Since you guys are so knowledgeable.....

I currently have a dual monitor seup with 17" CRTs. I like having two monitors b/c I can do a lot of engineering crap at the same time. I have two junk video cards in a dimension XPST 800r and I don't have any function keys that quickly move the apps from one monitor to another. I always have to double click the menu bar and drag from monitor to monitor.

Questions:

1. If I buy the 2005FPW 20.1" Wide Aspect, is there software that allows me to always run apps side-by-side quickly (uses one monitor but acts like the dual monitor setup, maybe like a split window)? Are the apps side-by-side on one 2005FPW about the same size as using two 17" CRTs?

2. Am I better off buying two 19" LCDs for the dual monitor setup or one 2005FPW and run it as a split window?

Thanks

there is a software called Ultramon

No takers?

Certainly one of you guys have an idea about a dual monitor setup?

i run dual monitor on my 8600, via my port replicator.. with winxp, it simply shows up the second monitor.. I right click it, and hit "attach" and it works.. I had to do a little configuration in the advanced settings of my control panel, but after that, every time I boot up, either docked with 1 monitor or 2, or undocked, everything simply works.

I've been running dual monitors for almost 10 years now. And the one thing for sure is bigger is better.

Your options
1) 2 x 1920 x 1200 = 4.61MP (15.0 VGA displays)
2) 2 x 1600 x 1200 = 3.84MP (12.5 VGA displays)
3) 2 x 1680 x 1050 = 3.53MP (11.5 VGA displays) *EDIT*
4) 2 x 1280 x 1024 = 2.62MP (8.5 VGA displays)

The most bang for the buck would be option #2. Those displays (2001FP) were less than $500 each about a week ago with a coupon. Wait for a good deal. Of course you'll need a good video card or multiple video cards. The ideal card and the ones I always use are the NVidia Quadro cards with dual DVI outs and can support 1920x1200 on each output. ATI also makes great cards for professional use i.e. CAD, 3D, etc.

so you are not suggesting trying to run a wide aspect monitor with a 'split window?' Just buy two monitors and continue doing the traditional dual monitor setup.

I don't think you'll gain very much switching to a single split widescreen monitor. Two large monitors will make a huge difference. That's what I would do. If you work with applications that are cluttered and doing a lot of moving windows/tools around, you will definitely appreciate the extra space.

If you are interested in a multiple monitor solution for notebooks there are basically two:

Please go to:

MAGMA PCI Expansion System Review (for 2 to 4 extra external monitors)
http://www.tradersworld.com/computers/MagmaReview.htm

VTBook Solution (for 1 to 2 extra external monitors)
http://www.tradersworld.com/computers/VTBook.htm

Remember many notebooks give you its own monitor plus 1 external port for another one. The above solutions give you additional monitors above this.

The best solution I have found is in the Matrox line of video cards, I run three 23" LCD monitors for video editing. There is nothing like lots of real estate within to work.