medhunter, on 08 January 2013 - 13:59, said:
I have HP Laptop (In my signature) with 15.6'' LED HD display which I bought as a desktop replacement.It has one VGA and one HDMI ports.
*I have a 24'' TV (LED Full HD) connected via VGA port.I bought it originally as expansion for the small 15.6 display when I was abroad.I sometimes Hook it to my XBox360
*I also have another 20'' LCD Display (supports VGA only).
I see alot of Multi-Monitor setup and have two questions
A) How can I maximize the benefit of the two moitors? i.e, Why Exactly do you use dual monitor setup?
Is there really more fun and productivity?or it is just mythical?
B) Is it as easy as just just plugging them (one for HDMI, the other for VGA)?
N.B: I use Ubuntu and Windows 7.
a; They can lead to more productive use. However, there is usually a lot you can do with a single monitor setup to increase production levels. For example, learning some basic keyboard shortcuts can be much faster then clicking several buttons and moving windows around. While a multi-monitor might help in some cases, keyboard shortcuts can still be far faster and more productive. Also, since you're using a laptop, a multi-monitor setup is really only useful at home, or at least where the monitors are setup. You'd find it more productive if you bought a proper keyboard and mouse to plug in and use, if you've not already.
however, in saying that there are uses for a dual monitor setup that are simply very good but often over looked. For example, you say you use Ubuntu and Windows 7. If for example, you ran Ubuntu in a virtual machine, full screen on your 2nd monitor, you could have an additional keyboard and mouse attached and hooked to that virtual machine giving you a 2nd machine fully working machine without the need to ctrl+alt, alt+tab out.. or indeed dual boot.
For others, such as coders, it's not to have your code and development view on it's own monitor.. again you could use the 2nd as a virtual machine to run the development system and deploy directly on to the 'machine' in its own right .. or simply keep it clean on its own monitor. For coders its nice to have the little extra space.
If you work with photographs in the likes of photoshop you may find it easier to have your art on one side so you can simply drag across and place rather then importing manually or taskbar dragging all the time. This can save 10-30 second on each import.
Loads of different ways to use multi monitor setups, but don't get one thinking it'll automatically make you productive you really need a task that you'll use them for.
One last note, windows 8 is a bit annoying if you try to use apps and desktop programs as it switches monitors depending where you are using them. Still, once you get used to it's annoyance you can predict it and somewhat overcome that problem.
b; depends on the laptop to be honest. a lot of the chipsets only let you use one or the other, but plug them in and see. Windows should detect them on a reboot.
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