Two screens - how does this work?

[Speicher]

£1200? what is she getting? a Mac?
seriously no need to spend that much money.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176482
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164840
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/153088

Done and dusted. less than £500 and that is overkill imo!

Thank you for that link. I agree that £1200 is overkill as it duplicates a lot of what she already has. She will not be cutting and pasting anything particularly complex. I think the company she is trying to deal with is used to talking to small businesses, not elderly ladies writing short stories with a few pictures.

I suppose I am lucky in that near here is a very good computer shop, family run. They are very helpful, and when I had problems with this computer and linking it to another one, they came here, provided the extra components that were needed, with a very very small bill at the end. If it was up to me, I would ask him for advice, but she is determined to use someone local to her (Coventry), thinking that she will get support when something goes wrong.

 

[Norm]

Do you know what is the minimum Mbs, cache memory etc needed to support two screens? I know the spec of her existing computer, and have a copy of the spec from the "new" computer people.

Speicher,

now, before you waste £30 on software, let alone £1200 on new equipment which you don't need!

1. I don't think that your mother needs 2 screens!
2. If she did, I very much doubt that she would need a new computer, especially when recommended by people who don't know what she current uses.
3. Teach your mother alt-tab (if you are using a Windows OS) to switch between two windows on the same screen.
4. The salesman is wrong in saying that you need software to drive two screens and you need the two screens to be the same specifications. If he is wrong in those fundamental aspects, what else has he got wrong?

 

[2Loose]

1. The salesman is wrong in saying that you need software to drive two screens

Pedant Alert :- software would be needed, but this is normally called a 'Graphics Driver' and is free.

 

[Norm]

Pedant Alert :- software would be needed, but this is normally called a 'Graphics Driver' and is free.

Correct of course. Had I not been on the phone, I'd have written "The salesman is wrong in saying that you need to buy software to drive two screens".

 

[gaz]

Pedant Alert :- software would be needed, but this is normally called a 'Graphics Driver' and is free.

depending on your OS this may be something that is already avaliable and thus the need of software is not apparent to the end user.

 

[rh100]

whats wrong with 2 screens? I have 3 on my main PC - no 3 is usually turned off unless required. I believe Terry Pratchett (the author) has about 7!

I find multiple screens very useful and comfortable to use if set up well. Why alt-tab when you can glance over at something?

Windows XP runs multi screens very well - and when enabled - try dragging the screen around in display properties to affect which screen goes where in relation to the mouse moving windows to the right or left of the main screen (or even up and down and fine tuning it).

The main thing is - check if you have dual output for two screens - these will either be a 15 pin (old style - has three rows of round pin sockets in a D shape) or a digital connector (the name escapes me, DVI? - but is longer and narrower than the 15 pin, and has some slot shaped holes rather than all pin shaped) The monitor needs to be able to accept this kind of connection, but if not an adaptor is available cheaply. There would normally be a SVHS connector (round socket with about 5 or 6 pins) for connecting to a standard definition TV - but the resolution is too low to be any use in this case (media use only really).

 

[Speicher]

Thank you Norm and 2Loose for clarifying that. It was the conclusion I was reaching, but my computer knowledge does not extend so far as to put it so concisely.

Yes, I am wondering what else might be wrong about what the salesman is saying. For such a big outlay, I would be using someone I knew.

I think my mother will insist that she needs two screens. One new large screen will be circa £150, which I would prefer to purchase from my local family-run ever so helpful and friendly computer shop.

If she does not get on with two screeens, she has a spare screen, and if I decide to have two screens, I will borrow the spare one back from her.

 

[gavintc]

My son does this quite frequently for his uni course work. He is able to cut and paste from one screen with the reference material into his assignments. I watched him do it a few weeks ago - 2 laptops side by side, not even connected by cable. To me, it was magic, but clearly possible. I would not even begin to know where to start.

 

[marzjennings]

on the cheap you can always add a second (but smaller) usb screen. Just plug and play (if using windows)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MIMO-UM-710-Powered-Swivel-Display/dp/B001L1R9LK/ref=pd_cp_ce_2

For me I can't work without two screens, twin 27 inch monitors and even then I sometimes run out of room.

