay for a bargain price!!
One last look at the pair of them..... |
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