multiplemonitorguru

It's only when someone gets a multiple monitor computer do they ever really get set free. Free from the headache of squinting eyes trying to pry through the fields of tabs or windows in the task bar. Having a multi screen application has freed me from such head trauma and I have since found the meaning of life on the Internet. It's not necessarily all about multi-tasking or even the extended ease of use that you gain when you have dual monitor software. Mainly it has given me the option to look further than I had ever gone before by giving me another window to work withI think many people would imagine a dual monitor setup to be expensive or even high tech, but in fact it really isn't all that difficult to set up and experience your favorite dual monitor backgrounds. Desktop PC's have become a staple in our home, office and for many life even. Why not go ahead and take a step forward and turn your single monitor computer into a Multi-monitor display that can add light and art to your space.

I often think of those people that use trading computers to make their living. I bet it sure is nice to sit at home and watch CNBC all day and make thousands of dollars in the process. Having spoken to a many of them, it originally surprised me that even they don't use multi monitor software to get their wall of stocking monitors up and going. In fact many of them start just I did buy adding just one extra monitor with a dual monitor cable of some sort. Some are OK but there's really only one worth spending your hard earned money on and that's the Matrox adapter available for free shipping at Super-PC.com. Sometimes I think that they were born with a multi monitor taskbar because they specialize in setting up dual monitors on virtually any computer still ticking.

Without Multi-monitor displays myself, I wouldn't get near as much stuff done because I run so many applications at once. Excel spreadsheets, blog site surfing and reading, email inbox, recording software open and ready to catch my newest little tune. Not to mention allot of unnecessary stuff to like gossip pages or latest nonsense the world media shoves down our throats on a regular basis. Even-though I may not always appreciate such things, I still get drawn to them like many people do. I guess overall it can be entertaining too. Nevertheless I wouldn't have the time to pay any attention to these things important to me if wasn't for my triple monitor stand. Every since I got my triple monitor setup going I can do about 50% more than I did with the Dual Monitor system I had from years past.

I multitask all day and I'm not using "multitask" in that buzz-term kind of way either. Between all the many,  instant messages, and news updates, it seems like I need one computer for communications and another computer for work. I run several different applications simultaneously and constantly switch among them.
At times, I'm testing an application while taking notes in Microsoft Word. Other times, I'm instant messaging with a friend about a Web page or running Virtual PC to test a procedure in a book I'm editing. Often I'm doing all those things simultaneously. It seems like I waste half the day clicking the taskbar to switch between tasks.
Turns out I didn't need another computer—I just needed another monitor. Windows XP supports using multiple monitors and has the multi-screen feature built in. Dual monitors lets you add a separate monitor to your laptop and view different programs on each display.
In this column, I'll explain how to configure multiple monitors using the Dual screen feature in Windows XP. And I'll help you set up an old laptop as a second monitor by using some cool third-party software that works with Windows XP.
Configure Multi-Monitor and Dualview
If you have a desktop computer and you want multi-screens, your best bet is to buy an external monitor and a second video adapter that supports multiple monitor displays. Here's a list of Supported Display Adapters for Multiple Monitor Display and Dual Monitors. Alternatively, you can upgrade your current video adapter with an adapter that can connect directly to multiple monitors. You can find such video adapters for less than $200 at most electronics stores—just make sure that it's compatible with your computer and has connectors that match the monitors you plan to use.
If you're a laptop user like me, you don't have the option of adding another video adapter, but your laptop might support using Dual Display with an external monitor and the laptop's built-in display. If it does support Dualview, just do what I did: plug a monitor into the external VGA port of your laptop and turn on the Dualview feature of Windows XP. To turn on Dualview, follow these steps:
1.
Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2.
In the DisplayProperties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
3.
Click the Display list and select your external monitor. If you do not see multiple monitors listed, your computer hardware may not support Dualview. You can still use MaxiVista to configure a second computer as an additional display, however.
4.
Select the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor option. Click Apply or OK.
Now I can have different windows open on my laptop's built-in display and the external monitor. I can move windows between the two displays and even stretch windows across both displays. For more information on how to move from one monitor to the other, see Expand Your Workspace with a Multiple Monitor Computer.

I always say that two monitors are better than one
You can never have enough screen space, especially when organizing and working on your digital pictures. Instead of buying a larger monitor, if you're using Windows XP or later, you can buy an inexpensive second monitor and connect it to your computer—instantly doubling your work space. Flat panel LCD monitors look great and will save room on your desk; CRT monitors also work well and can be less expensive but a bit bulky.
There are several different ways you can make use of this extra screen space when working at home or in your office. If you take a lot of digital pictures, some of the advantages to having dual monitors at your work space include:
· When browsing your picture library, you can view the thumbnails on one monitor, and use the second monitor to view pictures full screen to check for proper focus and image quality.
· When editing photos, you can use one monitor to browse the pictures with Windows Explorer or a photo library program, and use the second monitor to edit the pictures with your photo-editing software.
· If you need to stay on top of your e-mail while working, you can keep your inbox open on one monitor and work on your photos on the other.
What you'll need: desktop computer
Many new desktop computers support dual monitors without requiring any additional hardware. To see if you have more than one monitor connection, look at the back of your computer for two Video Graphics Array (VGA) connectors or two Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connectors or one of each.
Most new desktop computers include two connectors to support dual monitors.
If you only have a single VGA or DVI connector, you will need to install a video adapter. You can either install a second video adapter or replace your current video adapter with one that has two VGA or DVI connections. Installing video adapters can be difficult if you're not familiar with the inside of your computer, so you may want to seek assistance from a local computer retailer that offers computer upgrade services.
What you'll need: laptop computer
If you have a laptop computer made in the last several years, you can almost certainly support an external monitor by connecting it to the VGA or DVI connector on the back of your computer. The external monitor can act as a second display to your laptop's built-in display.
Configuring your displaysConnect your second monitor, and then restart your computer so that it detects the new monitor. Once you have restarted your computer, you'll need to adjust your display settings by following these steps:
· Click the Start menu, and then click Control Panel.
· Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Display.
Once you connect your second monitor, you need to adjust your display settings.
· In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
· Click the monitor icon labeled 2, and then select the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor checkbox.
Extend your Windows desktop to your second monitor.
Troubleshooting: If you do not see two monitor icons, your computer might not support multiple monitors. First, make sure that you have Windows XP installed. Then, visit Microsoft Update, click Custom Install, and install any available hardware updates. You may also need to visit your computer manufacturer's Web site to install an updated display driver. If you still do not see two monitor icons, you may need to install an additional display adapter, as described earlier in this article.
· If necessary, drag the monitor icons so that they are arranged in the same way as the monitors on your desk. Click the Identify button to indicate which monitor is 1 and which monitor is 2.
Drag the monitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your dual monitors.
· Click Apply. Windows XP will activate your new monitor.
· Click OK.
A dual screen setup enables you to view the same image side by side.
Once your monitor is set up, you can use your mouse to grab the title bar of a window and drag it to your new display. If a window does not move when you drag it, double-click the title bar first, and then drag it. Having two monitors will forever change the way you work with your computer. Be creative and experiment with the sizing of application windows and what information you can keep in constant view while doing multiple tasks.

Also available are Multi-Monitor/Multi-Screen systems. A Multiple Monitor computer will give you multiple amount of productivity increase.

Reasons I love my Multiple Monitor Computer:

• Multi Tasking needs flow, in order to be productive. As a smart business owner would say, “time is money.” That being said, it’s only wise to value time, and time spent over viewing process and production. Advantages to having a Dual Monitor display is twice that of a single monitor system. The first time I added an additional monitor to my pc, giving it Dual Screens