TheSwamp
CAD Forums => CAD General => Topic started by: ProtoCop on July 24, 2006, 05:46:16 PM
-
It has been like pulling eye teeth to get management to get off the check book and replace fuzzy, all but dead, CRT’s with 19” LCD’s. For a company of 40 people, we are now up to 15 LCD monitors (3 of which went to top brass).
This morning the principle blew me away. He told me that if I could justify dual monitors with a 20% increase in efficiency, he would consider dual monitors (at least for the CAD staff). :-o
Any experience I have with dual monitors is so far out of date as to be useless. Can you say monochrome text monitor?
We’re running Windows XP Professional and AutoCAD 2006.
I would love to here any ideas on how dual monitors would increase productivity.
Thanks in advance!
-
Less time alt-tabbing between ACAD and your browser...surf WHILE working!!!
-
with dual monitors, toolbars, etc. can be on one monitor, the drawing on another. Increased drawing area means less zooming and panning.
If you do any application switching (word/excell, word/acad exell/acad, acad/IE, whatever) you can have on application on each screen allowing looking between them to go faster.
-
For me, I now keep my properties and palletts open on #2. That means faster editing, and way less time panning and zooming around. Personally though I couldn't quantify it. (the savings, that is.)
Dualies requires a graphics card thatll allow it. For a company of 40 people, we are now up to 15 LCD monitors (3 of which went to top brass).
Of those 15 LCD's how many are in the CAD dept?
If not many, then dont waste your time. They dont get it.
Upgrades should go to those who are the most demanding on technology (ie, CAD) and the "brass" should get their hand-me-downs. YMMV
-
He told me that if I could justify dual monitors with a 20% increase in efficiency, he would consider dual monitors (at least for the CAD staff).
Sorry dude, that'll be very difficult to verify. We did a test here with a small group, 3 with dual 3 with single, then switched after a month. That small sampling showed no appreciable production improvement, but users “said” they felt less fatigued using dual monitors. (Which was very interesting considering the complaints we got trying to set up the monitors for each users comfort.) The results may be a little different over a longer time span with more users, but these times were considerably less than expected.
Another interesting side note, our Msta users showed around a 6%-8% production gain with dual monitors over single, presumably due to different input methods between the different software.
-
I've been to a few interviews lately, and I have noticed that most places are going to the dual 19" LCDs. Although there was one guy that had a 24" wide screen LCD with a 17"LCD for his work station. To me it seems like the direction that CAD departments are heading, that is to have dual 19" LCDs.
-
DANG! you guys are fast!
Of those 15 LCD's how many are in the CAD dept?
They hooked up the CAD staff, first. Then grabbed ones for themselves. Unfortunately, the "hand-me-downs" where long over due for replacement, and now are not fit for human consumption.
Thanks for the advice, and keep it rolling in!
-
You can always try for the 24" widescreen LCD, and watch movies in the evening. :evil:
-
He told me that if I could justify dual monitors with a 20% increase in efficiency, he would consider dual monitors (at least for the CAD staff).
Sorry dude, that'll be very difficult to verify. We did a test here with a small group, 3 with dual 3 with single, then switched after a month. That small sampling showed no appreciable production improvement, but users “said” they felt less fatigued using dual monitors. (Which was very interesting considering the complaints we got trying to set up the monitors for each users comfort.)
I think a lot of it depends on the user too. I have dual monitors ( 20"'s ) at work but I use them. I didn't find setting up two monitors to my "comfort level" difficult at all, matter of fact it took like 3 minutes if memory serves, I'll give XP a nod for that. To use C3D you almost have to have dual screens, the friggin dialogs have to be fairly large just to make them useful and there's few of them too!
-
Another interesting side note, our Msta users showed around a 6%-8% production gain with dual monitors over single, presumably due to different input methods between the different software.
This is because dual monitors is a necessity for Microstation users, if you want any drawing area at all.
-
Dual 19" ViewSonics. Well worth all the knee time begging. Having the ability to have wide open spaces for drawing and palettes open on the other is almost too nice for words. I also cannot put a Number on it, but I know that I go home a lot less cranky at the end of the day. Less cranky Cad = better mojo for everyone. I know, not much help, just opinions.
-
I keep two sessions of AutoCAD going most of the time, one for drawings that I'm actually working on on my primary screen, and one for reference drawings on my secondary screen.
Saves a lot of ctrl-tabbing, plus you can actually see your work and your references simultaneously. Makes me more productive and more happy.
