Anyone using dual monitors in non-GUI development?
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I'm trying to convince me to set up a system with two monitors. I know such system is very useful for GUI development and making music. However, I make GUI applications only to test components, so I don't really to step through debugger while looking at how window borders are drawn. I do have music software but unfortunately use it seldom. Has anyone proven dual monitors to be useful when doing "normal" tasks? Can you give some examples when it opens new possibilities? BTW, how are the desktop metrics calculated in this case? If I have two monitors with 1024x768 resolution, how will Windows treat them? I hope if I maximize an application, it won't cover both monitors? Vagif Abilov COM+/ATL/MFC Developer Oslo, Norway
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I'm trying to convince me to set up a system with two monitors. I know such system is very useful for GUI development and making music. However, I make GUI applications only to test components, so I don't really to step through debugger while looking at how window borders are drawn. I do have music software but unfortunately use it seldom. Has anyone proven dual monitors to be useful when doing "normal" tasks? Can you give some examples when it opens new possibilities? BTW, how are the desktop metrics calculated in this case? If I have two monitors with 1024x768 resolution, how will Windows treat them? I hope if I maximize an application, it won't cover both monitors? Vagif Abilov COM+/ATL/MFC Developer Oslo, Norway
Vagif Abilov wrote: Has anyone proven dual monitors to be useful when doing "normal" tasks? Can you give some examples when it opens new possibilities? For me it is. I always have an open MSDN help in one monitor and the VC++ IDE in the other. If I'm developing a project that has dependencies usually I have both projects opened in different monitors. Vagif Abilov wrote: I hope if I maximize an application, it won't cover both monitors? As you guessed it will cover only one monitor. Cheers, - xico -
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I'm trying to convince me to set up a system with two monitors. I know such system is very useful for GUI development and making music. However, I make GUI applications only to test components, so I don't really to step through debugger while looking at how window borders are drawn. I do have music software but unfortunately use it seldom. Has anyone proven dual monitors to be useful when doing "normal" tasks? Can you give some examples when it opens new possibilities? BTW, how are the desktop metrics calculated in this case? If I have two monitors with 1024x768 resolution, how will Windows treat them? I hope if I maximize an application, it won't cover both monitors? Vagif Abilov COM+/ATL/MFC Developer Oslo, Norway
Vagif, Its not just useful for GUI development - I think you will benefit from dual monitors doing any kind development. I've been using duals for 5 years now, all our developers have them. I would hate to be restricted to one! :) I typically use the 'left' monitor for the main work focus - typing in dodgy code and the right screen for auxilary information like having MSDN help open or another source file. This way you can view help documents alongside your code window, this is so much more efficient than either trying to work at crazy high resolution or having to constantly flip between windows. I've 2 21", each working at 1280x1024, which windows sees as 2560x1023. I'd recommend Matrox dualhead G450 or 550s - rock steady, excellent 2D displays. Maximise across screens is a setting on the Matrox drivers along with a load of other goodies like centering windows in a certain display, preventing windows spanning both screens, remembering windows positions etc. Check out http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/ for more info. Stu
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Vagif, Its not just useful for GUI development - I think you will benefit from dual monitors doing any kind development. I've been using duals for 5 years now, all our developers have them. I would hate to be restricted to one! :) I typically use the 'left' monitor for the main work focus - typing in dodgy code and the right screen for auxilary information like having MSDN help open or another source file. This way you can view help documents alongside your code window, this is so much more efficient than either trying to work at crazy high resolution or having to constantly flip between windows. I've 2 21", each working at 1280x1024, which windows sees as 2560x1023. I'd recommend Matrox dualhead G450 or 550s - rock steady, excellent 2D displays. Maximise across screens is a setting on the Matrox drivers along with a load of other goodies like centering windows in a certain display, preventing windows spanning both screens, remembering windows positions etc. Check out http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/ for more info. Stu
Thanks everyone for convincing answers. I think the link below alone can justify the need for dual monitors ;P http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/gallery\_browse.asp?ID=133 Vagif Abilov COM+/ATL/MFC Developer Oslo, Norway
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I'm trying to convince me to set up a system with two monitors. I know such system is very useful for GUI development and making music. However, I make GUI applications only to test components, so I don't really to step through debugger while looking at how window borders are drawn. I do have music software but unfortunately use it seldom. Has anyone proven dual monitors to be useful when doing "normal" tasks? Can you give some examples when it opens new possibilities? BTW, how are the desktop metrics calculated in this case? If I have two monitors with 1024x768 resolution, how will Windows treat them? I hope if I maximize an application, it won't cover both monitors? Vagif Abilov COM+/ATL/MFC Developer Oslo, Norway