Pixel real estate investment advice

[monsieurpaul]

Hello,

I’m starting to feel a bit cramped on my 2009 MBP 15” 1440x900 screen, especially now that I have a 2 displays setup at work (on Win XP alas). I’m planning to invest in more pixel real estate and I’m currently looking on 2 options: Apple Cinema Display 27” or 2 23” 1080p displays.


- Apple Cinema Display 27” (not the thunderbolt version)

Pros:

• Vertical resolution: 1440 px
• Neatness: magsafe for my MBP, USB hub, iSight, just one power plug

Cons:

• Price
• It’s just one screen

- Two 23” 1080p display + matrox DualHead2Go

Pros:

• Price
• Horizontal resolution: 3840 px
• Two screens

Cons:

• Messiness: 4 power plugs (MBP, DualHead2GO, Monitor x 2), 3 video cables and 1 mini-display port VGA adapter, and that’s before thinking about an USB hub or a webcam

I plan to use the MBP closed, with the Bluetooth keyboard and a USB mouse. It will be mainly for coding, so my feeling is that I will rather have several big windows than one huge window.

I do like my 2 displays setup, I feel more comfortable looking at 2 distinct screens than 2 windows on the same screen. On the other hand, I’ve never used a 27” 2560x1440 screen.

I have read that not everything is well with Mission Control and multiple display, on the other hand are there good solutions/apps for sharing one display between several apps?

That’s a lot of questions and I would like to have your input and experience about this.
Thanks,

Paul

 

[Tomorrow]

Long ago I made the switch from two screens (each 18", 1280x1024) to one (24", 1920x1200), and I thought I wouldn't like it - but it's been fine, especially since I use Spaces.

If you're really sold on keeping two screens, I don't see why you shouldn't, especially since you're going to have the lid closed. Don't worry about the electrical cords; they're going to stay plugged in, so once you hook them up once you're done messing with them. And like you said, it's cheaper than a single 27".