-
I think a lot of it depends on the user too. I have dual monitors ( 20"'s ) at work but I use them. I didn't find setting up two monitors to my "comfort level" difficult at all, matter of fact it took like 3 minutes if memory serves, I'll give XP a nod for that. To use C3D you almost have to have dual screens, the friggin dialogs have to be fairly large just to make them useful and there's few of them too!
We are jammed in pretty tight and getting space for 2 monitors that was comfortable for each user (and still left some desk top open) required a fair amount of trial and error. And YES its nice to move all the pallets and menu junk to one monitor and leave the drawing space on the other, but we didn't see any makred improvment in productivity, certainly no where near 20%. I'm currently using a new 24" wide format at home, and I think thats the direction we're going to move around here. It gives you the extra monitor space needed for the newer interfaces, and still leaves a fair amount of screen for drawing.
-
I think a lot of it depends on the user too. I have dual monitors ( 20"'s ) at work but I use them. I didn't find setting up two monitors to my "comfort level" difficult at all, matter of fact it took like 3 minutes if memory serves, I'll give XP a nod for that. To use C3D you almost have to have dual screens, the friggin dialogs have to be fairly large just to make them useful and there's few of them too!
We are jammed in pretty tight and getting space for 2 monitors that was comfortable for each user (and still left some desk top open) required a fair amount of trial and error.
OOP's ... now I see! :-)
Apologies for the mis-understanding Randy.
-
OOP's ... now I see! :-)
Apologies for the mis-understanding Randy.
No problem, I too, sometimes forget that my people have a much tighter area in which to work, seeing as how I have this spacious office (http://www.theswamp.org/screens/cadaver/smilie/yeahright.gif)
-
As with what everyone else says, it's hard to quantify a 5-10 or even 20% gain in productivity with dual monitors. But being that I have had duals for at least 2 years, I would not go back. When I work on a laptop or someone else's single monitor I keep looking for the 2nd monitor.
AutoCad utilizes the dual better then Microstation because Microstation does not let you take toolbars/pallettes outside of the main window like AutoCad does.
If you do a lot of file management stuff, the 2nd monitor helps to have two windows with file directories.
I do work off of PDF's, Images and other types of reference files and having the reference file open on one monitor and work on the other pays for itself very quickly. You don't need to print it out and it's right there for you to look at, zoom, pan etc...
The downside, is that it is more expensive. A video card that can handle two monitors and then two monitors. To save money, use an older CRT as the second. Even a 15" will make a difference...
Pieter
-
I run multiple monitors at home, which works well for multiple applications, or a larger work pallet. But you also need to keep in mind, betting dual monitors isn't just getting the monitors. You need a video card that can push both of them, and you need to have a machine that can support everything you are useing. I actually just removed my second monitor at home due to limited space.....but then again, they were crt's and not the newer sleek ones. If the choice were up to me, I would rather have a 21" monitor than duals......and if there is extra cash, addtional ram, which will improve the speed at which cad responds.....increasing your productivity.
-
Thank you all for your help. It has been highly informative and educational. I'll let you know if anything happens.
-
To me it seems like the direction that CAD departments are heading, that is to have dual 19" LCDs.
Nah, a 20" or 21" screen can get the 1600x1200 resolution that a 19" can't get. That makes a huge difference in Autocad. I would go for at least one 20" screen, and would take one 20" and one 17" over two 19" any day. Of course, two 21" sounds better... ^-^
Can't even imagine one of those 24"... (http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/party/party0009.gif)
-
wow, timely post for me, We had an extra 50 - 19" monitors the last two years (don't ask) and now the IT dept. has to take them away and issue new computers with a single 19" monitor.
I don't know about the productivity but I can tell you I have a bunch of unhappy users at the moment.
-
wow, timely post for me, We had an extra 50 - 19" monitors the last two years (don't ask) and now the IT dept. has to take them away and issue new computers with a single 19" monitors.
That really sucks for the users.... I would not be a happy camper.... :pissed:
-
Well, for now I'm back to a single 19". The Director of CADD Operations (CADD Manager) is a good friend and is working at getting all CADD stations with either two 19"s or a 24" widescreen. Ohh so cool. :kewl:
-
WOO HOO!
IT just installed my duallies. He told me when he made the order, but I wouldn't believe it until I saw the truck load of monitors actually show up. Thanks again for all of your help. My "justification paper" did the trick.
-
WOO HOO!
