Reno Bradfield,RDC
Bradfield Design Studios
My need to research, learn something new, and just the challenge to see if it could be done pushed me into experimenting with multiple screens. The purpose of working with multiple monitors breaks down to one simple word, productivity. The second best reason is enlarged drawing real-estate one screen, while toolbars can be placed on other screens.
I dislike using Tiled windows even more than Cascading windows; using a three-screen workstation, a cad-operator, or any computer jockey, can view up to nine full windows on nine separate screens all at the same time.
When different applications are in use, the operator can drag and drop text or art from most apps to another, dragging from one screen to the another screen. It is very exciting to see your cursor fly from one screen to the next. A single window can be stretched to fill all screens too. And yes, in my opinion, multiple screen use does save time.
After five years of using this three setup, I would not go back to merely using a single screen.
There is an extra noise intensity to get used to, with more than one CRT monitor cooking. With my new three, 21 inch flat screen setup, there is no noise associated with these LED monitors.
Above, three monitors are in use with an AutoCAD session. An Arial View, representing a 36 by 24 inch drafting paper, is on the left 17 inch monitor. A portion of the main Arial View is in the center 21 inch monitor; were most of my work is done. And on the right, I drag the Properties and Design Center dialogue boxes to the right 17 inch monitor, freeing up valuable drawing space in the center screen.
By dropping out of the Arial View window, and using the left monitor to write a complex document or creating an e-mail that has the subject material relating to the current AutoCAD session simultaneously viewed on another screen, writing can be easier to produce. Because you have a visual of the subject at hand, you can study the image while writing, without having to toggle between windows.
On the Cool Meter, it pegs and bends the needle. Visiting clients are very impressed. They are in awe with fascination, “How did you do that?”, when they see the cursor race seamlessly from one screen to the other. If a client has not signed a contract yet, when they see in person, multiple monitors in action, they usually ask for a pen.
Minimal hardware is needed, just an extra video card, plugged into an empty PCI slot, for each extra monitor you wish to add to your station. The hardware is very easy to setup, even for a novice. After plugging the video card into a PCI slot, on the next boot, the wizard recognizes that new hardware has been install. Follow the simple video driver instructions given by the wizard. If you are running out of PCI slots, there are video cards that have two monitor outputs on one card. Check with your OS documentation for hardware compatibility before purchasing.
If you are intimidated by removing the cover off your CPU and setting up hardware drivers, enlist a friend who has a comfort level with manipulating hardware.
Software requirements? Surprise, most current Microsoft operating systems, starting with Win ’98 and onto Vista, support up to Nine, yes nine Monitors as part of their built in options. It was there all the time; there is no need to purchase any new software.
After the additional video cards have been installed in your CPU, you must activate the new cards by right clicking your desktop, pick properties, from the Display Properties dialogue box, (this illistration is from Vista), then pick Settings illustrated below.
Choices made here will customize how you want your additional monitors to perform and react with each other within this intuitive Display Settings box. The numbered rectangles represent the monitors that the wizard has successfully installed with a handshake to a video driver. The numbers refer to order that video cards were installed, not the order of the new monitors physically in front of you. Drag and drop to rearrange, or change the order of the rectangles until the cursor moves from the left screen, through the center, and then ends up on the right screen. If the cursor jumps up and down, while moving from one screen to the other, move one of the rectangles up or down to compensate for erratic cursor behavior. The goal is a smooth cursor transition form one monitor to the next.
