Dual Monitors

[Lewis]

Dual monitor setup: Two monitors are better than one. More information is in the 2nd post after this one, you need to read both post for the proper information before set up. Dual monitor setup checklist is in the 2nd post as well as the equipment info.

You can never have enough screen space. Instead of buying a larger computer monitor, you can buy an inexpensive second monitor or make use of a spare one and connect it to your computer (if you're using Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP)—instantly doubling your desktop space.
Dual monitor setup checklist

There’s a good chance you already have everything you need to set up your second monitor.



Know your equipment

The following table provides more information about the components for setting up an extra monitor.


How to set up your second monitor

Connect the monitor cables

When you’re ready to connect the monitor cable to the connector on your computer, make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on. Your computer should automatically detect the second monitor, although you may have to restart your computer first. If you’re using Windows XP, you’ll need to enable Dualview.

When your computer detects the monitor, it should also automatically detect and apply the display settings appropriate for the monitor.
Configure your displays

You may want to adjust display settings yourself, as described in the following articles.

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP

The settings shown here are for Windows 7, but they are basically the same as those available for Windows Vista and Windows XP. If necessary, you can drag the monitor icons so that they are arranged in the same way as the monitors on your desk. Click Identify to verify which monitor is 1 and which monitor is 2. You’ll see the numbers appear on your monitors.

Under Multiple displays, you can also adjust what you see on the second monitor. You have the following choices:

• Extend your displays. This spreads your desktop over both monitors and lets you drag items between the two screens. This is how most people use two monitors, and it's the default setting for desktop computers. After your monitor is set up, you can use your mouse to grab the title bar (the top portion) of a window and drag it to your new display. If a window does not move when you drag it, double-click the title bar first, and then drag it.
  
  
• Duplicate your displays. This displays the same desktop on both monitors. For a laptop, this is the default setting. This is useful if you're giving a presentation with your laptop connected to a projector or large monitor.
  
  
• Show your desktop on only one monitor. This is most commonly used with a laptop if you want to keep your laptop screen blank after you connect to a large desktop monitor.
  
  

When you disconnect the additional monitor, the original display settings are restored to your primary display. In addition, all open files and program windows are moved to the primary display. The next time that you connect the same monitor, the Windows operating system automatically applies the display settings that you used the last time that you connected this monitor.
Troubleshooting: Normally, the process of setting up and using a second monitor is seamless and automatic. However, because it involves hardware and software from multiple sources, you may need to troubleshoot problems and make adjustments. For example, if your computer fails to detect the second monitor, first make sure it’s plugged in and turned on, and then, in the display settings, click Detect. Or your computer might not support multiple displays. Visit Microsoft Update, click Custom, and install any available hardware updates. You may also need to visit your computer manufacturer's website to install an updated display driver. Or you may need to install an additional display adapter. Read this troubleshooting article for Windows Vista which also includes tips that pertain to other versions of Windows.
You’ll find that having two monitors can forever change the way you work with your computer. Be creative and experiment with the sizing of application windows and what information you can keep in constant view while doing multiple tasks. If you’re looking for more ideas on what to do with all of the extra viewing space you will have, read the article, Work and play better with multiple monitors.
Dual monitors: How to connect two monitors to one computer

 

[Lewis]

• Two monitors (one, if you’re setting up a laptop), which may be flat-panel LCD monitors or CRT monitors or one of each—it doesn’t matter. You can even use a TV screen as a monitor. If you’re going to buy a monitor, there are many points to consider in addition to the price. For example, picture quality, screen size, screen resolution, compatibility with your computer port, higher contrast ratio, and richness of color are some of the most important factors.
  Although we refer to two monitors in this article, you can use more than two as long as you have the connectors available on your computer.
• Two monitor cables to connect the monitors to the computer (one for a laptop). These need to match the connection types available on your computer.
• A monitor connection on your computer for each monitor you want to connect. These may be Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connectors, Video Graphics Array (VGA) connectors, HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors, or S-Video connectors for using your TV as a monitor. The connections will need to match the monitor cables. These ports connect to video cards in your computer. They are usually located on the back of your desktop computer and on the side or back of your laptop computer.
• If you don’t have the connectors you need for your monitors, you can install a video adapter to change the connector type, or, if you’re using a desktop computer, you can replace your video card or install additional cards. This involves opening your computer, so you may want to seek assistance from a local computer retailer or watch this video for help to do it yourself.

Equipment
Description
More information

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor
LCD monitors are thin, light, and high-resolution.
Purchase an LCD monitor.

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor: An older, bulkier monitor, still popular because of its low cost
CRTs are larger, heavier, and require more desk space but are cheaper than LCD models.
Purchase a CRT monitor.

Get a used one for less.

VGA (Video Graphic Array) port
VGA ports are the most common computer ports, using an analog system to transfer dispislay data.

DVI (Digital Video Interface) port
A DVI port provides a high-quality display using digital techniques to transfer the display data.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port
HDMI ports are the interface standard used for audio-visual equipment, such as HDTVs or home theater systems.

S-Video port
An S-Video port is one of the most common ways to connect computers to TVs.