IT just installed my duallies. He told me when he made the order, but I wouldn't believe it until I saw the truck load of monitors actually show up. Thanks again for all of your help. My "justification paper" did the trick.
Well, I WAS going to tell you that the 20% was his way of getting you off his back about the dual monitors. 20% is a HUGE increase in productivity that would be VERY tough to reach, unless you were just 'coasting' and not putting out anywhere near your ability.
But, I guess I was wrong, (again).
Congrats on getting them, you will learn to love working with both. It makes life SO much easier.
craigr
-
To me it seems like the direction that CAD departments are heading, that is to have dual 19" LCDs.
Nah, a 20" or 21" screen can get the 1600x1200 resolution that a 19" can't get. That makes a huge difference in Autocad. I would go for at least one 20" screen, and would take one 20" and one 17" over two 19" any day. Of course, two 21" sounds better... ^-^
Can't even imagine one of those 24"... (http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/party/party0009.gif)
1600x1200 resolution?!!
How do you read the status bar at the bottom of your CAD? And the popup menus?
I run my resolution at 800x600 on 19" Monitors, simply because I can't get the CAD status bar & popup menus font size to increase.
That's one of my biggest gripes about CAD. I don't care what the icons look like, but I HAVE to be able to read the status bar.
craigr
-
Haven't been following this thread, but I heard something on the radio that related to this:
Employers can increase productivity by up to 65% by purchasing employees 30" monitors...
Sadly :cry: my employers weren't swayed by this...
-
wow....I love dual 21's or 19's in fact this is the first job where I have one monitor and it's driving me nuts.....I have worked on duals in Autocad/Archicad/Bentley and I miss it so damn much....I am trying to convince management here...and it's been tuff...but I am almost there....I have a buddy who has 4.....he uses P-Eng and Solid....he say he can't live with out 3....oh well that's just me.....
-
3 monitors!!!
I would LOVE a third monitor & would use it alot. But I'm sure I also couldn't get it past management.
I doubt they would let me even if I provided it myself.
craigr
-
1600x1200 resolution?!!
How do you read the status bar at the bottom of your CAD? And the popup menus?
I run my resolution at 800x600 on 19" Monitors, simply because I can't get the CAD status bar & popup menus font size to increase.
That's one of my biggest gripes about CAD. I don't care what the icons look like, but I HAVE to be able to read the status bar.
craigr
Could it be your eyesight? :-)
You should have absolutely no problem reading status bar & popup menus at 1280x1024 resolution on a 19" LCD monitor, unless your eyesight is failing you...
At 1600x1200, I have no problem at all reading anything on my 20" LCD, and I REALLY like the large screen... Dual-monitors are definitely nice, but being able to have at least one giant window open is also nice...
-
1600x1200 resolution?!!
How do you read the status bar at the bottom of your CAD? And the popup menus?
I run my resolution at 800x600 on 19" Monitors, simply because I can't get the CAD status bar & popup menus font size to increase.
That's one of my biggest gripes about CAD. I don't care what the icons look like, but I HAVE to be able to read the status bar.
craigr
Could it be your eyesight? :-)
You should have absolutely no problem reading status bar & popup menus at 1280x1024 resolution on a 19" LCD monitor, unless your eyesight is failing you...
At 1600x1200, I have no problem at all reading anything on my 20" LCD, and I REALLY like the large screen... Dual-monitors are definitely nice, but being able to have at least one giant window open is also nice...
Well I have a bad case of 46 year old eyes. I use the reading glasses for reading paper, but don't want to use them to read the monitors, so I keep my resolution at 800x600. - And YES it sucks!
craigr
-
Civil 3D very nearly mandates having two monitors Mine are twin 17 inchers and there s very little space I am using that is taken up with "fluff". All of the dialogs I have open on the first screen are used constantly in an average editing session. Additionally I have the lesser used, but hard to remember where to find them, flyouts locked in position and set to autohide.
-
[...]
Well I have a bad case of 46 year old eyes. I use the reading glasses for reading paper, but don't want to use them to read the monitors, so I keep my resolution at 800x600. - And YES it sucks!
craigr
If you increase the resolution and also change the DPI in your driver settings, you still can read everything without glasses and everything looks much better. (But if your eyes are really that bad, you probably don't see the lines any more. :) )
-
Looks like 19" LCDs have dropped down into the sub-$200 range... and good 20" are in the high $300's...
LCD prices are dropping almost as fast as CPU prices... :-D