Multiple Monitors vs 1 Large Monitor
 

I currently have 2 older 20 inch monitors. They have done good for me over the years but I am looking to get something new that has crisper colors and better screen resolution. I am not sure if I want to go with 2 monitors again, or just switch up to 1 biggers screen.

What are you guys using?

2 large screens?

I think I can do 2 24''. But I don't have room really for any larger if I do 2. I was thinking 1 27'' instead.

4 more posts make it happen soon

Funny that you've just posted this thread...

For the last hour I've been editing photos on my dual monitor setup and thinking that I might want to try a single large monitor instead.

When I had dual 19" monitors everything flowed well. When I upgraded to dual 21" wide screens, I found myself not liking how much more movement was needed to complete my tasks. Not only movement of the mouse but moving my head side to side instead of just glancing between monitors.

I had a similar discussion with 3XTom a couple years ago. He uses one big ass monitor and swears by it.

The only photo editing I do is with Lighroom, a little resizing and renaming. I like having 2 because I can seperate tasks. A lot of time I work on proposals and I am copy from Excel to Word and its easy to do if they are on 2 screens. Although Windows 7 has the option to split screen with 1 screen and I can probably do this easily with a larger screen. But I like being able to seperate. A lot of time I will put 'Work' on Screen 1. And Forums, Browsing on another monitor. Allows me to focus on one.

Typically, I do the same.

When editing video, I span both monitors so I can stretch the timeline.

When editing photos, I open Photoshop on the left monitor and other tools and/or a browser on the right. All of this can still be done using 1 large monitor and sizing your windows to your liking.

If I'm not actively working back and forth between the monitors then it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

2, 30's :thumbsup

At home I have 3 22" monitors and my office I have 2 24" ones. BIG difference between the 22" and 24" in terms of resolution, the others are a bit older, but I don't think I could go to 1 monitor unless it was some 42" 24x9 ratio

This is what I was thinking, Which is why I was thinking about just getting a very good quality large one. My wife has an iMac. I believe its 24''. It sits on my desk so I use it to watch TV shows and Movies while I work. I know that is not big enough to use just 1. But would be ideal for 2.

I would love to be able to do a test run on 1 larger monitor and see if I like it. Maybe I will head over to best buy and get one to test.

edit: Post #9999

I like 2 monitors for moving files locally or via network, right now I have adobe bridge open with window explorer in the other monitor because I'm shooting. usually have outlook open in 1 window and web browser in the other... or a calendar in one and a spread sheet in the other for bookings etc... or calendar and emails etc... really helps my work flow

Three monitors for me....

http://content.screencast.com/users/...11-08_1356.png

I use one monitor for my work space, one monitor just for email, and a third for whatever - usually my music software. Multiple monitors is a huge help when you are reading info from one source and typing into another.

I'm going to a single 27 inch screen this month. I have the space here on my desk and I am speculating that it'll be a bit easier on the eyes as well. Don't know which make or model yet, but probably something well reviewed on newegg or similar sites.

I found this on Tiger Direct today. I always like viewsonic. I had one for a long time back in the day. I actually bought it refurbed long ago when monitors costed an arm and a leg. I think it was in 1997 or 1998 I baught it. Was 19'' CRT monitor. Heavy as fuck. It lasted me like 5-6 years even as a refurb.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...4&Sku=V18-2770

I see in the reviews it say something about IPS monitor. Any idea what that means with me having to google it?

Going from 2 24" to one 30"

3840 x 1200 = 4,608,000 pixels
2560 x 1600 = 4,096,000 pixels

11% loss in real estate.

While you gain 1/3 extra screen top to bottom, you lose about a third side to side. While that does sound good because you will be watching less tennis matches side to side, you will now have to look up, way up, to see the top of the screen. Works out OK if you have a deep desk so it is far back from you and if you have a situation where you sit UP straight. If you slouch and like your monitors close or have a smaller than three to four feet deep desk you will find looking up is more stressful to your neck then looking side to side.

Also, if budget minded, dell.com/outlet has great deals. I have bought all of my monitors, computers and laptops through it. My 20 inch one is still going strong 10 years later.

Rocking 2 21.5" displays (iMac and Samsung display) and at first I thought one display was enough, but now I am thinking of getting a couple more displays. Mostly to put some things on their own dedicated screens. Two of them would be full size VirtualBox instances of Windows and Linux desktops so I can test and make sure everything works and looks the same across all Operating systems.

That makes some sense. I have a pretty deep desk. I think its 50/50 between sitting back and slouching forward.

2 30'' here. Love 'em.

wow this looks interesting to hve a big screens.....

Thats way to much for me, maybe for tv's above my computer to watch sports games or some shit.

since i like switching programs to full screen, only 1 monitor is no option. i wont waste my time resizing windows all the time

Using three monitors I never resize windows at all. Everything is full screen for me.

I typically run every program in full screen. Then just ALT Tab everything.

not a big as you would think, one thing on the 27's etc. the best resolution you can get 1250x1900 or something... on the 30's you get 2560x1600 makes a huge different is 'desk top' and 'app sandbox' until you go to 30 you just getting the same old crap 'bigger' you're not really gaining anything

On Windows: Two monitors. Many windows need to be maximized to really be effective. Two monitors means you can have two windows simultaneously maximized.

