I've been setup for dual monitors for quite some time now. The only thing I've been lacking was desk space. Well, that and the second monitor. :)

Dual monitors truely rock. I am changing my secondary "dial&library montitor" to an 1600x1200 capable 17" tomorrow because I was using an 1024x768 LCD (yes, lack of "physical" desktop space) but I need help about one thing: How do you seperate "parameters" and "properties" tags? I cannot have both open at the same time...I have to switch between two and that is annoying when you have so much free space... BTW: Dual monitors slow down your OpenGL performance considerably if you are not using a fancy graphics card. But it is worth the comfort you gain :)

Attached Link: http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/parhelia/home.cfm

The card can be configured to use all 3 monitors with a stretched desktop. Applications can be maximized across all 3 screens or on a user-selected screen. It is quite versatile and there are other options obviously but I find the 3-monitor setup perfect.

I have enabled the option to use my left monitor as a video output device so all movie clips etc are displayed full-screen on the left monitor as well. (Can be switched off mid-clip)

For gaming, there are currently over 100 titles supporting "Surround Gaming" that work across all 3 monitors. Nothing beats flying FS2004 like this :)

http://www.matrox.com/mga/3d_gaming/surrgame.cfm
http://www.matrox.com/mga/3d_gaming/apptmzr.cfm

The card isn't the fastest beast out there but it handles most gaming quite comfortably, even though I believe it isn't really intended for the gaming market.

Oh, and its OpenGL compliant too ;)

That Parhelia looks like a nice card. Do you have the 128 or 256? My Wildcat is a 256 and dual open GL screams. This thread has motivated me to add a 3rd monitor...lol Tom

"We run desktop replacement laptops at work and I'm agitating to make sure the next one I get runs dual outputs." If you're using a laptop, you've got an inherent screen that comes with the laptop. I think every laptop includes a port for a standard monitor. Both can be used at the same time for dual screens.

You'll probably all think I'm crazy, but after 12 hours of duals, I went back to a single monitor. I can see the advantages, but it's not for me. I'm so used to alt-tabbing between the 3 or 4 apps I keep open that I found it too confusing to have to keep looking in different windows. But if anyone's in doubt, I'd still recommend it. I'm just weird. I don't even have sound connected on my machines. As for animations and video - never seen 'em for a long time. mac

"If you're using a laptop, you've got an inherent screen that comes with the laptop. I think every laptop includes a port for a standard monitor. Both can be used at the same time for dual screens." True, but the way my desk is set up the computer the laptop is in an inconvenient location to use it's screen. Besides, I want an excuse for second 20" flatscreen on my desk. Unfortunately they aren't buying the argument that I need a 52" plasma, but I keep trying...

Oh Gawd Mac,...give it a chance...lol It's not unlike using a new tablet/stylus...it takes a day or so to get used to. Only use it when you need it. Oh well,...I couldn't do without it but I s'pose everyone has their own workflow. Sorry it didn't work out for you. 8 ) Tom

This sounds so good I'm tempted to try it, as I've got a second TFT monitor somewhere. Two questions: 1 - my card is a GeForce FX5600 - anyone know if this can do dual output (nVidia's site is useless on this)? 2 - the outputs on the back are one VGA, one S-video and one DVI connector, but both monitors are VGA input. Can you get a DVI to VGA connector or something? Thanks in advance for your help.

the outputs on the back are one VGA, one S-video and one DVI connector, but both monitors are VGA input. Can you get a DVI to VGA connector or something? Sounds like the standard setup for dual monitor cards - you can grab a DVI - VGA adapter and you are good to go...

Looks great here, at about two and a half feet wide on two 19" side by side, however, when viewing these images on a single monitor, the same image only fills one half of a single screen, or onefourth the proper size, and so really just never looks quite right.

Sooooo - was thinking about this last night while working on a new desktop background: for all you dual monitor types, anyone know of a specialized gallery or stash of artwork anywhere that is composed for display on dual monitors? -- Images in a 3x8 or 4x10 aspect ratio and composed to be split down the middle?

Another small problem with dual desktops, is similar to having a large closet. I have a lot of space so I tend to get lazy and leave stuff sitting on the desktop until I can get around to cleaning it up. No real problem until Windows burps, which it does occasionally, and realigns all my desktop icons. Ive got well over a hundred icons sitting out there and gets tedious when Ive got to put them all back in place again. (no way to save that desktop layout info is there?)

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you can grab a DVI - VGA adapter and you are good to go... And I did, and now it works superbly! It'll take a bit of getting used to, what with the mouse moving from one screen to the other, but I can see real advantages with this - particularly with C4D and Poser.

Hawkfyr, I have the 128M version. I bought mine when they first came out and the 256M version wasn't available in South Africa yet. :/

LOL Nance! I can relate! When you have one screen, one third of your desktop space is about 40 icons at 1024x768. When you have 3 screens one third of the available space is more like 120 icons! :)

I mostly make my own backgrounds for 3072x768. There isn't really anything out there in the way of backgrounds that handles that res. There is the odd screen saver though.