Tips for improving effeciency with a dual monitor setup?

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CLKeenan

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Jun 24, 2006
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So I just got dual monitors (my laptop + a 22" LCD) and I'm still new to the whole dual monitor thing so does anyone have some good tips on organizing your life with dual monitors basically?
 


Depending on what I am doing, I code on my larger resolution monitor (more lines/columns!) and use the smaller resolution monitor for the browser & reference.

At work it is the opposite, because my laptop is some high resolution (1900x1600 or something) and my external is only 1280x1024. LUCKILY it does landscape/portrait, so I can view long pages nicely.

I usually use the external on landscape, and have it on a box, so it is above my monitor, and keep email (groupwise = crap!) open, plus test pages, because of the lower resolution, and code on the laptop screen.

At home, the external is on the left of the monitor, and runs at 1280x1024, and the laptop is 1024x768. I vary how I do things at home...

I use no utilities to manage it. None needed on either setup. (work or home)
 
Use a razor blade to cut off you sac, that way you wouldn't be constantly tempted to stretch porn videos across both screens. Or not.

(I really have no idea where that statement came from, apparently I have lost it.)

I prefer to hook up my 19" Samsung and use that as the main display, while using my 12"pb for the commonly checked apps.
 
I think it is counter productive to use two monitors that are dif sizes and dif resolutions, the readjust it requires when your working on graphics or anything that requires you to work with sizes of things on screen. But thats just my opinion.
 
I have all my messenger apps (Adium, Skype, IRC) as well as my mail program stacked away on my laptop screen, rest goes on my main one. Works out pretty good, that way I can read my incoming messages/mail without having to stop what I'm doing. Though 2 22" ones would definitely rock, but unfortunately you can only hook one external monitor up to the MBP.
 
Since Eli has something like 20 more than anyone else I know in the world, I think he would be the best person to ask.
 
IM, IRC, reference material, ssh shell windows, ftp on the monitor on the right. Whatever I'm working on, on the main monitor. Usually code, sometimes research in a browser.
 
hmmm..i know I just got the same monitor as you. How did you set it up to even be a dual monitor with your laptop? I have vista ultimate on the laptop. I'd love to have dual screens with that! I'm already loving the monitor though, 22" and 1680x1050 of goodness. mmmmm
 
I have like 38 IM's open on the right side monitor, and all my internet on the left ( main) one. Sometimes if I need to copy and paste a bunch of stuff or research keywords and paste them into adwords, I use both monitors with IE's open.
 
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