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Dual Screen Development

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:46 pm
by Ollie Saunders
I'm considering a second screen for development purposes. But is it really worth it? Did you see an improvement in your development productivity as a result... perhaps a really big single wide screen is better?

I'm also looking at the really nice Mac screens but they are mega expensive.

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:48 pm
by Chris Corbyn
I'm much more comfortable with two screens. I usually have a test runner in one screen, or the application itself, and code in the other.

I'm not sure I work any faster, but I guess generally being more comfortable would increase my productivity.

One wide screen would be more awkward to have two maximized windows side-by-side.

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:52 pm
by Ollie Saunders
Do you have that at work? Do they pay for that for you?
Do you have flat screens? What model are they?
What graphic card are you using with that?

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:27 pm
by impulse()
I work with 3 monitors and I find it less frustrating to do any coding. If I need to compare any code it's quicker as I'm not spending time searching for where I left off. But as mentioned above coding on one screen and having the output on another is brilliant. I was working with AJAX the other week which had a 1 second update on so when I was editing on one screen the changes would be seen on the other within 1 second of me saving the file. I thought that was really cool.
I'm not sure on the GFX cards exactly but unless you're spanning games across as many monitors as this - http://www.nothingtoxic.com/media/11429 ... 4_Monitors it wouldn't make much difference.

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:45 pm
by Ollie Saunders
I've seen that video before: very cool.

Thanks for the input so far guys.

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:00 pm
by feyd
While I would agree that Mac screens on the surface seem quite expensive for what they offer (especially the larger sizes) they also offer some of the highest pixel densities on consumer-market-available displays. They also offer Firewire connections, which haven't been seen much, if any, from other competitors. Some competitors do offer extras the Mac ones lack as well, so that often somewhat evens out. It really depends on what you'll be using or needing.

As long as you're doing 2D work, the graphics cards aren't super-duper important provided they can run the native resolution at the highest refresh rate supported in a DVI package.. and they have good color control (along with whatever other features your daily life requires.)

My personal set up of 2×24" Dell 2407WFP run off of dual Nvidia GeForce 7800 GTX cards. I write code, illustrate and paint, mostly on one display with the other having output/testing, and palettes, respectively.

They are currently both in landscape mode, but I am considering changing at least one to portrait.

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:08 am
by m3mn0n
2 heads are always better than 1.

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:59 pm
by alex.barylski
I was considering buying a single large screen, but now I'm thinking maybe two smaller 19" screens would be better for development...

It seems anything over 20" starts to have negative effects on the small fonts...regardless of monitor make/model/specs...

Just curious, but how do multiple monitors work? Do you need a splitter cable or two graphics cards? Perhaps even three monitors would be best?

How do you get from one screen to another, just move the mouse until you see if in the other monitor???

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:27 pm
by jayshields
Hockey wrote:Just curious, but how do multiple monitors work? Do you need a splitter cable or two graphics cards? Perhaps even three monitors would be best?

How do you get from one screen to another, just move the mouse until you see if in the other monitor???
1. Most modern graphics cards have dual outputs. That's probably the easiest and most efficient way to connect it up.
2. It depends how you want it. What you are stabbing at is one desktop spread across 2 monitors (correct me if I'm wrong). What these people are referencing (about development) are 2 seperate desktops, one on each monitor. Some hotkey will be set for which monitor gets use of the mouse/keyboard.

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:39 pm
by alex.barylski
jayshields wrote:
Hockey wrote:Just curious, but how do multiple monitors work? Do you need a splitter cable or two graphics cards? Perhaps even three monitors would be best?

How do you get from one screen to another, just move the mouse until you see if in the other monitor???
1. Most modern graphics cards have dual outputs. That's probably the easiest and most efficient way to connect it up.
2. It depends how you want it. What you are stabbing at is one desktop spread across 2 monitors (correct me if I'm wrong). What these people are referencing (about development) are 2 seperate desktops, one on each monitor. Some hotkey will be set for which monitor gets use of the mouse/keyboard.
Goes to show how antiquated my desktop is :P

Hmmm...ok...so two monitors on a single desktop...is what I'm shooting at...

Thinking these bad boys would look kick @$$ side by side:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde ... &langid=EN

Fast response, high Contrast Ratio and solid res it appears :)

So I need a video card which supports dual output eh? :)

Coolness

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:38 pm
by daedalus__
Having two monitors is great but I don't think you need two of the one you posted a link to. :P

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:45 pm
by feyd
Daedalus- wrote:Having two monitors is great but I don't think you need two of the one you posted a link to. :P
Actually, two 19" displays that have native 1280x1024 is the minimum I would recommend.

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:28 pm
by daedalus__
That's what I have at work but the one he posted a link to is 30" !!!!! That's huge.

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:32 pm
by feyd
ole posted a link to a 30" ... which is enough for most people, but since you didn't specify, I assumed you were replying to Hockey's link .. which is a 19".

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:45 pm
by alex.barylski
Haha...WTF...this thread got confusing fast... :P

So feyd....you would suggest two of the 19" I linked too eh?

What do you think about those specs? 2ms response time...the resolution is decent and the contrast ratio is damn high compared to others in it's field...

Good bang for the buck?

How does multiple monitor switching work - using a single computer? Is it as simple as moving the mouse until you see it on the other screen?