Dual monitors or 1x large monitor

[DionM]

I currently use a 17" CRT - nothing special.

I do find it a bit limiting for editing - too many toolbars and too tiny an image window!

I will make the switch to LCD because I just don't have the space.

Question is - do I go for say 2x 17" monitors or 1x19" or 20" monitor? Anyone care to comment on what they find usable?

I figure with image editing I could dump palettes and toolbars on one monitor, and leave the other monitor for display the image that is being edited. Would 2x 17" be 'big enough' though? My budget can't really extend to 2x 19" LCDs though, and space reasons dictate the need to get LCDs.

I have also looked at widescreen monitors up around the 20" size, and while I think it would let me put palettes on the side, it would comprise the display window size for portrait photos, I'm guessing?

I could maybe squeeze a 19" LCD next to my 17" CRT, and use the CRT for palettes but that would (a) look silly and (b) cause me space/cramp concerns.

[Nightcrawler]

I prefer the use of two monitors, because, as you said, I like to have all of my toolbars on one monitor and the image alone on the other. It makes for easy editing. I would think that by getting one larger monitor, you would still run into some issues of the toolbars getting in the way. Anyway, that is my preference. Others, I am sure, will disagree.

[Rob612]

3 x 17" LCD monitors here. And REALLY happy !

[dannym]

3 x 17" LCD monitors here. And REALLY happy !

Let's all go to Rob's house to edit our photo's! :D

[JustJerk]

I just added a second monitor - will never go back to one. Go with the dual -
Have an old 21" and added a 20"WS - Dell has it on sale for $394 shipped.

[mdr]

Running 2x Sony 17" Xblack LCDs. Ideal for image editing. Wouldn't dream of going back to one monitor. Hate it at work, but thankfully don't have to edit images at work.

[Rob612]

Let's all go to Rob's house to edit our photo's! :D

You are all welcome :)

Here it is (youll'find the description for the # in another post here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=563488

[CyberDyneSystems]

I like Dual monitors,. But I would never consider a 17" CRT adequate... no matter how many I had.

You simply can't get the res you should have.
If you keep the 17".. use it for the tool bars and menus and make your second monitor a 19" !!

[dicky109]

Not only for photo work, but if you use any business applications, dual monitors are a blessing. You can have Excel on one screen and Outlook on another (please, no MS rants), copy & paste, the list is endless.

Go for 2, and as CDS said, if you can afford it, get at least a 19" for the photo work.

Good luck,

[sixshot]

WOW. You guys are a tad more serious than me! I have one 15in LCD monitor. I suppose another monitor just for this forum could also be handy!

[PacAce]

I currently use a 17" CRT - nothing special.

I do find it a bit limiting for editing - too many toolbars and too tiny an image window!

I will make the switch to LCD because I just don't have the space.

Question is - do I go for say 2x 17" monitors or 1x19" or 20" monitor? Anyone care to comment on what they find usable?

I figure with image editing I could dump palettes and toolbars on one monitor, and leave the other monitor for display the image that is being edited. Would 2x 17" be 'big enough' though? My budget can't really extend to 2x 19" LCDs though, and space reasons dictate the need to get LCDs.

I have also looked at widescreen monitors up around the 20" size, and while I think it would let me put palettes on the side, it would comprise the display window size for portrait photos, I'm guessing?

I could maybe squeeze a 19" LCD next to my 17" CRT, and use the CRT for palettes but that would (a) look silly and (b) cause me space/cramp concerns.
Go with at least one 19" monitor and a 17" althouth two 19" would be lots better. 17" monitors, no matter how many you get, may not give you the vertical space you may need, unless you stack them vertically as well as horizontally. :)

[mdr]

Disagree. Most 17" and their 19" equivalent have the same resolution. My Sony Xlack has a 1280x1026 resolution, as has it's 19" bigger brother. So there is no difference in number of pixels on screen, only the 19" monitor has larger pixels. Image might be larger, but quality aint better.

[EricKonieczny]

Upgrade when you have excess funds laying around.

I upgraded to a 20 inch Apple Cinema Display and will never go back.

but I am still using my old 17 in CRT for testing web pages, and other stuff, but have it off to the side so it is not in the way. Thats the beauty of the LCD.

[Rob612]

Disagree. Most 17" and their 19" equivalent have the same resolution. My Sony Xlack has a 1280x1026 resolution, as has it's 19" bigger brother. So there is no difference in number of pixels on screen, only the 19" monitor has larger pixels. Image might be larger, but quality aint better.

Right. Usually 17 and 19 share the same max res (typically 1024x768) so it won't be a problem in having - in my case - the center monitor @19" leaving the rest @17". The only annoying thing will be that instead of a nice straight line of monitors I will have a bigger one in the middle.

And no, do not EVEN THINK that I am going to change my almost-brand-new 17" with 3 x 19" :D

I would love to do that, but due to the recent addition to the lens family (see my sig, it has some RED now in it) I this that it is out of discussion. OTOH, being my new L's used stuff, I could trick a little bit about the total amount involved (won't last long, as usual, my wife knows well where I shop :D) but getting in the house wit 3 x 19" boxes... well, that's different. Also because you need to find 3 monitors with sequential S/N just to make sure that all three came from the same big LCD sheet before cutting. I know she would let me, but I honestly prefer to be a good boy for a while. And I need a second body also... so... my birthday is in august, who knows, naybe for that time a 20D will popup...

[DionM]

Thanks guys.

I did notice that most 19" LCDs have the same resolution as 17" LCDs. To me this just seems strange, and I don't think 1280x1024 (the res they do natively) will be sufficiently big enough to 'shrink' my toolbars?

Also if I do go the dual monitor route, I'll need a new video card. AGP cards with dual DVI seem to be fairly rare; any suggestions? I presume DVI is the best approach, rather than a cheaper card with 1x DVI and 1x D-Sub connection and using one monitor as DVI and one as D-Sub (or even converting the DVI to D-Sub to get dual D-Sub) ?

[Moses]

I was seriously considering one of these, but two of them would be awesome!

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[mdr]

Don't go for less than DVI with LCD panels, as the quality won't be there. Matrox do DVI dual head video card (check there web site). Alternatively get a PCI DVI card, but make sure that your AGP DVI card is compatible with dual monitor display.

[Moses]

I have to wonder though, why some of these manufacturers put speakers in their monitors--especially their high-end monitors.

Being an audio enthusiast too, there is no way I would ever want to use those little speakers built in to the monitor. They couldn't possibly sound all that good. :rolleyes:

[George Chew]

Greetings,
2 are better than 1. I will never go back to a single monitor again, even if I can afford the Apple 30" Cinema Display...

[Belmondo]

I have two monitors, two computers, and a KVM switch that allows me to use the monitors with either PC.

My main monitor is a 22" LaCie, and I also have a 20" flat panel. It's possible to have both screens running on either computer, or one screen on each. The box that I use for most of my post-processing has a Matrox Parhelia video card.