I Upgraded My Monitors

So, as I get older and my eyesight isn't returning, I've found myself squinting at my 23 inch monitors (2).

So, I decided to upgrade. To 2, 27 inch monitors!

They are both IPS panels and surprisingly crisp for text, despite them only being 1080p. I just couldn't bring myself to spend 2 grand on 1440p displays from Apple, or 1200+ from anyone else. I walked away with these for 440.00 before tax.

Anyway, everything has been fine and I can sit back from my monitors now (I actually have to), but I wrote an iOS app the other day and ran it in the simulator, which is typically similar to the size of an iPhone, in my experience.

The simulator was literally 3x the size of an actual iPhone5, LOL.


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xWxYSV-U3fs/Up6rnxEbaoI/AAAAAAAACrg/lk4PSBKLem4/w1536-h864-no/2013-12-03

 

Looks really nice Adry! Seems you got a good deal. I only have 1 19" monitor 5:4 because any larger size won't fit into the hutch that I have on my desk.

 

Nice, but wowza, imagine running two of those.

Expensive!

Dell does good on displays though. You get quality in that price too.

 

Yeah, I could have waited until the 1440ps went down in price, I suppose, but at 220 per monitor for IPS displays, it was hard to pass up. They were actually clearer than another display next to it that was 60 dollars more.

I am not a fan of HP (been burned many times), but this time, they did good. No dead pixels, and both color match perfectly, unlike my last two monitors (they were Acer).

 

Do what I did...push things out of the way till they fit!



My desk is too small as well, but I have a side cabinet that one of the monitors halfway sits on.

 

Haha! Sure, pushing my logitech loudspeakers off on either side the monitor, no way! :wave The logitech mouse charger is behind one of the loudspeakers. The hutch is exactly 23" wide where the monitor stands. No, I won't buy a new desk.

 

Sounds like a perfect situation for a multi-monitor arm attachment

 

Adry, here you can have a look at a 5 year old pic in how my desk and hutch look.

 

Ahhh, yeah those four wood sides around the monitor make it tough

 

At the same time, if Apple is more accurate, I would possibly go that route because its critical with photography.

 

Sweet looking monitors Adry, I really need to upgrade my setup... Just need money for other things.

@Laura, what do you use to calibrate your monitors and printing? I really need to get some work done on the work setup. Running 72" UV printers and a little bigger solvent printer that according to Mutoh, is the only one in existence, and they don't configure them like that.

But some monitor to printer calibration would be awesome. We are totally self taught on repairing and running these printers. Think of a HS senior that did not attend their sophomore year. We know some advanced stuff, and don't know some simple stuff. :-D

 

Can I have the old ones?

Or can we send them to Fred_G?

 

My daughter claimed one, but I still have one available. Make you a smoking deal on it! PM me

 

Nice setup, Adryn! I can relate to getting older and failing eyesight.
I have twin 24" monitors. One is LCD, ASUS, the other LED, Samsung. Obviously, the LED one is better, but both pretty good. Really just wanted to see if I survived the year, (remains to be seen, lol!), before upgrading. Otherwise wold be little point,except for whoever inherits my junk.

 

OK, I give up. What is it exactly that you guys are doing with dual monitors? Both connected to the same computer?:confused

 

Software development. One side is for coding, one side is for output and research. When I am running VMs, I can put one on the left side and use the main OS on the right side. Mind you, you need something to be able to handle that kind of multitasking as well. It is nice having extra screen real estate:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/24i6o13lh1u1ity/Screenshot 2013-12-14 11.46.56.png
(I'm learning objective-c this week)

This isn't a raging ball of fire, but it gets the job done:

2 HP27xi 27in 1080p LED displays
Mac Mini (Late 2012)
Core i7-3720QM
16gb DDR3-1600
256GB SSD
USB 3.0 3TB Seagate External
OS X 10.9 Mavericks

I run Server 2012, Windows 7, and Ubuntu from the external.

Sometimes I use one of the external displays with my laptop as well:

HP Envy 15-3033CL
Intel i7-2670QM
16gb DDR3-1333
128GB Crucial M4 Sata III SSD
15.6in 1080p display
Windows 8.1 Pro

 

Those are nice. My old ones were terrible, poor color quality, they didn't match, and with them being TN displays, the viewing angle was terrible.

 

Yes, they are both connected to the same computer. Great for Photoshop, you can put your tools on the extra monitor, and view the picture on the main display. Use it a lot when following 'how to' videos for computer stuff. Have to have them. :cool

 

So, is this what you're saying: You're running a Mac OS from your SSD and at the same time running Windows or Linux off of a bootable external drive connected to the same system? Is that what "dual booting" is? Wow, this is definitely uncharted waters for me.

 

No, its not dual booting. I run the other OSes virtualized.

OS X and applications installed on it are all that is on the SSD. The external cut in two; half for time machine backups and half for data and virtual machines.

Each virtualized OS can use both monitors if I want, however.

 

Doh! Looks like I'll be buying a few more "For Dummies" books

 

Similar reasons to Adryn, plus I own the I.T. Co., therefore I do it, (a) To provide a larger work area for me, (b) When Clients I've working on major projects for years, want to see what I've actually done, for their $X, then they don't have to crane their heads around mine,; (c) Being the Director, they are Tax breaks - meaning free in the long-term, (plus whatever I may/may not choose to sell them for); (d) because I CAN!.

Some people have three or even four! Usually spoiled teenagers from well-to-do-families.
It's one computer, two video outputs, as stated you work on one side, see the results on the other. Unless I'm gaming, (very rarely), then it's just because I can, again.
Don't worry, I get people asking why I have "two computers"' regularly, lol! Usually the ones that call the entire P.C. a "hard drive", or something. Now I remember why i don't deal with private individuals if I can avoid id it, lol!

 

OK, "because I can" is a reason that I clearly understand and identify with. I think I'm starting to get the "picture" :-D

But seriously, how does one attach three or even four monitors to a box with two video outputs? Is there some sort of splitter device involved?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121636

There is three. Who says you just have to have 2 outputs?

 

Very cool. Never heard of such a thing. $1,000.00 - not so cool. I still don't see how you get one computer to output different video feeds to two or three separate monitors. Does it involve software like those virtual desktop apps that allow you to configure different configurations for multiple desktops that you switch between?

 

Most video cards these days have 2 outputs. In Windows XP and 7, you just extend the monitor. Very easy.

I am lazy, here is a link vs a picture. https://www.google.com/search?q=pic...bNuOiyAGl8YHIBA&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=949

 

Like Fred said, nearly all videocards have two or more outputs...And here's another thing you haven't thought of...Most Mainboards can hold two, three, or even four videocards, <duh!>. Sorry, but I think you were correct when you said you need to read more of those "for Idiots" books Your words - not mine! Ha!, ha!

Cheers!

 

OK, I can take a hint. Thanks for the info.

 

LoL!...roflmao.