Theory for purchasing a cheap second computer screen

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Brusader

Senior Member
Here's something for discussing over a drink..


It occurred to me that I bought a high end gaming laptop for my photography as I knew it had a really good screen, lots of storage and is powerful.


On that note, is it worth purchasing a cheap LCD so I can 'optimise' the photos for what everyone else would see? This being that most of my photos are viewed on computer and not printed.


When I've gone to computer shops to look at an external screen, the colours, contrast and brightness are never consistent and am wondering if it'd be worth the effort to go this way.
 
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Brusader

Senior Member
Multiple screens are great once you get used to it. Most places where I've worked have 2 screens as standard and you get a lot more done.
 
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pistnbroke

Banned
nothing special about 3 screens ..one for e mail one for ebay and one for Nikonites ...no problem Eyelevel ?? oh yes then add the iMac 27 for the processing....and the wifes dual screen set up ...thats 6 ....
+ the old lap top to run the XP only programmes .....so sorry 7
 
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Somersetscott

Senior Member
Hi guys,

I am no expert but I can share my own experiences - My current work set up:

IMAG0226.jpg

Dell Latitude E6420, Dell docking station and standard Dell screen. Works very well! large screen is exeptional. Laptop has let me down a few times - HDD problems twice in its frist year!

One of my managers has Dell latitude M6600, dell docking station and an LG Flatron screen (not sure what size but large) - works well, he has no complaints. although I would have said my dell is more crisp.

A fellow collegue has a Lenovo T430, Lenovo docking station and Lenovo standard screen (again large) - has regular trouble with resolutions, we are quite nomadic at times connecting to various outputs, different projectors and large tv screens the Lenovo seems to handle this poorly.

And lastly (more relevant to the cheap side of the thread) I made a custom desktop for my mother to browse the web etc. We ended up with a large quite cheap LG Flatron (4 years ago now, Cheap from the local supermarket - Tesco) and its been one hell of a performer, I'd say on par with my current Dell. Mother has no complaints either as the resolution could be set to taste.

As your computer is a 'gamers' laptop I should expect the graphics card has a high configurability and compatability with most screens.

I do praise docking stations (need one specific to your model if you would like one) I like that the mouse dongle, power, monitor, keyboard etc can stay in one place and instantly active when the laptop is placed back onto it.

Good luck! hope you find the right one for you first time!
 
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§am

Senior Member
Every monitor will be different, so trying to optimise for one may make it less optimal for someone else's monitor.

As for multiple monitors - I think it really does depend on your work and also you own lazyness.
I've done roles where we as an IT department have to authorise additional monitors, and reasons have included "no need to switch between email and word" or the ever popular "I need to copy & paste between two programs"... needless to say those requests were rejected.

However, on the other hand, some of our duty managers on the control staff have 7 monitors in a landscape orientation, spread across 3 PCs, but only 1 mouse and keyboard, and no KVM... now that's some nifty hardware just there :)

I used to have three on my (work) desk at one point, but then knocked it down to two - mainly so I could be lazy and say, "oh sorry, didn't notice you'd raised an incident, I was too busy emailing important stuff to have to send one of my engineers out to replace your mouse!" :p
Now I just use a docking station to hook up to a 22" TFT, though with the work I do, I might have a whole array of different laptops around me.

At home now I've knocked it down to one TFT too, the 2nd one is now stored away ready for my daughter to inherit when I finally decide to stick a PC in her bedroom :)
 
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Somersetscott

Senior Member
Better than our slopey shouldered IT guy ;) Atleast you replied to requests!! haha..

Yes multiple screens work well, I work in a co-ordination role between a local site and the global network so emails, communication etc all on the laptop screen to ensure I don't miss a high importance mail or msg and all of my 'duties' on the big screen. and drag from screen to screen as needed.


But I think the reason for the original post is for photo editing - IE it is easier to misjudge colours/brightness etc with a laptop than with a static monitor. So I guess the interaction is not the problem so much but more the photo editing. - Please correct me if wrong.

Scott
 
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stmv

Senior Member
alt-tab flips between active windows on the same screen very quickly. I have multiple screens on my desktop, but often at night, I just have the laptop on the well lap, and the alt-tab allows quick switching of the active window. try it.

And optimize for best PRINT results.... and the views on other people monitors will be fine (since you can't guess their optimization anyway).
 
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Mike150

Senior Member
I guess I could add my 1.5 cents worth. (I'm old so my opinions have been devalued).
Almost everyone I work with has two or more screens. Since I've had only one monitor at a time since 1985, why change now. Besides, <Ctrl><Tab> works fine for me. The bulk of my work is on the physical desktop, not the computer desktop. Also, it's fun watching them try and get all the screens switched from the internet to work views when the boss walks in.
 
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§am

Senior Member
Alt+Tab - switch between windows
Ctrl+Tab - switch between tabs (like when you have lots open in IE/Chrome/FF)
WinKey+Tab - works on Vista and above, but lets you rotate the active windows in the middle of your desktop... very swanky!

Add Shift to any of the above and it just does it all in reverse :)
 
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Mike150

Senior Member
SS381 said:
Alt+Tab - switch between windows
Ctrl+Tab - switch between tabs (like when you have lots open in IE/Chrome/FF)
WinKey+Tab - works on Vista and above, but lets you rotate the active windows in the middle of your desktop... very swanky!

Add Shift to any of the above and it just does it all in reverse :)
Click to expand...

You are so right Sam. It is ALT and Tab... I typed that and even tried it while looking at the KB keys. Even with all that, I still got it wrong. Looks like my two cents worth has been devalued again. now it's only a penny's worth.
 
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§am

Senior Member
Well if we're on the topic of shortcuts, might as well part a few more for those that I find useful to use on a daily basis;

Ctrl+T - in modern browsers will create a new tab
Ctrl+F4 or Ctrl+W - will close the current tab
Alt+F4 - will close the current window (not to be confused with closing tabs)

WinKey+D - this will minimise ALL active windows to reveal your desktop. Press again to restore them all back
WinKey+M - this will minimise the current active window
WinKey+F4 - if your desktop is the 'active' window, this will bring up the Windows shut down dialogue box
WinKey+L - locks your current login (I use this without fail when stepping away from my PC... kind of have to when you have the kinda admin rights I have at work).

There's loads more I could tell you, but these are probably very useful to use for now :)
 
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