Does anyone complete BPO's using two monitors. If so, what are you using?

I don't see why you'd need two monitors. I have a 17" monitor and open up two windows side by side. Works like a charm and costs a heck of a lot less than purchasing a second monitor.

I don't have a 17" monitor. I was reading on another forum about using two monitors, just wondering if anyone here could contribute their experience.

If you try it Houston, you'd never go back... I use my laptop and a 17" LCD monitor next to it. It makes this work so much easier.

So... if you have a laptop all you need is a monitor, if you have a desktop you'll need a second video card or a dual monitor video card. A single dual monitor vid card is going to be a lot easier to configure.

When you have two windows on one screen it's a constant compromise, with two monitors you open both up max, it's much easier on the eyes.

I also invested $30 or so in a swing arm mount for my monitor so that it's at the perfect height and angle. That sounds like a small detail that only a whiner would think about, but it actually makes a big difference too.

Thanks for the input.. ggwwttre. I have a laptop and a desktop, the laptop is 15" and I am not sure about the desk top. I also have a 17" flat screen monitor from another desktop that I no longer use. I will look into purchasing a dual monitor card. Thanks again.

I have a laptop and a desk top and I end up using them both sometimes

I purchased a real nice 20" Dell montior that I also use for side to side viewing. Then I have a 14" laptop that's my "refreshing" computer while I'm working on reports for the first come/first serve compaines. When you can, invest in a broadband card for a laptop. Not only can you look for new work while you are in the field, but you can also finish up reports while you are out if you are close to a deadline. I have done that for loading up photos with the data part of the report already done and it works great! Best of luck.

Brad
Tampa Bay Florida

I use the laptop desk top combination, its sure fast

I seam to remember Gulfwinds having a 32" monitor for side by side work, should be big enough.

I'm sure Gulfwinds will be along soon enough to post a photo of it.

see posting (for photo) Forums » Whatever » Shooting The Breeze » What do you want for Christmas??

Check out this if you want twin or even quad screens http://digitaltigers.com/dual-monitors.shtml

Sorry drooling.

Regards
Alan

My husband bought me a 22" monitor what a difference it makes with the 2 pages up! Its awesome and shaves off a ton of time!

I use 3 monitors, two 19" LCD's and one 17" LCD. I took the 17" away from myself for awhile to double up on another PC, and I could not function. I took it back, and all is good! I am about to order a new PC, and am debating between 4 monitors or just a huge screen (or 2 huge screens). I cannot get enough!

Wow! I wish that I had thought of the multiple screen idea before. My lap top is usually where I am and my desktop is parked on the desk. Good info.

2 22" LCD's and I could not be happier.

You could be happier with a 3rd!

That's a great setup amplet!

Whether you use multiple monitors or split on a larger screen your productivity will soar. I could NEVER go back to the toggling I used to do on my laptop! I've done it in a pinch on the road to meet a deadline, but it takes so much longer to get a BPO done.

Hey Amplet... I know it's a puny detail but I'm tellin' ya, get better mounts for those monitors, you'll be glad ya did. I put mine off and put it off till I got one on sale... it's worth it,even not on sale. Okay, hmmm... I could get three arms and three 22's on this desk... and my laptop next to it and...

Enough already... I just closed an escrow, but I'm gonna need that money, quit temptin' me.

P.S. Forgive the crummy pics, camera's in the car, the Treo's right here.

Yeah, I wanted to use those mounts, but the 19" monitors I have are kind of 'cheapos' and don't have the standard screw holes in the back. The 17" does. Next time around I'll do it. For now this works great.

I have had 2 monitors since college, I can't believe how much it helps for EVERYTHING!!!! Research papers, BPOS, chatting, blogging, everything....

I use two 20" LCDs side by side. I have each hooked to a different PC to utilize the extra processor and horse-power. I alway have too many things open.

I use a great free application called Synergy (http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/) to allow me to use a single keyboard and mouse across both PCs.

