Quick Tech Tip: Dual Monitors

Two screens are better than one

I’ve been using two monitors for years now; I have no idea why I didn’t start sooner. Purchasing an extra monitor to use along with your computer (or scavenging one from your basement) isn’t very expensive and it is pretty easy to set up.

Usually there aren’t many settings to worry about and most “modern” computers will have a place where you can plug in an additional monitor. On your laptop you may even have a button that lets you choose a few options like extending the screen so you have two different screens or simply showing the same screen on both monitors. It is handy to choose two different screens and then you can simply drag items with your mouse from one screen over to the other screen. To set it up you’d probably either be using a VGA port/cable to go from the computer to the monitor or an HDMI port/cable (kind of like what may be going from your cable box or blueray player to your TV). Your laptop or desktop will almost assuredly have either a VGA port, an HDMI port or both. The HDMI port may have a little better quality for HD videos, but otherwise you probably won’t notice a difference. If you get a nice, wide second monitor in many ways it is almost like having three monitors because you can set up a word processing file and a document you are reading next to each other on the same, wide monitor.

Having a dual monitor setup in my work reviewing medical records for disability cases is invaluable. I don’t have to keep flipping between multiple windows on my computer (like the records, the word processor where I’m writing and any other application or document I may be using). However, I’ve also just come to expect to be able to see different things at one time. I’m not going to argue that having dual monitors lets you multi-task, but it does let you accomplish some tasks more efficiently and with less frustration. If you have questions about dual monitors please feel free to let me know. If you are interested in learning more about file review work check out the new website at http://www.ReviewsandIMEs.com. You can also watch me chat about it on YouTube in a rather off-the-cuff sort of fashion.

Thanks,

Todd

(sponsored link reminder: if you shop through links like this one you are supporting the blog)