Issue 47.09
I remember walking into my son-in-laws office a few years ago and noticing he had two computer monitors, side by side. I asked him about it and he indicated that it was helping him be much more efficient – plus it was fun. As soon as I could afford it, I set my system up the same way and have never gone back.
When I am writing, it is very nice to have my research (websites, documents, spreadsheets, etc) on one screen and the document I am writing on the other. I can easily drag and drop quotes and other information from one to the other without closing or minimizing windows just to see one or the other. I keep a to-do list on the less-used monitor to help me stay on track but without interfering with my actual work.
The requirements for this configuration are fairly simple. For computers less than five years old, you can generally do it with two things – an extra monitor and a video card that is designed to run two monitors at the same time. You need to be careful to get a card that supports two monitors with discrete (or separate) output, not one that just feeds the same signal to two monitors.
Often these cards will come with two HDMI outputs or one HDMI and one VGA. HDMI ports are usually white and rectangular with a bunch of holes (or pins) and blades (or slots). VGA ports are almost always blue and have three rows of pins (or holes), 5 each for a total of 15. Additionally, these cards my have an s-video port (round) that can go to VCR or TV and sometimes a cable TV input (which gives you another use for the second screen).
The cards are available at most electronics outlets and run from $60-$200 depending on the speed and memory capability. High-end gaming cards can run $500-$700, and I have seen super high-end cards around $1700. Flat panel monitors have dropped in price and run from $100-$300 for 15” to 24” sizes. Many people match the second monitor to the first so they look like a matched set. You can also pick up a used tube-type as your second monitor from most repair people or thrift stores. I have a bunch of them I sell cheap. That’s what I use, and it works very well.
Have fun, stay safe and happy computing – and always have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has been in the computer industry for 28 years (locally with Musicomp & Bits ‘N’ Bytes) and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions, you can reach him at 668-7118.