| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How large is your monitor? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| | P Waters 
United Kingdom
English to Tagalog
+ ...
| Dual 17 in monitors | Feb 26, 2006 |
I have an extended desktop work space across two 17 in monitors which provides ample workspace for multiple windows or applications to be used concurrently.
| | | | David Russi
United States
Local time: 22:35
English to Spanish
+ ...
| 19 + 17 inch monitors | Feb 26, 2006 |
I run dual monitors on my system, and I don't know what I would do if I had to back to working with one screen.
| | | | Mihai Badea (X)
Luxembourg
English to Romanian
+ ...
| Why two monitors? | Feb 26, 2006 |
Sorry, I forgot to add main monitor for those of you who have more than 1 monitor.
I have a 17 in CRT monitor, but I am planning to buy a new 19 in LCD monitor to replace it.
I am very curious why somebody would want to work on two monitors simultaneously. I guess it may be useful for proofreading work, but how could this help when doing translation work? Does it speed the process? If so, is it co... See more Sorry, I forgot to add main monitor for those of you who have more than 1 monitor.
I have a 17 in CRT monitor, but I am planning to buy a new 19 in LCD monitor to replace it.
I am very curious why somebody would want to work on two monitors simultaneously. I guess it may be useful for proofreading work, but how could this help when doing translation work? Does it speed the process? If so, is it cost-effective? (2 monitors = increased power consumption).
I would also like to ask you if you think that a pivot function enabling the computer display to be rotated from landscape to portrait would be useful for a translator. Some monitor manufacturers claim that it would make word documents easier to manage.
Thanks in advance for your answers!
[Edited at 2006-02-26 23:39] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
P Waters
United Kingdom
English to Tagalog
+ ...
| Benefits of more than one monitor | Feb 27, 2006 |
Mihai Badea wrote:
I am very curious why somebody would want to work on two monitors simultaneously. I guess it may be useful for proofreading work, but how could this help when doing translation work? Does it speed the process? If so, is it cost-effective? (2 monitors = increased power consumption).
- Basically the bottom line is more desktop real-estate. If you think of your virtual desktop as similar to your physical desk then imagine working on a small desk measuring barely 17" across diagonally. Whilst it's possible, it would make the task harder. Consider the following points:
1) If the books and papers that you need to do a job were all stacked on top of one another, you have to keep switching between them which takes up time, lead to confusion, and possibly mean mistakes that may not be noticed.
2) With computers, when you switch between applications that are hidden behind another application the computer has to redraw the entire application window which loads the processor and may lead to slower response times - by the time the computer has 'switched' the desired application to the front you may have forgotten what it was that you wanted to do. With more than one monitor you can simply glance at either window without fiddling around trying to remember your place or thought - just as with having a book and pad with your notes on the physical desk in front of you.
I would also like to ask you if you think that a pivot function enabling the computer display to be rotated from landscape to portrait would be useful for a translator. Some monitor manufacturers claim that it would make word documents easier to manage.
- Here the issue again comes down to improving the MMI (Man Machine Interface) to assist the user in achieving the task rather than moulding the man to the machine which increases the workload on the human. If we are dealing with written word/documents then the majority that exist are laid out in portrait form - whereas if we are working on images/photos we are normally viewing in landscape mode. It is important to note that if you go for a portrait/landscape swivel monitor then you must ensure that the graphics adapter in your computer can do a reasonable job of giving you a resolution that allows you to take advantage of the portrait functionality of the monitor. In a nutshell, if your graphics adapter does not support a resolution where there are more pixels vertically than horizontally then all you will have is a stretched vertical image which is worthless.
Remember the computer is a tool to help you, not to dictate to you how you work. If it is restricting you then it's probably wasting your time. Tailor your tools around you, and the task to hand, not the other way round. Hope that helps.
| | | | Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 10:05
Member (2006)
English to Hindi
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | Are they connected to the same system | Feb 27, 2006 |
David Russi wrote:
I run dual monitors on my system, and I don't know what I would do if I had to back to working with one screen.
Pardon me if I sound stupid, but I am curious to know whether both the monitors are connected to the same system (I wonder how that could be done, for my cabinet has facility for only one, probably you need to add an extra port ?) , or are are you using two separate computers?
| | | | Brandis (X)
Local time: 06:35
English to German
+ ...
| These are dual head graphic boards | Feb 27, 2006 |
Balasubramaniam wrote: David Russi wrote:
I run dual monitors on my system, and I don't know what I would do if I had to back to working with one screen. Pardon me if I sound stupid, but I am curious to know whether both the monitors are connected to the same system (I wonder how that could be done, for my cabinet has facility for only one, probably you need to add an extra port ?) , or are are you using two separate computers?
| | | |
I've had this beast for about a year, managed to get it ex-corporate on ebay for peanuts. Caters to my gaming needs + it is very nice to work on
| | |
|
|
|
Brandis (X)
Local time: 06:35
English to German
+ ...
