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pjamme

Join Date 03/2002

What Dual Monitor Software are you Using?

Hi, I have been a single 19" LCD (not wide screen) monitor person for some time, and I just ordered a 22" wide screen pivot-able for a second monitor. Planning on using it vertical for Word & Outlook.

It has occurred to me that there may be a problem setting this second monitor up as far as desktop resolution.

My video card is a Sapphire 9600 with dual DVI so connections aren't the issue.

So I am wondering what everyone uses to set resolution on disparate monitor sizes. I found UltraMon 2.7.1, but it had a warning about black taskbars in Windowblinds. Since I use object Desktop this would be an issue.

Recommendations please,

thanks

Although I mentioned that I would be using the new monitor in the vertical position, I didn't see any comments on rotation. The Samsung Synchmaster came with magic rotation, but not any acceptable resolutions. Ror example if I use 1024x768 for default 19" monitor. There is nothing similar for the other rotated 19" widescreen and everything is distorted. I tried Ultamon, both beta and regular. With the beta whenever I used the minimize button the window expanded to both monitors and then on the second minimize it minimized?? Trial period ran out and I did not purchase, so when I chose close all my desktop icons and Fences disappeared. So disgusted I haven't been back since saturday. I need to uninstall UM and reboot I guess.

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I don't use anything. The Nvidia control panel handles it just fine. You can select resolutions for each monitor independently.

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

I have a 22" LCD monitor and a 37" LCD TV hooked up. I just use the Windows Display Properites and the Settings Tab. You will have to try a few resolutions and find on that works on both monitors. Yours are close in size to one another so it should not be to hard. Your Video card should also have some software to help set up the monitors.

You can use 3rd party software but why bother.

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Zoomba

Join Date 11/2002

+114

Windows (at least XP and later) handle dual monitors easily. You can set each resolution independently in the Display Properties area.

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I use UM with WB and have no issues.

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Wow, less than an hour and four responses. Thanks guys I'll give it a whirl. Monitor should be here today or tomorrow.

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No separate software - not even NVidia one...

OS X handles everything seamlessly

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As noted, XP handles it fine. I have a 19" regular and a 22" widescreen and have them both at their native resolutions with no issues.

That being said, I use DisplayFusion so I can have separate wallpapers on each one.

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+456

That being said, I use DisplayFusion so I can have separate wallpapers on each one.

Or just put them both on one big image and set it to tiled, no extra software needed.

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I am running dual 22" widescreens on XP with a Nvidia GeForce graphics card. I have two programs that I like.

DisplayFusion - good for wallpaper settings and also a few very useful hotkeys

Deskangel - ability to have scroll wheel on mouse work on the window under the cursor (whether it is active or not)

(This is the most useful of the 2)

I think there are other programs that do the scroll thing, but I use Deskangel. I don't use it for any of its other features though.

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John's Background Switcher...it's free and it's the best wallpaper handler for dual+ monitors. I replaced DisplayFusion and Ultramon as wallpaper handlers with this wonderful program.

Ultramon - if you want a separate taskbar per monitor with only the programs running on each monitor displayed there. It's cute, but I never found it all that useful. I have one central/vertical taskbar replacement (ObjectDock zoomer) and that's the fastest, least mouse traveling road for me.

Otherwise, Vista and Window 7 handles multiple monitors just fine. I have 3/4 depending on home/work.

XP has problems with hardware GPU acceleration on the non-primary monitor, so you'll want to keep an eye out for that.

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OS X handles everything seamlessly

Irrelevant. The poster clearly uses an edition of Windows.

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Yeah, I use just plain windows.

In the past I've used Nvidea's or ATI's software that came with the cards in use. (and before that I used something that came with my 3Dfx voodoo cards, I don't remember what it was called)

I've never really used any 3rd party software (except maybe in the case of the voodoo cards, but I know I did get it off a disc that came with them, so it was psudo 1st party at least)

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@Excalpius - do you have a link for your switcher app? I'm always willing to try new things.

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Spartan, you can find it here: http://www.johnsadventures.com/software/backgroundswitcher/

*edit* Kryo: yea, but DisplayFusion allows me to cycle the wallpapers at intervals of my choosing. No extra work required.

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Thanks I'll give it a shot. karma given!

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Thanks, I just assumed you'd Google the program name. It comes up as the first link. Enjoy!

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Within Vista_HP (6001.vistasp1_gdr.080917-1612) own flawless gimmick of 1 or 2.

While sometimes going for a swift pre-configured N-Vidia setup, as long as i can remember to switch the second monitor ON; black screen may just seem empty or off.

Rarely.

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Neilo

Join Date 04/2006

+128

I use Ultramon64 and like it. Have had no issues with it and Vista or WB.

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While most people here still seem to be using XP, I'll add that Vista and Windows 7 also handle dual monitors without any additional software.

In addition, nVidia's software (and I'm sure ATI's as well) also supports dual monitors. I don't use any other third party software.

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Neilo

Join Date 04/2006

+128

I use UM for the taskbar and wallpaper management. Vista does indeed handle it fine as does the Nvidia control panel but UM offers a few extra features that i really like, and it's in no way a resource hog.

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Zyxpsilon, could you translate your post again please? Your Martian->English translator seems to be on the fritz.

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Excalpius? With such a member name you must be from Mars, too!

Translation of what? Must be that the greeny del is burnt up on my second Monitor, cuz i swear when it IS black it doesn't necessarily means it is actually OFF. That sort of fritzee weirdee thinking on my part - again.

Ever since i bought the panoramic 22" LCD, i found myself less inclined into breaking my neck sideways just to stare at an extra (but smaller) 16" CRT even for supplemental Wallpaper staring. That must be it.

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Guys, everytime I see a 'Duel Monitor' topic, I always feel like I should sprout an extra head.

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[quote who="-=XX=-Nephilim" reply="6" id="2062382"]No separate software - not even NVidia one...

OS X handles everything seamlessly [/quote]

Wrong! every bit of hardware requires it's own software to be able to run otherwise how on earth would the hardware know what to do,that my friend is the make up of an OS ,so in simple terms an OS is a stack of smaller programs packed togeather each running in harmony,well sometimes anyway..lol..,yep even a mac can turn to custard

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Ok, the answer is, use nothing unless you want task features on the secondary monitor or if want to expand a single wallpaper across both monitors. If this is the case then Ultramon is the only tool and the best tool to have.

I have been using Ultramon since 2.3 and in Ultramon age, it is a super long time considering version 3.0.3 has been in beta for nearly 2 1/2 years... the program is a on super slow development, but it works great. I have been using multi monitors for almost 8 years now. There are some issues with it but i haven't found any problems with it. Transparency works fine with this version and still have good performance with. But this is only necessary if you need taskbar or wallpaer features. If you choose to get Ultramon, then use the beta version with Vista, becuase it can handle the transparency effects that Vista offers.

Take a look at this screenshot and you will see that the secondary taskbar works just fine.

Considering you purpose for the second monitor you do not need to spend the money for it.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d187/The__Goo/StandardVistaPlain.jpg

Vista Image

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