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Dual Monitors OR one Large Monitor?

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I would appreciate any comments on whether to buy 2 (smaller) matching monitors or one larger monitor. Used for photo editing & viewing (Lightroom & Photoshop) as well as general home/office use.

Currently I have two 17" (old, non-widescreen) screens, and find the two screens very useful in Lightroom etc. I think I would miss the second screen, even if a single replacement screen was 24", although the newer widesreen format may well help. Does anyone have any experience of this.

My limitations are limited desktop space for two large monitors, and if two monitors, one would have to be VGA while the other DVI. Budget no more than £450 (UK pounds).

Thank you, for any comments.
 
I use a 1680x1050 and a 1280x1024. Works pretty well.

In your case keep one of the smaller ones and buy a good quality 1920x1200 monitor. Gives a perfect dual monitor solution. Look for color accuracy. If you can/want to spend a bit more money look for an EIZO.

The only real alternative would be a 2560x1600 resolution monitor. Very expensive and less resolution than 1920 + 1280.

ps. Try to find a monitor with the same dpi like the one you keep. It is more appealing to the eye if icons have roughly the same size on both monitors.
 
In a recent UK TV programme, documenting his trying to cope with the onset of Alzheimers, he was shown working with 7 large monitors in his room, on both desktop and hung on the wall.

He said someone asked him why he had 7 monitors.

I loved his reply.

"Because there isn't room for any more"

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
Well,

With 2 17" monitors:

Cons
More energy consumption
More taxing on the GPU
Probably lower quality/accuracy
Takes up a lot of space and an extra plug

Pros
More overall resolution and working room
Convenient separation of tasks (You could have work on one, play on the other)

With 1 large monitor (20" - 24")

Cons
Expensive
Less overall resolution
Everything's on 1 screen

Pros
Less energy consumption
Probably higher quality/accuracy
Less clutter for your desk & easier transport

I'd love to run a dual-monitor setup if I found another 17" monitor for cheap but I, myself, am thinking of going with a large HD monitor. I've noticed that my older 17" monitor has poor contrast and very bad black clipping. I'd rather have a large HD monitor with accurate colors and good contrast than 2 mediocre monitors.

You can get a good 22" or 23" monitor for under $200.
--
my personal website: http://www.sagebrushfire.com

DeviantART: http://sixthcrusifix.deviantart.com
 
I did the same: kept my Samsung 19 inch and added an HP LP2475w 24 inch. The pixel pitch is slightly smaller on the 24 inch (so if I drag a window from the 19 inch to the 24 inch it gets a bit smaller) but I don't find this a problem. I rarely have windows spanning two monitors - I find the gap a bit annoying.
--
Simon
 
Trying to decide is two monitor setup is really wirth the bother. Currently using 2209WA (1680x1050 as my main (and only) monitor. I have a smaller 1366x768 19" monitor available to me. My nVidia GTS240 video card is capable of dual-monitor operation.

Can you give some examples where the dual-monitor setup really makes a difference.
 
Since you already have the monitor and the dual output video card, why not just try it. It should only take a few minutes to attach the monitor and extend your desktop to it in Windows. Note that if you connect the second monitor with the computer running, you'll have to reboot for it to become available for use in Windows.
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Takes more than just "a few minutes" but I might give it a try. Just wondering what dual monitor setup would do for me before investing any time.
--
Gerry
 
If you don't have two DVI outputs, you aren't ready to go dual-monitor anyway. Analog ouptus are IMO not suitable for critical work, especially when you have a DVI-driven display next to it showing just what you are missing.
--

Pentax K20D w/Sigma 10-20, DA*16-50, FA50-1.4, Sigma 70-2.8 Macro, DA55-300, and DA18-250
 
I find it very useful to have Outlook on one monitor, so that my email and/or diary are visible, while researching / writing on the other screen.

Secondly I find it invaluable to be typing up in Word etc., on one sreen, while my study (be it internet or my library browser) is on the other screen. Using just one screen it takes time & is distracting to flick back & forth between windows.

While a large widescreen may well address both the above uses, for photo processing the ability of Lightroom to use two sceens make them worthwhile. I use my VGA screen for grid view & filtering. It is good enough for searching through my library, while the better DVI screen I use for Loupe. developing etc.

BTW before getting Lightroom the various editing control boxes etc that clutter up Photoshop (Elements in my case) could be dragged to the second (VGA monitor) leaving more (& uncluttered) space for photo editing.

Hope this is of some help.
 
Excellent post, thank you.

I'm with Terry Pratchett (when monitors cost the same as wallpaper!!!!)
 
You suggestion is much appreciated, and I think I will try this route.

I can see the older, smaller monitor on the VGA being used for sundry items (what I indicated in a post below), while the new monitor on DVI, be used for the image & colour important tasks - Lightroom etc.

Thank you
 
I have to agree with you, next to a good monitor on DVI, a VGA display is very poor. At present I am limited by my current computer system (a docking station, so I cannot simply swap out the graphics card). When I am in a possition to upgrade it has to be dual DVI.
 
It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes (unless your computer boots really slowly, then add another minute or two) if the dual out video card is already in your PC and working.
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As long as the new monitor is on DVI, the old 17" should be fine on VGA. I have three 17" LCD monitors on my work PC, and some are connected via DVI and some via VGA, and they all look identical. In fact, yesterday I switched 1 of the DVI's to VGA and there was no difference.
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I have dual monitors as well and like it very much.

In PS I have all the tools and windows on one monitor and the basic program with the images on the other.
In LR I use the 2nd monitor button all the time.

The only reason I'm considering getting one 30" is because I've never quite gotten both monitors to fully match each other when I calibrate them.
Especially in the red channel.

This would be easier with just one display.
I'm eying the 30" HP.

--
PhotoGo
 
  1. Someone suggested a 2650x1600 (30") LCD. This class of monitor will require a dual-link DVI (not the same as 2x DVI) video card, which will be a considerable additional expense.
  2. dual-monitor DVI and VGA (analogue) - there is no problem with this dual-screen setup whatsoever. Modern LCDs will lock to the analogue (VGA) video very nicely.
  3. dual-monitor CRT and LCD - don't do this, you won't be happy. Use two LCDs for dual-monitor rather than mixing CRT and LCD. The differences between the LCD and CRT displays in brightness and clarity (convergence, etc.) will drive you bonkers.
  4. absolutely borrow or purchase a monitor calibration device. In the colonies, a Spyder 3 can be had for around US $150. You will want to calibrate your monitors for reasonable photo editing, and you will additionally want to calibrate your monitors so that they match. If they don't match, then which monitor will you use for photo editing and adjustment ? Once you have the monitor colour profiles generated, you no longer need the monitor calibration device or the software used to generate them (until time for recalibration).
Good luck!

-- Bob Elkind
Family,in/outdoor sports, landscape, wildlife
photo galleries at http://eteam.zenfolio.com
my relationship with my camera is strictly photonic
 
bob elkind said:
  1. Someone suggested a 2650x1600 (30") LCD. This class of monitor will require a dual-link DVI (not the same as 2x DVI) video card, which will be a considerable additional expense.
Click to expand...
Today, even many cheap ($35) video cards have dual-link DVI with support for 2650x1600. Dual-link is almost, but not entirely, standard for DVI outputs these days.

Here's a really cheap one ($21 after rebate with free shipping).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121344

--
 
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