Dual Monitors?

[SLW210]

I have used dual in the past. As per JD's post, biggest advantage is being able to display Word, Excel, Outlook Documents or CADTutor solution ...etc and so forth, on one screen and working in CAD on the other.

I use a single monitor now and just print the documents or switch windows.

[Jack_O'neill]

I have used dual in the past. As per JD's post, biggest advantage is being able to display Word, Excel, Outlook Documents or CADTutor solution ...etc and so forth, on one screen and working in CAD on the other.

I use a single monitor now and just print the documents or switch windows.

One of mine died so I thought I'd just go back to a single for a while....just about drove me to drinkin...did that for about a week and that was enough. Second monitor was replaced. It annoys me when I'm out on the road with this laptop to only have one monitor and I don't even use it all that much.

[rkent]

I think Jack's post #4 is the best example where you have reference material up on one monitor while working with ACAD in the other. From reading recent study's it sounds like one large monitor is better than two,and it makes sense to me having worked with two 24" for a while.

If you read other study's they also find that the distraction of two monitors can also hurt productivity. The reasoning is if you have your email up on one screen (as an example) and ACAD on the other you will be tempted to stop and read your email as those come in. So anything on the other screen becomes a distraction and makes it harder to focus and stay on task.

I like two monitors and would hate to go back to one unless it was one very large one, 27" or larger.

My previous two monitors were 21" and were made so you could rotate them 90 degrees, so the one where I was working on Word I had in portrait mode and the ACAD one was in landscape. That worked real well for that scenario. When I needed a spread sheet (or MS Project file), etc, up on screen I could rotate back to landscape and change it quickly in the software to display properly. Surfing on the internet works better in portrait mode as well, at least for me.

[Bartjacks]

I didnt even realize you could do CAD on 1 Monitor. i'm a minimum of Two monitors at all times, i have three while at work cuz i use my laptop as one. i cant even imagine doing it on one moniter anymore. i always have the main drawing area on one, then my tool palettes, quick prop, layer and xref managers up on the second. i usually use the third for windows explorer and such (much like JD Mathers). when i'm really going to town, my project manager box is on the third screen along with Navis for quick coordination on the MEP side, or client documents for the 2d stuff. so all sarcasm aside, i thoroughly recommend the second monitor. you can NEVER have to much Drawing real state when it comes to cad

[Raudel Solis]

i cant even imagine doing it on one moniter anymore

oh yes, more monitors = better workflow..
you just need to get accustomed to the new setup..
all major graphics manufacturers offer a control panel to setup your monitors to display the way you want them..
windows offers the basic.. Duplicate, external only, extend.. etc.

but yes.. the main reason to get more monitors is to optimize workflow..
no more switching and sending windows front to back, everything you need to do is on it's own monitor depending on how many you have....

[Frits]

I think everything has already been said about it by now, but I would say:

Advantage: you work more digitally, you don't have to print a pdf with important information for your work, but just put it in the second screen.

Disadvantage: two screens distract your focus. Youtube on the second screen is great fun, but when you don't finnish your work before noon, it isn't that funny anymore!