Konstantin Kisin wrote: I've had this beast for about a year, managed to get it ex-corporate on ebay for peanuts. Caters to my gaming needs + it is very nice to work on
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 00:35
German to English
| 24" LCD main monitor, 21" CRT secondary monitor | Feb 27, 2006 |
When I bought a new system in December, I decided to go with a 24" LCD monitor. To my surprise, the video card had two video outputs, one digital, the other analog. Just for fun, I plugged my old monitor into the analog output and I was hooked. The older monitor is 5 years old and relatively dim (like the user), but it's handy when working with a TM program: I can have the original file on the smaller monitor while DejaVu or Trados runs on the larger, brighter monitor. It's also useful for keepi... See more When I bought a new system in December, I decided to go with a 24" LCD monitor. To my surprise, the video card had two video outputs, one digital, the other analog. Just for fun, I plugged my old monitor into the analog output and I was hooked. The older monitor is 5 years old and relatively dim (like the user), but it's handy when working with a TM program: I can have the original file on the smaller monitor while DejaVu or Trados runs on the larger, brighter monitor. It's also useful for keeping the browser window separate from my working window. I wish there were a way to have a second cursor live on the extended desktop, as I would prefer to have a separate cursor/mouse for each screen, as I sometimes lose my place in the wroking window when I scroll on the secondary monitor.
[Edited at 2006-02-27 12:37] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henk Peelen
Netherlands
Local time: 06:35
Member (2002)
German to Dutch
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | 24" monitor for the main computer, two 21" at the auxiliary computer | Feb 27, 2006 |
Some years ago I wanted to buy a new system and asked my shop the best way to coop with typical translator problems, such as the desire to have access to different files and the internet. The shop pointed out a special video card that gives the possibility for more screens at one computer.
I bought two computers, one to really work with and an auxiliary computer to run auxiliary files on, like PDF's and glossaries or drawings, and have access to internet or Outlook.
Two screens on on... See more Some years ago I wanted to buy a new system and asked my shop the best way to coop with typical translator problems, such as the desire to have access to different files and the internet. The shop pointed out a special video card that gives the possibility for more screens at one computer.
I bought two computers, one to really work with and an auxiliary computer to run auxiliary files on, like PDF's and glossaries or drawings, and have access to internet or Outlook.
Two screens on one computer doesn't cost much and works quite funny: when the mouse leaves the left screen, it appears on the right on. On each screen you can open an application, but you can also stretch out one application over the two screens.
[Edited at 2006-02-27 09:44] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I have two computers | Feb 27, 2006 |
... I have two computers, but rarely use both, apart from backup on the older one. Both computers have 17" monitors. I imagined I would have online dictionaries open on one while working on the other, but have never got used to this.
I also find the background noise of either computer alone quite tolerable, but having two running in a very small room is tiring. My 'guru' learnt a trick of suspending the drive with a strong elastic band, which reduces noise a lot, and this helped.... See more ... I have two computers, but rarely use both, apart from backup on the older one. Both computers have 17" monitors. I imagined I would have online dictionaries open on one while working on the other, but have never got used to this.
I also find the background noise of either computer alone quite tolerable, but having two running in a very small room is tiring. My 'guru' learnt a trick of suspending the drive with a strong elastic band, which reduces noise a lot, and this helped.
I did try out a borrowed 19" monitor but did not find it an advantage, except that I liked the pivot function when working in Trados. I have since pivoted my newest 17" monitor. (Not possible with the other.)
With a comfortable screen definition the right hand quarter of the screen is empty in the normal 'landscape' position, but this area can be used to see more of the document in the vertical position.
The particular 19" monitor had a less comfortable definition and 'beeped' loudly when e-mails came in and on other occasions - which proved to be irritation factors. Perhaps the settings could have been adjusted, but after 2 days I decided to return it instead of spending money on buying it. A friend in a different job using a lot of spreadsheets (whose eyesight is different too) is delighted with it!
This discussion all goes to show that monitors depend a lot on personal preferences, but it is good to see what aspects to consider when investing in a monitor.
Best of luck, Mihai! ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 21:35
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | When translating web sites.. | Feb 27, 2006 |
..a second monitor is crucial, especially when dealing with source code. Or text-compare tools.
But this wasn't the original question, I guess. The larger the monitor, the better you are taking care of your eyes. Mine are deteriorating, due to too many hours in front of too small and too cheap monitors. Terrific.
| | | | John Walsh
Italy
Local time: 06:35
Italian to English
| I also use two PCs | Feb 27, 2006 |
1 for the Internet, email, ref files etc., with a 17 flat screen.
The other for main work (and games), with a 19 flat screen.
Well worth the investment.
| | | | Henk Peelen
Netherlands
Local time: 06:35
Member (2002)
German to Dutch
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | Another advantage of two computers | Feb 27, 2006 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
... I also find the background noise of either computer alone quite tolerable, but having two running in a very small room is tiring.
...
This discussion all goes to show that monitors depend a lot on personal preferences, but it is good to see what aspects to consider when investing in a monitor.
...
You can play CD's on the second one to suppress the noise!
Two computers make too much noise when the ambient temperature is exceeding circa 20 °C, but that's the only drawback for me.
http://www.henkpeelen.com/computer.htm
Since I'm technical translator, I use to have a lot of auxiliary stuff like glossaries, drawings, PDF's and so on. Next to that the website of the client might help, or even the original source document on a second screen. For me it absolutely was worth the investment.
[Edited at 2006-02-27 09:43]
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: How large is your monitor? | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
| | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
