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Would you go one 22" or two 19" LCD monitors?

jburrows500

jburrows500

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 26, 2007
135
0
Hells Kitchen NYC
I need to replace my LCD monitor and have done some research on a replacement. I was all set to go the 22" Samsung 226BW for about $300 from Compusa. However, I have heard a lot of positive things about having dual monitors (yes, my video card has two dvi outputs). I do home video editing and general computer stuff... Looking at going two 19" monitors for around 200 each, so about 100 more for the dual set up... Is there a real benefit? Thanks!
 
I have a 23" I would rather have two 19" though. but in few months I'll be getting a second 23".
Two monitors really do wonders for video editing. you also get sooo many more pixels (space) to work with. defidently worth the extra $. also check out how many pixels each monitor have.
 
jburrows500 said:
I need to replace my LCD monitor and have done some research on a replacement. I was all set to go the 22" Samsung 226BW for about $300 from Compusa. However, I have heard a lot of positive things about having dual monitors (yes, my video card has two dvi outputs). I do home video editing and general computer stuff... Looking at going two 19" monitors for around 200 each, so about 100 more for the dual set up... Is there a real benefit? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would get 22", and add more 22" later if I were you, and 22" and 19" are your only choices.

Eventually your screen space need will grow, you'd be glad to have a 22" than two 19"
 
bearbo said:
I would get 22", and add more 22" later if I were you, and 22" and 19" are your only choices.

Eventually your screen space need will grow, you'd be glad to have a 22" than two 19"
Click to expand...

That was my third option... delay the gratification, watch the price come down a bit and snag another 22".. I think you're right.. just hope my wife doesnt get all crazy with the 44" of monitors....
 
jburrows500 said:
How do dual monitors work anyway? How do you get a page on one and a page on another?
Click to expand...

It's basically an extension of the one monitor. Let's say that each monitor is 11" wide and 8.5" tall, with dual monitors you have a 22" long monitor that is 8.5" tall. Hope that was clear enough.

I personally have had dual monitor setups and found that I didn't utilize them too much. I would go for the 22" monitor personally. The projector in my signature only gets used for watching video content.
 
What about the menu bar? With 2 19" monitors could I find myself a couple of hundred miles from the Apple Menu? Where's the dock?

If I get a MB or MBP could I get an external 19 or 23" and use it as a dual monitor rather than a mirror?

Thanks x2
 
Dual monitors are a must for me, my monitors chronologically.

15 in CRT
17 in CRT
19 in CRT
22 in Studio Display
22 in Studio Display + 17 in Studio Display
20 in ACD
20 in ACD + 20 in ACD
30 in ACD
30 in ACD + 30 in ACD - Current setup
 
jburrows500 said:
That was my third option... delay the gratification, watch the price come down a bit and snag another 22".. I think you're right.. just hope my wife doesnt get all crazy with the 44" of monitors....
Click to expand...

Note 2 22" is not 44". 44" is 4 of 22"
 
dmaxdmax said:
What about the menu bar? With 2 19" monitors could I find myself a couple of hundred miles from the Apple Menu? Where's the dock?

If I get a MB or MBP could I get an external 19 or 23" and use it as a dual monitor rather than a mirror?

Thanks x2
Click to expand...

In the display control panel, you would specify which monitor holds the menu bar. The menu bar does not span screens. I don't think you can specify where the dock is...it may be dependent on the menu bar.

Also, you are not limited to same-size monitors. It is perfectly acceptable to have, say, a 22" and a 19" in the mix together.
 
Right now I am at work working on a 19" and a 15" the extra screen real estate is nice, the dock and menu bar sits on the screen you designate as your main screen.

At home I have 2 21" monitors waiting for me, so its tough to go to work in the morning.
 
jburrows500 said:
I need to replace my LCD monitor and have done some research on a replacement. I was all set to go the 22" Samsung 226BW for about $300 from Compusa. However, I have heard a lot of positive things about having dual monitors (yes, my video card has two dvi outputs). I do home video editing and general computer stuff... Looking at going two 19" monitors for around 200 each, so about 100 more for the dual set up... Is there a real benefit? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm a huge fan of the dual monitor setup. I use a 20" viewsonic in conjunction with the 15.4" from my mbp and love it. I'd only question why you'd pick going with a pair of 19" monitors (for $200 each) as opposed to getting a pair of 20" widescreens, which can also be had for around $200. The Dell e207wfp, for example, is often really close to $200. There are a number of others. To me, the dot pitch on the 19" LCD's I've used is actually a little big. I'd rather have a slightly smaller dot pitch and a lot more real estate which is what the 20" resolution vs. the 19" resolution gets you. Plus, you could just buy one 20" now, save some money over the $300 you were going to spend on the 22" but still have the same resolution, and in a couple of months spring for the other 20" or a 24" if the prices have fallen. For video, the quality of these monitors should be fine. Digital photography is likely another story, though.
 
I would go with the 1 x 22" monitor for my own personal usage. This suits me for surfing the Internet and watching movies. But when I need to work I find having 2 monitors much more productive then only having one big one.

For you I would go with 2 x 19" monitors.
 
I'm actually going to say something different....

Since it sounds like you're on a little bit of a limited budget here, this might not be viable for you. But I'd personally recommend one of the 24" LCD monitors, vs. two 19" displays. I actually upgraded my Mac Pro to a pair of 20" wide-screen panels, thinking "Wow! 40" of total screen space! This is going to be great!" Within 3 months, I took them back off the system and have them for sale now.

I found an Acer 24" LCD for sale locally for under $700 (or something like a Dell 2405, refurbished, off eBay would be a great option as well).

My problems with dual displays were:

1. For gaming, they're totally useless. Everything just happens on one monitor and the other stays blank.
2. The border between the screens distracts me when I'm trying to work with a program that's stretched between the 2 displays. I always end up sizing and positioning individual windows so none of them cross over between the displays, and that's really annoying.
3. You have 2 power cords to deal with instead of just 1 for your display. This can mean your surge strip or UPS backup doesn't have enough free outlets anymore. Plus, it's one more device to turn on and off, if you like to power your system off when it's not being used for a while.

With a good 24" panel, you have quite a bit of screen space, and it's all usable by *all* your software, 3D games included.


jburrows500 said:
I need to replace my LCD monitor and have done some research on a replacement. I was all set to go the 22" Samsung 226BW for about $300 from Compusa. However, I have heard a lot of positive things about having dual monitors (yes, my video card has two dvi outputs). I do home video editing and general computer stuff... Looking at going two 19" monitors for around 200 each, so about 100 more for the dual set up... Is there a real benefit? Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
I got bitten by the dual-monitor bug, and I hate having to work with only one now. Of course, it takes some getting used to, and at times, you may find you're not using both monitors effectively.
 
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