Monitor cable
A monitor cable carries information in graphic form from the computer to the monitor. The connectors on the cables you use must match the connectors on your computer.
Purchase a monitor cable.

Video adapter cable or converter
You’ll only need a converter if you’re trying to connect a computer with one type of graphics card, such as VGA, to a monitor using another technology, like DVI.
Purchase an adapter cable.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Why would a person even want to do this? Use Linux which has multiple desktops. In addition, Linux is a true multi-user platform. Microsoft is not. Although I toot Linux as being better not having the viruses that Microsoft has, Linux also has the ability to log in more than one person at a time. So if you have ONE TOWER with ONE CPU and so forth, but branched them off to multiple monitors and keyboards (a hardware trick), each person could log on simultaneously and run their own stuff sharing the same computer.

I don't know how to do this personally, even though I built computers already as in the past I always loaded them with Microsoft and hardware (unfortunately) caters to Microsoft. We are all conditioned to think one computer per monitor and keyboard but this is not true with Linux. And this has been the case for years and years and years, not a recent ability of that OS, either. However, like the article says, there has to be a way for multiple inputs and multiple outputs in a multiplexing/demultiplexing type scheme to put it in electronic jargon.

 

[Lewis]

I use to dual screen when I had my Motion M200 and M300 tablets. Which did come loaded with Microsoft Tablet Edition Windows XP Pro

 

[Free]

Nearly everyone I work with has dual monitors, whether it is a laptop (we all use laptops) and a monitor or two monitors. All the duals are 24" for the main CAD software and the second monitor is great for opening up everything else, especially reference material. It is far handier and more productive for us to have dual monitors.

 

[WIP]

Nearly everyone I work with has dual monitors, whether it is a laptop (we all use laptops) and a monitor or two monitors. All the duals are 24" for the main CAD software and the second monitor is great for opening up everything else, especially reference material. It is far handier and more productive for us to have dual monitors.

We do the same thing where I work. My main monitor (not my laptop) is where I do most of my work as it is much larger, which is really nice when working with CAD software. There are some things I display on my laptop monitor and some things I display on my main monitor. Took some getting used to but now I would feel hog-tied without this ability. In fact, I've often wondered what it would be like to have a third except that I'd have to get a bigger desk or clean the one I have.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Grant it, work situations do this. I have a separate computer for a machine and one for the data entry. My question and point regarding two monitors, though, is under Microsoft, would this not all be in under the same log-in controlling both?

With multiple Linux desktop one could have desktop #1 for their data and #2 for the equipment would do the same thing with one log-in, but if there is a second monitor, that can have another independent log-in. That's two computers in one so-to-speak.

Here's a link to what I am talking about --- in this case 6 users each with their own log-ins on one tower!
http://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html

 

[Lewis]

When I was using dual monitors Tim, it was only me using them so nobody else in my household was using my computers. So I guess you are talking about a job situation. And for one thing I am not a fan of other people using computers that I use.

 

[Free]

Grant it, work situations do this. I have a separate computer for a machine and one for the data entry. My question and point regarding two monitors, though, is under Microsoft, would this not all be in under the same log-in controlling both?

With multiple Linux desktop one could have desktop #1 for their data and #2 for the equipment would do the same thing with one log-in, but if there is a second monitor, that can have another independent log-in. That's two computers in one so-to-speak.

Here's a link to what I am talking about --- in this case 6 users each with their own log-ins on one tower!
Build a Six-headed, Six-user Linux System LG #124

Yes, it can only be done under one login for Microsoft but I see no advantage of the setup you are speaking of. It seems to me to be significantly easier for one user to do everything on one desktop.

As for more than one user at a time, that would only be good for very basic applications and Internet browsing. Anything more would likely cause significant productivity issues. So it really isn't "two computers in one" since you're splitting the resources in two. It's more like two half-computers.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Yes, it can only be done under one login for Microsoft but I see no advantage of the setup you are speaking of. It seems to me to be significantly easier for one user to do everything on one desktop.

As for more than one user at a time, that would only be good for very basic applications and Internet browsing. Anything more would likely cause significant productivity issues. So it really isn't "two computers in one" since you're splitting the resources in two. It's more like two half-computers.

So, I guess the whole point of this thread is to have one log-in but two monitors? But what I was saying is that using Linux one can have "several monitors on one" with multiple desktops. I guess it boils down to whether one wants to turn their head or click their mouse for a different desktop.

 

[Lewis]

So how many monitors can Unbuntu use ?

 

[WIP]

Grant it, work situations do this. I have a separate computer for a machine and one for the data entry. My question and point regarding two monitors, though, is under Microsoft, would this not all be in under the same log-in controlling both?

With multiple Linux desktop one could have desktop #1 for their data and #2 for the equipment would do the same thing with one log-in, but if there is a second monitor, that can have another independent log-in. That's two computers in one so-to-speak.

Here's a link to what I am talking about --- in this case 6 users each with their own log-ins on one tower!
Build a Six-headed, Six-user Linux System LG #124

Sounds to me like you're talking about virtual machines. I've used multiple operating systems (Windows 2000 and XP) simultaneously on one laptop displaying some systems on one monitor and other systems on another. This is not limited to two OS either.