Suite Minute - An Award-Winning Technology Blog by Peggy Duncan

December 3rd, 2007

Use Dual Monitors and Spend Less Time Working

General Technology, Personal Productivity, by Peggy Duncan.

It's easy to set up dual monitors and it'll save you so much time.

You probably already have a powerful tool that will save you a lot of time, but it’s sitting around collecting dust. What is it? An old monitor. Dust it off and put it to work by using it as an extension of your desktop. Simply connect it to your laptop or computer.

Here are some things you’ll be able to do:

  • Research the Net on one and drag the information to the other.
  • View your Outlook calendar on one and email on the other.
  • Read instructions on one and perform the steps on the other.
  • Launch your PowerPoint show onto one monitor, make the changes on your computer and see the changes as they happen in Slide Show view.
  • And so much more!
On my laptop, I plugged a monitor into the same blue port that I use for a projector. If you use a desktop, you’ll have to take an extra step. Follow this link for instructions for connecting an additional monitor to your computer/laptop using Windows.

Note: Under the instruction “to move items between monitors” add the following:

  • Double-click the top of a display screen (your blue bar) to resize your screen (Restore).
  • Then drag an item on your desktop across your screen until it appears on the other monitor.

If you use Windows Vista, the instructions at the link work the same except getting there is different. Instead of clicking Properties when you right-click on the Windows Desktop, click Personalize, Display Settings, and go from there with the same instructions.

This model swivels to portrait mode.

This monitor swivels to portrait mode.

You will love using dual monitors. It’ll take you a few minutes to get used to it, but you’ll be glad you did. To take it to another level, purchase a monitor that you can swivel to portrait view (here is one on Amazon by NEC). Also check out MultiMonitor TaskBar (free version) or UltraMon(TM) ($40) from Realtime Soft if you want to do more with multiple monitors such as having a Taskbar on each one.

One more thing: to view your Outlook calendar on one monitor and email on the other, right-click the Calendar icon, Open in New Window. Then drag the calendar to the other monitor.

If you went from one monitor to two or more, let me know how much it has helped. Or once you set yours up, let me know what you think.

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  • http://www.PeggyDuncan.com Peggy Duncan

    Hi Leslie, I haven’t done 3 because I’d need another port. You might be right. I don’t multitask when I’m working on something important so it could probably work for me. For others, it could easily lead to having too many distractions. It would be nice to have my calendar up all the time though. Then I’d have email and my document work on another and the Internet on the third one.

  • http://www.TheSearchGuru.com Leslie Carruthers

    I made the switch 6 months ago and LOVE it. Dual monitor was highly recommended by a peer and I did just as you are suggesting. I’d love to test 3 monitor set up but imagine the ROI goes down, so haven’t made the time. Have you tried 3?

    I am definitely more productive with 2 monitors.

    Leslie Carruthers
    The Search Guru
    http://www.TheSearchGuru.com