On Mac OS: One monitor. The menu bar stays with the primary monitor, so working with applications in the secondary monitor is kind of awkward. Also, most windows don't maximize to fill the whole screen. So it's better to have one big flexible space in which to arrange windows.

I think for this particular reason above, the maximized effect. I will be sticking with 2 monitors. Going to be looking for 2x24''.

I have three 24'inch 1920x1200's ---- could never go back to 1 or even 2 screens.

nice clean set up. :thumbsup

I use 3 24" with no looking back. Never go back to 1 monitor, I just can't even imagine.

I use one 27 and an old 21, but quite honestly I tend to turn off the old one and use it only for really specific tasks, like once every 2 or 3 weeks. By the way, I use the small one like 15 or 20 inches farther so I can have it in the same focal point with teh minimum amount of head movement.

Dual setup distracts me a lot, I spent some time to get used to the 27'', so go figure 2 monitors. 3 would be a nightmare for me, cannot even imagine a single reason to use them

Studies have proven dual screens increases productivity.

You know there's an issue facing many Americans today that I know ... According to Gallop Polls: 1 in 12 American's is unaware that the Bird is the Word.

2x 27" is super

laptop + 22"; i like 3 monitors setup

I remember a study while back showing huge productivity boost from having 2 monitors vs one large one. My old job I use to have 3 and it was amazing imo.

Nice space! :thumbsup

Get the 27" 1440p ASUS! You will thank me later

3 monitors mounted vertically, with extra slim bezels.

I am a freaking neat freak. I clean my office every morning before I start, and every night before I quit.

multiple monitors is the only way to go imho

I've been using one 21" and one 47" monitor for my desktop for the past 5 years. Also have my laptop plugged into the 47". The bigger monitor is wall mounted next to my destops workstation.

Great setup for multi-tasking and entertainment (Netflix, Hulu, uTube, Porn, etc.)

One 40" monitor/TV

I have 50 inch full that you can see in left corner of photo below(no batteries in digital camera so I was using phone to make it, sorry , they are in bad quality) and three 24 monitors. Once I've got three monitors setup, I can't remember when was the last time that I've worked on big screen. ( and I've thought how cool is to work on 50 inch screen on half meter from your eyes until then).
http://s16.postimg.org/kqo1u0ao5/down.jpg


Multi monitor setup is is so much better because windows is saving positions of your programs. You can move them around and actually having much more working space. There are so many things you can do with three monitors, for exmaple,: use first one to edit porn for job, second one to watch your favorite and third one to check content and see where it will go on between those two.

I have problem with space to put all devices I am using, so I had to choose 24 inch screens, and I wanted at least 27. But it is fine. If you are going with three monitors, choose models that can be rotated. See example below:

http://s14.postimg.org/s0hm4fsxd/image.gif

I think that you should have one 27" and one 24"
One 30" and one 24" would be a-lot better
If you are that cramped for space maybe a 30" and a 20" would work

People said it would hurt my eyes, but I have a 39" LED Vizio television I've been using. The picture seems to be fine and it was not expensive. Nowhere near as sharp as a computer monitor, though, from what I have read. Far less pixels or whatever else.

It's pretty tough, too, it survived being shipped on a greyhound bus (I only fly with a couple of bag)

Going from a dual monitor setup back to a single monitor take a-lot of getting use to

I wanted to have same picture on all monitors so It had to be same series. And 30 wasn't available at the moment. I can make more space by rearanging workspace, but when I've put all together (space, modern diplays, available formats, pivot option), this looked like best solution for me.

Do yourself some favours man..

1. Better speakers. You spend all day in front of your PC. Treat your ears. I have a pair of Mackie HR624's and a pair of KRK Rokit 8 (both powered studio monitors) that I use as PC speakers.
2. Put your LCD panels together so there's no gap and the speakers on the outside.

Here's a pair of mackie's in a PC setup, single monitor though. I have mine on foam pads that slightly angle them upwards at me, sound much better this way, as they're very directional.

http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/ju...udioSOS_01.jpg

Quad monitor setup 2 x 19", a 21" and a 23" shared between two desktops and my PS3. The 19" ones and the 21" one are on my desk and the 23" one is on a smaller adjoining table right next my desk.

The 21" is my primary monitor on my biz machine and is hooked up to a kvm switch. The secondary monitor on that machine is one of the 19" ones. I usually run tweetdeck/irc/outlook/WM player on the secondary while I work/edit/design on the 21" primary.

A keyboard shortcut or push of a button on the KVM switch and my 21" becomes the primary for my gaming/webcam/media system. I use a VGA splitter to share the same secondary signal on the 19" and the 23", so I can watch tv at my desk or play a DVD or a youtube playlist on the 23". The ps3 is hooked up to that monitor as well through hdmi.

It might seem like a confusing setup, but it allows me to utilize both machines.

One monitor? Nah.

Just one 22".

I like the way this setup looks. Nice stuff.