Dual monitor computer

wasabi · Sep 24, 2002

Chris,

I'm guessing the limit has something to do with your card or mayhaps your OS. My system actually uses three different video cards. When I go into system settings, I have the option of moving them around to manage how the mouse transitions from one to the other or to set dispolay settings. I have had problems if all monitors are not set to same resolution.

It would seem you have some benefits and limits with yours. For example, when pop-ups do occur on my computers, (99% are screened out) they find their way directly to the middle screen, which is annoying.

Although I bought new monitors for my office, I picked up a couple of old, used Compaq color monitors at an Indiana University surplus sales center on one of my many trips to Bloomington....I think I paid $30 each...probably about what the video cards cost. Now that I have become used to having multiple screens, I feel limitations without them.

cstocks · Sep 24, 2002

Doug,

Three video cards... hmmm, that's interesting. I wonder how your computer handles all three of them. That is way out of my limited knowledge of computers. My NVidia card software manages both of my screens and controls mouse movements and other video settings.

I have a lot of settings to mess with, too but I am not sure what they all do. Right now I have everything enabled and I like the way it runs.

I commented too soon about the pop ups. The little pop ups still appear in the middle of everything but all pop ups that are full page appear on the other monitor. I think that has to do with the way my settings are set up. I think it views a full page pop up the way it would view a second web page that I opened. If I have a screen open on my primary monitor and open a second page it automatically opens on the second monitor. I guess I was a little excited and overly optimistic about the pop ups./w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

wasabi · Sep 24, 2002

Please don't confuse me with someone overly smart. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif...its the software that does it...I just popped in the cards.

Newer versions of Windows can all handle multiple monitors, but it does not seem to be a widely used feature. My guess is that most people are similarly intimidated because it seems so high-tech and exotic. Heck, if I can do it, anyone can. It certainly doesn't cost much nor does it seem to tax the system much.

Enjoy messing with it, Chris....I doubt you can do any major harm....just make note of the "original" settings in case something does goes awry.

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 24, 2002

{blue]"A monitor with a second input.... Where would you buy a monitor like that?"

I didn't seek that feature or buy the monitor because of it, it was just there. The monitor is a Sony 420 GS 19" I've had two or three years now. I remember thinking when I first saw that pop out input, "Why would anyone ever want or need THAT?" Of course, now I've found it to be quite a nice little feature. Honestly, I'd hate to be without it now. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MossRoad · Sep 25, 2002

Do you know or can you think of any other ways I can utilize both monitors?

You could get a TV card and watch news or whatever in a window on the other monitor. I have a TV tuner card with dual monitor output. I haven't used the duals yet, but I have output to the TV to play back movies that I edit on the PC. This wasn't a function of the 2nd monitor feature, it was a function of video out, but it is still cool.

mikim · Sep 25, 2002

we've got just about every configuration you can have dealing with dual monitors, multiple Pcs on single monitors etc..... stop into the office sometime when you're down this way and I'll show you our magic .... I45 south halfway to Galveston - exit 20 - come back over the freeway to the east 1 mile - look for the radar tower.

cstocks · Sep 25, 2002

Mike,
I checked out the NOAA Website and your bio... you got more keyboards and monitors than the law allows!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Is your office the one that plays the repeated weather forecasts on the weather band?

What exit is exit 20? I don't get down that way very often but maybe I'll drop in sometime if I am in the area.

mikim · Sep 25, 2002

Is your office the one that plays the repeated weather forecasts on the weather band? 
yep -- starts out as a typed product on the main system then is ported over to the system that generates the "voice" -such as it is - and sends it via standard phone line to transmitters scattered around the area for broadcasting. Used to be manually done by printing out the product then someone had to record it on to ---- are you ready? -- 8 track tapes! that were then put on a round robin set of players. 6 - 8 track players per transmitter. a real maintenance and workload nightmare. 
What exit is exit 20 it's the exit for FM646 League City/ Dickinson --- south of clear lake -- 3 exits south of nasa rd 1. I'm here just about everyday except every other Monday - we're always open to the public 8 - 4 M - F... I work 7 - 5 with every other Monday off unless there's a hurricane in the gulf /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif... like this past one. Spent the last 2 days getting ready for the party and the guest of honor didn't even show up - thankfully!

looch · Sep 25, 2002

Does anyone else have two monitors on their computer?

Yeah, I have dual monitors at home. I'm running Solaris 8 on a Sun Ultra 5 workstation. I have a SUNPCi card in it which allows me to run both UNIX and Windows simultaneously on the same machine. This card has it's own monitor connection so I have one screen showing Solaris and the other is Windows.

Tractorgirl · Sep 26, 2002

Chris,

My husband has two monitors and will be adding a third as soon as he gets an extension to his desk built. He works from home as a software engineer and loves to have multiple windows open. It's a great setup for him.

Rhonda