 

[Speicher]

rh100 - there is nothing wrong with two screens. I just do not think it will solve the problems that my mother believes it will solve for what she wants to do. She thinks she will see one document across two screens. I think she will end up with two screens, because she might not believe what I am saying about it not being necessary. I am trying to find the lowest cost to achieve this.

I saw Mr Pratchett and his multiscreens. Yes, I will look at the output,and the adaptors, thank you for pointing that out.

 

[ColinJ]

Another possibility - huge HD widescreen LCD TVs are getting cheaper all the time. I'm pretty certain that some of them would make excellent monitors and your mum wouldn't have to worry about the split because there wouldn't be one! And of course, she could also use it as a TV.

Here is an example.

 

[Rob3rt]

I didnt read this whole thread because it was really long winded, but in very short.

An extra 17" screen from Cex will set you back about £40-50, plug it into your graphics card (you need 2 outputs on the graphics card, unless you have a higher end card which will drive 2 from one output, whic will require a particular type of connector)

Windows will pop up saying hey there ive found this 2nd monitor plugged in, what you want me to do about it, click extend desktop accross both screens and there you go. Its set up. You can then further customise which monitor you wish to be primary, the resolution of both monitors, and you can alter the possition of the 2nd monitor in relation to your primary so windows will act in such a way to work with your physical possitioning of the screens.

If you want to extend the task bar accross both screens, you can download/buy a piece of software called optimon or ultimon or something like that, which is really nice(I had a free trial, and thought it was excellent, but being a scrooge didnt buy it once trial was over), but not particularly neccessary as windows can do everything a basic user needs.

For web based email, if she opens the reply in a new window(click scroll wheel or right click open in new window etc etc), she can drag one browser to one screen and have one in the other. Although when replying to an email the reply usually contains the previous emails text in a greyed out or somewhat less striking form so there really is no need for it, but if thats what she wants, assuming your graphics card is up to is, its a very easy addition.



Lots of monitors now come with DVI plugs, but older pc's often have VGA support so you will need an adapter, couple of quid.

I use 2x17" DVI monitors on my home pc and at work, 2x24" HDMI widescreen monitors.

 

[Speicher]

on the cheap you can always add a second (but smaller) usb screen. Just plug and play (if using windows)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MIMO-UM-710-Powered-Swivel-Display/dp/B001L1R9LK/ref=pd_cp_ce_2

For me I can't work without two screens, twin 27 inch monitors and even then I sometimes run out of room.

May I ask how big is your desk? and how far away from them are you sitting? this would give me an idea of how much space is needed. She has a wide desk, but it is not particularly deep.

Please excuse me now, while I go to Tesco on-line and order my choc biskits, and porridge etc etc. You are all being very helpful.

 

[Speicher]

Windows will pop up saying hey there ive found this 2nd monitor plugged in, what you want me to do about it, click extend desktop accross both screens and there you go. Its set up. You can then further customise which monitor you wish to be primary, the resolution of both monitors, and you can alter the possition of the 2nd monitor in relation to your primary so windows will act in such a way to work with your physical possitioning of the screens.

Yes, I like that idea! Sounds like I could manage that!

If you want to extend the task bar accross both screens, you can download/buy a piece of software called optimon or ultimon or something like that, which is really nice(I had a free trial, and thought it was excellent, but being a scrooge didnt buy it once trial was over), but not particularly neccessary as windows can do everything a basic user needs.

She is a "basic" user.

I use 2x17" DVI monitors on my home pc and at work, 2x24" HDMI widescreen monitors.

Thankyou

 

[rh100]

rh100 - there is nothing wrong with two screens. I just do not think it will solve the problems that my mother believes it will solve for what she wants to do. She thinks she will see one document across two screens. I think she will end up with two screens, because she might not believe what I am saying about it not being necessary. I am trying to find the lowest cost to achieve this.

I saw Mr Pratchett and his multiscreens. Yes, I will look at the output,and the adaptors, thank you for pointing that out.

I agree with you and the others - a single document spread across two screens is possible but not pretty. But if she could get used to positioning different windows on the monitors - two screens can be usefull - if not for the email then the writing - web browser on one and Word in the other (or even iplayer or media player on one of them).

However - if you think one is enough - then try this for her as it may be simpler. Open just the required windows - then right click the task bar and select Tile Windows Vertically or Tile Windows Horizontally - this will resize your windows to fit the screen together - play around with it and see if it helps.