4 Replies Latest reply: Nov 29, 2011 8:49 AM by Ken Binney RSS

    Dual or single monitors

    ottz0 Community Member

      Hi I am a web and graphic designer and want to sort out a new setup at home.

       

      I have a great setup at work with 2 19 inch monitors on a HP laptop dock. I simply undock my laptop when I want to go portable.

       

      Dual screens are also good for me especially in DW as I have DW on one side and a browser to test on the other side.

       

      But I want to know, that monitors are now bigger and even TV's LEd's are used as monitors, are some you designers now opting for larger single screens or are most happy with a dual screen setup?

       

      Also, I am not working at home too much so a single screen might be better to play games ect

       

      Thanks

        • 1. Re: Dual or single monitors
          John Waller CommunityMVP

          I personally prefer my dual monitor setup: laptop screen + external monitor.

          • 2. Re: Dual or single monitors
            Lon Winters Community Member

            It really is preference, you kinda have to try it both ways tor a while to know. I currently use a single 24 inch monitor and for the most part I like it better than two smaller ones. I do miss some of the features you can only get with a second monitor, but even with a 24 and smaller one, there would be too much head turning and the second one would be too far away for my eyes. And I like having one directly in front.

             

            The screen rez is 1920x1200 so in most cases I still have plenty of real estate to see everyting I need to at a time, with a little extra effort in positioning windows and switching between apps. But, some things are just better and easier with a second monitor, one being what you mentioned, browser previews. And one thing that still gets me, when I have DW, Photoshop and maybe Flash all open, I'm sure to exit the wrong program at times as their title bars all look the same in Windows.

            • 3. Re: Dual or single monitors
              Rob Hecker2 CommunityMVP

              I use a pair of 24 inch monitors, each set to 1920x1200, and actually, I would love to add a third. Head turning is not an issue. My head turns pretty easily. Perhaps a person in a neck brace would find it problematic. Turning your head is easier than navigating a mouse or keyboard to dig for that window you need to bring to the top of the stack.

               

              I believe the large TV screens are worthless as they add dimension but not resolution.

               

              If your computer is a laptop then you have some limitations because the graphics processor in the laptop doesn't have much muscle. Some laptops don't even have a dedicated graphics processor.

              • 4. Re: Dual or single monitors
                Ken Binney CommunityMVP

                I use  4 wide, 2 rows high, all 19". The right and left side pairs are at a 45 degree angle

                With a single monitor, I used to have horrible neck pain and eyestrain,

                but now with with a wide and high landscape, I am always in minor motion

                with both head and eyes and no more pains !

                 

                I prefer many narrower and taller19" screens with no window dragging and

                they afford a consistent location for all the content. Alas, they are getting

                hard to find.

                 

                HTH