Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!

Subject: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 08:49 PM

Somebody donated some widescreen monitors to the women's center where I do volunteer work, and that meant I had a number of extra LCD monitors to take to recycling. One was a 15-inch monitor with a rotating screen, so I decided to take that one home for myself.

My main monitor is a 32-inch LCD television, connected to the computer by HDMI, so I connected the little monitor with a VGA cable (with the computer and both monitors turned off, just to be safe). Both monitors worked as soon as I logged onto Windows 8.1, but I had to go to my device/display menu to set which monitor I wanted left and which right, and to rotate the display on the small monitor - the options available are amazing. I haven't tried this in earlier versions of Windows, so I can't guarantee it will work in Windows 7 or earlier. It sure works well in Windows 8.1. It's like having two computers that work in perfect harmony.

There are many times when I want to transcribe something from sheet music, or compare versions of songs. Ind since I register every new Mudcatter, it's nice to be able to copy from their e-mails to a registration form on another screen. I can do it in two windows in my usual monitor, but the windows never seem to be big enough. With a second monitor, it works like a charm.

So, as my patron saint Hubert Humphrey* used to say, I'm "pleased as Punch." I know it's heresy to say nice things about Microsoft, but Microsoft made this work very well.

-Joe-

*Hubert Humphrey is actually my other patron saint. My main patron saint is still Alfred E. Neuman, whose Primary Platitude is, "What? Me worry?" [or "What, me worry?" in later iterations]

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 10:08 PM

Joe, I'm amazed it took you until now to figure this out. I thought by now the entire world works with at least two monitors. Have you seen some of Max's photos of Mudcat central? Monitors everywhere. At the library where I work, it's standard that the IT folks set it up that way at each of our work stations.

You may not have noticed a lack of surface area with that main monitor you're using, it sounds very nice. My home office monitor is 27" and the side one is an old 17 or 19 inch Dell; at work I use a huge old Apple and a new horizontal Dell. Welcome to the world of deteriorating eyesight as you never have to focus more than 25" in front of your face. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 10:46 PM

Oh, I figured it out long ago, but it took a job that really needed two monitors to motivate me to clean my desk to the point where two monitors would fit....

So, now I have to clean the floor.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 11:34 AM

Good for you, Joe.

I don't have room in my small house to set up two screens, but I wish I could. Sometimes I want to transcribe music into Noteworthy, either from YouTube or from a site such as Lester Levy's. Windows XP was fine with it, but my Windows 7 is very inconvenient. As you say, the windows are never big enough. Also, Windows 7 maximizes one or the other at startling, unpredictable intervals.

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 12:00 PM

I've been using two monitors since the late 1980s, when it became possible on Macs. I've usually had one very big one for stuff like music pages and a smaller one for the Finder and other user interface controls. Both were greyscale back when I started. I've never had any problems with the OS, on any MacOS from System 7 on.

I rather miss monochrome. Size and resolution are more important to me than colour.

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: GUEST,ripov
Date: 27 Aug 14 - 10:51 PM

Leenia, it may be you random maximising of windows is a microsoft "feature" which operates when you move the window to the top or bottom of the screen. If it is you can stop this by clicking - Control Panel>Ease of Access>Make the Mouse Easier to use>Prevent windows from being Automatically Arranged ;   and tick the little box. Microsoft is really good at making the most annoying settings the default.

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Aug 14 - 11:22 PM

". I thought by now the entire world works with at least two monitors."

ummmm... One- need . Two- room.

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 14 - 11:27 PM

Bill, my computer and main monitor and printer and scanner and such are on various levels of a computer desk. The second monitor is a bit lower and a few inches to the left on the credenza (aka antique trunk). Needs must find a convenient space, but when you have it, it makes computing easier.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 12:38 AM

About two years ago, I stopped accepting donations of CRT monitors and computers with Windows XP at the women's center. It seemed that people were using us as a dump, and I ended up taking a lot of stuff to Goodwill for electronics recycling.

About that time, we finally started getting donations of 15-inch LCD monitors, so I replaced our CRT monitors as LCDs came in. Now I'm getting donations of widescreen monitors, so I'm starting not to take the little LCD monitors. I offered to set up second monitors for the staff, but nobody wanted one. I think I'll set up one, so they'll see the advantages.

Sure is hard to get the staff to accept new equipment, though. They like the stuff they're used to. I thought I was going to be able to give computers to some of our guests, but there hasn't been much demand. I tried putting Linux on old computers, but there was no way I could give those computers away. Nobody wanted them.

A guy from Hewlett-Packard donated three brand-new laptops and brought in a team to hardwire a network for us - that's a donation I sure didn't turn down.

I used to think it was ungrateful not to accept donations. Now that I'm on the receiving end, I have a different opinion. When people bring me their junk, I don't know what to do with it, and I have no room to store it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 04:53 AM

The local schools somethimes appreciate the boost, Joe.

BTW,shouldn't this one be below the line?

---

Tech is set to go above the line, although I do move a few down if they don't have anything to do with music research. For those of us who transcribe songs, a second monitor is definitely music-related. -Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 05:35 AM

In the days of CRT monitors quite a few people that I worked with used two simply because they needed so much open at once. With larger flat screens they seemed happy with one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 09:53 AM

Joe, you might not realize that the square LCD monitors aren't sold much any more so if you try to find one new they have actually gone up in price. You might want to raise a few dollars for the center by selling those old squarish monitors on eBay. Meanwhile, you might want to find out where the nearest Goodwill electronics recycling truck is parked and direct people there.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 10:32 AM

About 12 years ago I purchased a bunch of well specced XP PCs and monitors
for a project that never happened as intended.
They went into storage.
Occasionally I remember, but have so far not dug them out to see if they still work.
They should be ideal candidates for tryring out AV linux some day.
One of them had a graphics card with outputs for 2 monitors.

I'd hoped to use one monitor for audio sequencer, and the other for wav editing and VST plugins.

I'm still using one of the 17" Crts as my main monitor for this 'workhorse' Win 7 internet PC.

By the side of it is a 22" HD widescreen TV I use as an extension screen for my laptop linked by HDMI.

I gave up trying to figure out how to network and link them.
Too difficult, and not a big priority.

I used to run 2 PCs on the same CRT using a PC, mouse & keyboard switcher.

Now I'm on the lookout for a bigger widescreen monitor in the sales, as the heat output from the CRT
is intolerable in rare UK summer heatwaves.

It's not at all useful that I still have a brand new boxed identical 17" CRT monitor in storage
and no sensible reason to ever need use it.

I admit I'm a hoarder, I loathe throwing things away.

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 10:49 AM

"I admit I'm a hoarder, I loathe throwing things away."

You mean like a Win 3.1 machine with 128? mgs of memory(I forget exactly)... and 2 working SCSI Syquest drives with a dozen cartridges? All it needs is a replacement mouse using an obsolete plug.....

Subject: RE: Tech: Two Monitors - WOW!!!!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 11:09 AM

I've also toyed with 7" Android tablets for the last year or so.
They have real potential as portable multitrack recording devices
with the right apps and USB audio device interfaces.

Problem is even a 7" screen is too small for my deteriorating eyesight.


hmmm... priorities - 24" LED monitor ? eye test for close-up reading glasses ?
new Telecaster style guitar with 3 pickups knocked down less than half price in sales ? .........