Topic: dual monitors

[ProtoCop]

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). 
Any experience I have with dual monitors is so far out of date as to be useless.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!

[Dommy2Hotty]

Less time alt-tabbing between ACAD and your browser...surf WHILE working!!!

[Bob Wahr]

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.

[Birdy]

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

[CADaver]

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.

[Slim©]

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.

[ProtoCop]

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!

[Slim©]

You can always try for the 24" widescreen LCD, and watch movies in the evening.

[Mark]

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!

[Arizona]

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.

[Bealerusa]

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.

[Chuck Gabriel]

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.

[CADaver]

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.

[Mark]

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.

[CADaver]

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