When I’m working onsite with a client though I’m almost always packing in a Dell 17" LCD monitor with me to setup and work with while there. You see, I’ve started working with dual-monitors and now I can’t hardly stand to work without them. Thus always carrying around a monitor in addition to my laptop bag. I do get a few looks from people that either think I’m stealing a monitor. Many of them I’m sure have never worked with dual-monitors though and just don’t get it.

The ability to have in my case 32"+ of screen real-estate is extremely valuable to me. I’m not worried about travelling light and mobile with the smallest netbook in my pocket. I’m interested in having as much computing power as I can, including monitor, in as portable a fashion as I can imagine. That doesn’t necessarily mean light.  What’s more important to me is quick and easy deployment.

I’ve been working on an idea for a self-standing monitor case that would protect the screen during transport and unfold around it to serve as a stand when you’re setup. Of course that is until someone develops me a laptop like this one.

Since I’m unpacking and packing up almost daily, I’m more interested in a monitor where the cables are quick to attach, remove and store. The same goes with other peripherals too, but improving the experience for those of us addicted to working with two monitors would be my priority.

Post from: EveryJoe

Working with Dual-Monitors Is a Must

While I went through the customizations of the Dell Inspiron Mini 9, I was amused to find “External Monitor” listed among “Accessories”. This may be a singular case specific to netbooks because watching a movie on a 8.5″ screen is far less convenient than watching it on a 19″ external monitor, though it is better than watching it on a cell phone screen. Anyway, I already use an external monitor at home; I connect my Lenovo T60 to a 21″ LG LCD Wide screen to watch any video. I am not the first one to do so.

I must confess that I don’t really need an external monitor for any other purpose because my workspace is usually clean with very few open applications. It is just that there is a significant experience gradient in between the two while watching videos. If you have a cluttered workspace, consider a second monitor. And if you’re selling your desktop and going for a laptop, don’t be too hasty in getting rid of the monitor.

Setting your PC to use dual monitors: After connecting the second monitor to your PC — display cable to the CPU and power cable to the power supply — open Control Panel -> Display -> Settings. In the settings tab, click on the drop-down to select the second option and tick beside “Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor”. You might have to also tune the “Screen resolution” and the “Color quality”. Apply these settings, and you will be able to drag applications from one screen to the other. The secondary monitor logically is by default to the right of the primary monitor regardless of the side on which it is physically located. You can move the “1″ and “2″ rectangles around each other to suit your requirements.

Post from: EveryJoe

Use Dual Monitors