One screen to rule
them all, two screens to find them, three screens to bring them all and more
than that is just crazy.
For most computer users, using multiple monitors on a
desktop setup may seem like an unnecessary expense, but many would argue not.
There have been many studies that claim having a
second monitor can boost productivity of workers by up to 50%. Home users such
as myself find that having that second screen opens up the work environment to
allow better multitasking and efficiency. Even if it’s just for entertainment
purposes it can be incredibly useful. I can run a livestream or video on one
screen while working on other projects or playing a game on the other. Most
people I know who use two monitors say they could never go back to using a
single monitor on their personal computer. The opportunities are endless, but are
you using that extra space as efficiently as you could be?
While operating systems and most video cards have native
support for multiple monitors, I’ve often had minor teething trouble getting it
set up correctly and there is little to no optimisation available. This is
where third-party software fills the gap. There are many programs available and
I certainly don’t insist on using any one in particular. It’s about finding one
that suits your needs and budget. I use Displayfusion (available on their website and Steam) and will use it as an example to talk about features that
are useful, and what to look for in a good program. A free version of
Displayfusion is available, but you can also use Dual Monitor Tools (free), ActualMultiple Monitors (30 day trial) or any of the other available programs that can be found on
the net.
A basic feature that should be found in any good program is
wallpaper control. Wether you are using identical monitors or you’ve hooked up
a monitor or TV to your laptop, being able to correctly apply your favourite
wallpaper in the correct resolution is an aesthetic must-have. Window’s ability
to apply wallpapers is shoddy at best, but most programs can apply wallpapers
to each screen at its correct resolution. Better programs can use multi-monitor
wallpapers that are designed to be displayed over multiple screens or apply
different wallpapers to each monitor. I have Displayfusion set to change each
monitor’s wallpaper every five minutes. In addition, it can intelligently fit
any picture to the screen while maintaining the image aspect ratio, allowing
you to not only use wallpapers that don’t match your screen size (example: 4:3
vs widescreen), but also photos and any other images. Displayfusion also offers
some other features, such as adding system info to the screen or fine-tuning
wallpaper settings, but unless you have some need to micromanage your
wallpaper, then these will never be touched.
For those who need more monitor control, monitor configuration
controls are where it’s at. Some programs feature more precise monitor control,
such as setting individual resolutions and refresh rates, but most graphics
drivers have software that does this as well. Both Nvidea and AMD have programs
in the control panel to help you calibrate these settings and it is probably
best to use those over anything else.
Finally, it is vital to have useful window management tools to
help you organise your multiple desktops. Some programs add a taskbar to your
additional monitors as well as handy keyboard shortcuts to move windows around
your screens. Other options allow forcing a program to launch on a particular
monitor, improved window snapping controls and better mouse controls when
moving from one monitor to another.
While we’re talking about Displayfusion, I might as well
discuss how good it is. It defiantly provides all the features you’d ever need
and then some, but unless you like to micromanage your desktops then you won’t
use half of the features. It’s for this reason that I think it is overpriced ($30
on Steam) and bloated with features I’ll never use. I picked it up for $10 in a
sale, which is a much more acceptable price in my opinion. The free version is
a stripped back version that doesn’t quite have all the features you will want
and pales in comparison to the other free alternatives. Otherwise it’s a very
well designed program that eventually just becomes part of the background and
you never touch it again. You do get what you pay for, just hopefully not at
the asking price.
You don’t realise how much you need multiple monitors until
you try it. These programs that I’ve mentioned will simply make your experience
that much more enjoyable and useful. If you’re like me and you spend a decent
amount of time on your computer, you really come to appreciate the both the aesthetic
and functional improvements that they offer.
No comments:
Post a Comment