I recently purchased a 22" 1600x1050 monitor. I have a 17" monitor on
my laptop with the same resolution. Basically, I just have a larger
viewer area with the same realestate.

I develop software and want more space to view open windows. The
difference in price between a 22" 1600x1050 ($400) monitor and a 24"
1920x1200 ($700) monitor is about $300. Are the differences in real
estate going to be that great? Is it worth the price in other words?
No stores around me have the larger monitor to see what it looks like.

Does any one preferences on a name brand for the the 24" size?

Thanks,
Brett

brett wrote:
> I recently purchased a 22" 1600x1050 monitor. I have a 17" monitor
> on my laptop with the same resolution. Basically, I just have a
> larger viewer area with the same realestate.
>
> I develop software and want more space to view open windows. The
> difference in price between a 22" 1600x1050 ($400) monitor and a 24"
> 1920x1200 ($700) monitor is about $300. Are the differences in real
> estate going to be that great? Is it worth the price in other
> words? No stores around me have the larger monitor to see what it
> looks like.
>
> Does any one preferences on a name brand for the the 24" size?

Think of it this way...

If your icons take up 32x32 pixels... And the spacing on any side of them
is 43 pixels to the next icon...

21 icons across for your current monitor (22").
25 or so for the 24" monitor.

Truthfully - for anyone who uses their computer as a professional - multiple
monitors are the way to go IMHO.
Two 22" monitors would probably give you what you need and in a better way
than one monitor ever could - even widescreen alone won't do as well.

Taking my icon example...
42 icons for the dual 22" monitor setup.
25 for a single 24" monitor.
With your pricing - $800 for two 22" or $700 for one 24".
Of course - this assumes your current video card (if new - it probably does)
supports dual monitors.
Dual DVI being your current best choice.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Thanks Shenan. That's good advice on the two 22" monitors. I bought
my HP laptop in Aug 2004. I'm not sure how I'd get two monitors going
on it. I'm running the laptop lcd and the Samsung 22" now. There
isn't another video port for a second monitor.

Another issue if I do end up with three monitors: how do I get the
mouse to move across three monitors without all of the scrolling? Is
there any software to help with this?

Also, how can I find out the max resolution my current video card will
support? I have it maxed out at 1680x1050.

Two 22" monitors will consume more energy but probably not much more
than the 24". Do you think two 22" monitors will be noticable on my
electric bill? I also have them plugged into the same wall outlet,
along with the laptop. Unfortunately, that's the only outlet I have
nearby.

Thanks,
Brett

I cannot specifically idvise using a laptop;
With a desktop its easy
http://realtimesoft.com/
or www.Matrox.com
The mouse operates the same way as if a single screen, just move it
Windows can be draged across screens or by keybd Hot Keys, its usually an
option of your multi monitor vid driver

"brett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks Shenan. That's good advice on the two 22" monitors. I bought
> my HP laptop in Aug 2004. I'm not sure how I'd get two monitors going
> on it. I'm running the laptop lcd and the Samsung 22" now. There
> isn't another video port for a second monitor.
>
> Another issue if I do end up with three monitors: how do I get the
> mouse to move across three monitors without all of the scrolling? Is
> there any software to help with this?
>
> Also, how can I find out the max resolution my current video card will
> support? I have it maxed out at 1680x1050.
>
> Two 22" monitors will consume more energy but probably not much more
> than the 24". Do you think two 22" monitors will be noticable on my
> electric bill? I also have them plugged into the same wall outlet,
> along with the laptop. Unfortunately, that's the only outlet I have
> nearby.
>
> Thanks,
> Brett
>

"brett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Thanks Shenan. That's good advice on the two 22" monitors. I bought
>my HP laptop in Aug 2004. I'm not sure how I'd get two monitors going
>on it. I'm running the laptop lcd and the Samsung 22" now. There
>isn't another video port for a second monitor.
>
>Another issue if I do end up with three monitors: how do I get the
>mouse to move across three monitors without all of the scrolling? Is
>there any software to help with this?
>
>Also, how can I find out the max resolution my current video card will
>support? I have it maxed out at 1680x1050.
>
>Two 22" monitors will consume more energy but probably not much more
>than the 24". Do you think two 22" monitors will be noticable on my
>electric bill? I also have them plugged into the same wall outlet,
>along with the laptop. Unfortunately, that's the only outlet I have
>nearby.
>

Check the documentation that came with your laptop. At least some HP
models have the ability to configure the external monitor as either
simultaneous display (same image on both laptop LCD and the external
monitor) or as dual display (one large desktop extended across both
monitors.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

> Check the documentation that came with your laptop. At least some HP
> models have the ability to configure the external monitor as either
> simultaneous display (same image on both laptop LCD and the external
> monitor) or as dual display (one large desktop extended across both
> monitors.

I can already do all of that. I was wondering about two external
monitors, which is three all together.

Brett

"brett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> Check the documentation that came with your laptop. At least some HP
>> models have the ability to configure the external monitor as either
>> simultaneous display (same image on both laptop LCD and the external
>> monitor) or as dual display (one large desktop extended across both
>> monitors.
>
>I can already do all of that. I was wondering about two external
>monitors, which is three all together.
>
>Brett

Your only option would seem to be a PC Card video adapter such as
http://sewelldirect.com/vtbookpcmciacard.asp

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

brett wrote:

> I recently purchased a 22" 1600x1050 monitor. I have a 17" monitor on
> my laptop with the same resolution. Basically, I just have a larger
> viewer area with the same realestate.


You run a 17" monitor at 1600x1050? Wow! You have much better eyes than I
do.


> I develop software and want more space to view open windows. The
> difference in price between a 22" 1600x1050 ($400) monitor and a 24"
> 1920x1200 ($700) monitor is about $300. Are the differences in real
> estate going to be that great? Is it worth the price in other words?
> No stores around me have the larger monitor to see what it looks like.


1600x1050 is 1,680,000 pixels, and 1900x1200 is 2,280,000. That's about 35%
more real estate. Whether it's worth $300 more is something only you can
answer. It depends on your needs as well as on your financial situation.
Nobody else's opinion should matter at all.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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