Oh, now I understand... I'm still jealous.

You guys are hard core. I don't have room on my desk for all of that! I have my 17" laptop, and my printer. There is no way I could ever fit three monitors!

I do like that I'm featured on that middle screen though.

Slappy, thanks for your input. How long have you used Synergy? Any problems? And, Amplet thanks for the great demo.

For about 6 months now....no problems, it's so amazing how great it it works.

I was turned on to it my my favorite geek Leo Laporte, http://techguylabs.com/radio/pmwiki.php his weekly podcasts are great to listen to ask you input all your BPO data, if your a real hardcore geek like me, you'll enjoy one of his other podcasts called TWIT even more http://www.twit.tv/twit, John C. Dvorak is a riot!

I tried the multiple screen thing until I blew out my graphics card! I then found out multi-tasking really was more important than multi screens.

I can't afford not being able to do any of my work, even BPOs, from where ever I am. As you can see responding to a blast or that pesky QC clarification takes me no time at all.

Hmmm... I could be wrong, but that don't look like a BPO you're multi-tasking there.

Alright I need some help. I want to do the dual monitor setup. I do not have a desktop, just a laptop. Is it possible for me to hook up another screen onto one of my laptop so I can run both at the same time and be able to drag windows over to the other screen? Or do I have to have a desktop with the proper video card? I cant imagine my laptop being able to support this. My laptop is an hp dv2000 with windows xp. If it wont work, can I upgrade the video card?

It's actually EASIER with a laptop... you plug in the monitor then set up "extended desktop in the properties"

You can't upgrade the video card, but that's okay, you don't need to.

I dont see extended desktop. Will it only show up when I plug in the second monitor? Also do they connect via an s-video cable?

I use my laptop and have a second screen. When you plug in the second screen, you should then have the ability to change the settings on both screens. I use a docking station and the 2nd screen plugs in nicely to that.

I love it - would not work any other way again!

I use two 19 inch wide screen LCDs... I love it, it is so easy to use... I also love my wireless keyboard and mouse (no cords to have to tug on or get in the way)...

I've been reading this site for about six months now, and have found it to be an awesome info source! I finally took the time today to register and this is my first post - showing off my dual screens!

Can you drag the mouse through both monitors?

Cool Guy- Yes. Two monitors is is MUST in my book. I don't think I could use three as someone stated in the thread but it is great to have to mls up and the bpo form each on its own screen.

I use two computers. Why you may ask, cause if one doesn't work or is giving me a problem with downloads I can switch to the other. I do have two screens, but one keyboard and mouse with a toggle switch to switch between the computers.

So how do you get 2 monitors to work on one computer? How do you control what pops up on each? I am trying to go paperless & this is going to be the only way I can do it. I currently print everything out & am sick of having so much paper around that I have to store I would rather store a CD for each month vs. all the paper. TIA!!

You know I still haven't figured that out yet but plan on using it shortly.There is a post called "going paperless" that I started and you wont believe all the info I have got.I know save everything as a pdf in a file and I haven't printed out anything since.Well the MLS sheet but thats it!

I guess I am just an old broker. I use one computer and just print the sheets out on each comparable and manually input the data. Maybe that's why doing 5 BPO's in one day is a bunch of work for me.

If you are running XP or Vista (not sure about older OS's) just plug the monitor in and you will get a pop-up to set up all of the choices you mentioned. If no pop up, go to the display settings in the control panel.

As far as what is on which monitor, you drag minimized windows to the 2nd screen and then expand them and they will fill the screen. Your mouse pointer will jump the gap between screens and work on both as if it is one large screen.

BTW, I always felt like I had to print comps. Once I went to 2 screens it was EASY to go paperless. I have also decreased my time per BPO too! Copy and pasting the addresses from the MLS directly to the BPO and to Google maps for distances saves a bunch!! Only way to go in my opinion.