Topic: dual monitors

[pmvliet]

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

[jwisherd]

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.

[ProtoCop]

Thank you all for your help.  It has been highly informative and educational.  I'll let you know if anything happens.

[sinc]

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"... 

[Draftek]

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.

[pmvliet]

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:

[Slim©]

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:

[ProtoCop]

http://
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.

[craigr]

http://
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

[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"... 

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

[Dommy2Hotty]

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    my employers weren't swayed by this...

[chance]

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.....

[craigr]

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

[sinc]

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...

[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...

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