posted March 20, 2001 08:04 PM
I use a dual monitor setup at work. It's not too much hassle to set up. I believe the windows help file gave me pretty much everything I needed. You do need to have two video cards installed though. Some of the newest (and expensive) high powered video cards are now supporting dual monitors by themselves.
I've got a 19" monitor at 1600 x 1200 resolution and a 15" monitor at 1024 x 768. Ideally, you would want two monitors at the same size and resolution, but it's not absolutely necessary.
I did have a problem getting them to work because the particlar card I have has a tv output, and for whatever reason, that was the problem. I went to the manufacturer's website and found out that I just had to change one line in the system's configuration files to get everything working smoothly.
Maybe you should check your video card manufacturer's website to see if there are any issues with your card.
I don't know if Omega will "support" it. Really, it's just like having a bigger desktop. You can either stretch the program across both screens, or just move your dockers and such to the second monitor and work on the first. To tell the truth, I work on one screen with all my dockers there, have a couple rarely used dockers on the second, and usually use the second monitor for Windows Explorer, the Internet, Streamline, etc. I just find it strange to work with a physical gap between the monitors right in the center of where you're trying to work.
------------------ Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada _______________________
As long as you are using at least Win98 or newer, you can do it. MS gave Win98 better support for dual monitors.
There's two ways you can do it..
1.) get a vid card that actually supports dual monitors
2.) put two vid cards in the computer, each running a monitor.
Neither one is right nor wrong, but I prefer the card that supports multiple monitors. They dont cost any more than a regular vid card, and hey, you gotta buy another vid card anyways, right? may as well get one that supports two screens.
The problem with using two vid cards is that depending on your system's main board, it may not support that anyways.
Actually, I was looking up some dual monitor video cards a little while ago and I found some really slick cards.
I was searching pricewatch.com and found cards sporting the new GeForce2 video processor (one bad motha'!!).. these cards had 64MB Ram onboard, support dual monitors and cost $150.. Do a search on pricewatch for dual monitors or "Twin view" and you'll see quite a list.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I've been running duel moniters for two and a half years. I use a 19" real high quality moniter for my work moniter and a 17" so so quality moniter for storing the art tools etc when I work. I love it and after a short getting used to it session it works great!
It does take up an awful lot of room on the desk however!
Folks who come into my studio are real impressed with all the 'puter on my desk, but it takes up so much room! I'm currently debating whether I want to continue down this road when I next upgrade.
The debate is if I want to go with a real high quality 21" moniter instead. With the price of two moniters and duel graphics card cards or a duel supporting single graphics card it might just saw off.
I like to have my desk facing a window and still be able to see out too. And my design desk is currently 12 feet long but still seems small with all tne necessary hardware on it as well as the required reference books I love and notes and sketches and other related paraphenilia.
If I really get desparate for desk room and am flush at the time of my next upgrade I might just bite the bullet and go for a flat screen. Instead of the double radiation coming at me from two relatively large screens I could just have one state of the art thin but large moniter taking up a relatively small piece of desk real estate.
The debate is on.
Good luck in your decision!
-dan
------------------ Dan Sawatzky Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation Cultus Lake , British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.ca
posted March 21, 2001 06:53 AM
Well, here I sit in front of my two monitors. Thanks guys, its something I've been meaning to get the spare monitor hooked up for ages but never got round to it till reading this post. You're right Dan, one session and you're sold. David
------------------ D.A. & P.M. Fisher Signwriting Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com
Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted March 21, 2001 11:08 AM
I have a 21" monitor and it works out great for me. I have the resolution set to 1600x1200 and have my default font size set to "large fonts". Using Corel as an example, what this does is reduce the amount of space occupied by the toolbars, color palettes etc. that are around the edges of the page, therefore allowing for a much larger "working area".
In my case, my montors viewing area is 16"x12" and in Corel the actual usable working area is 15"x9". I find that to be plenty of working space for me. I just pull out the dockers as I need them and then colapse them back when not needed. As Dan mentioned, by the time you buy 2 monitors and two video cards you may as well just buy a large monitor to start with.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
posted March 21, 2001 11:28 AM
I have a 19" monitor and have it set at 800x600, should I change this setting and get used to it or stay with what I got.
I know this is a little off the present topic. But would appreciate the advice.
I have thought about going to a second monitor when I buy a new system but, like Dan, my desk real estate is at a premium....
------------------ Troy Haas "Metal_Leg" on mIRC
SAM Signs & RPM Auto Graphix 931 W. Columbia street Evansville,Indiana 47710 812-437-5367
"Chaos, panic, disorder - my work here is done."
Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted March 21, 2001 11:36 AM
Troy....It is easy to change the resolution, so why not give it a shot at something higher, you can always go back to whatever level you are most comfortable with. The big secret at higher resolutions is to set that default font size to "large fonts"
I do that by right clicking on the background of the Windows screen/clicking "properties"/clicking on setting tab and setting the resolution there/ then clicking the advanced button and setting "large fonts" there.
It really does enlarge your working space in a graphics program.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
posted March 21, 2001 02:03 PM
You know.. something else you might want to consider instead of two monitors..
Get a pair of glasses that function as monitors, have you seen them? They're really cool.. They were developed for gaming but I imagine they'd really smoke for doin graphics too. There are different models out (tons of them) but some of them give the sensation of lookin at a 60" screen from 6 feet away. =-P'''''
Talk about being immersed in your work! =) Virtual Photoshop - Feel like your actually walking around inside the program! hahahaha.
I've thought about pickin up a pair of these just so I can save the desktop room and not have any monitor at all.. plus they'd be great for watchin movies as they can be plugged into PC's or VCRs/DVD's!
The prices arent too bad.. most are around $300 or $400.. watch out though, Sony has two models that look identical but one pair is $400 and the other is $2500.
I love gadgets!
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted March 21, 2001 07:30 PM
I'm with Dave I have a Sony 21 in. Trinitron but I'm @ 1280X 1024 lots of room and monitors have come way down in price the 21 hasn't droped much but the 19,I've seen it as low as $179.00 for a off brand name but never the less 19 in. for that price is great.This price was @ COMP USA
------------------ Alan Ladd Atlanta,Ga
[This message has been edited by Aladd (edited March 21, 2001).]
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