So when I was talking to a fellow Flash developer the other day and heard him say he works on a 1024x768 monitor I almost choked. Whoa.. that's like looking through a straw.
I normally work on Flash on a desktop that measures 3840x1024, and when I have to go back to a single monitor setup (my laptop) for some reason it makes me realize that using multiple monitors isn't a luxury, it's a requirement. Being able to have panels in Flash, Fireworks, or Dreamweaver spread across more than one monitor doesn't cost that much these days. If you're using Windows XP then all it takes is an extra monitor and an extra graphics card. Shoot.. most graphics cards now support dual monitors so you may be able to use just one card. Nice 19" LCDs can be had for less than $250/ea if you watch for sales, and places are just about giving away CRTs these days. The benefits of being able to have code, browser window, help panel, etc.. all open side by side are just huge. Apps like the the Flash IDE, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, etc that have panels that can be undocked and spread across multiple monitors are just awesome for this setup (especially if that library panel stays where I put it).
Anyway, this reminds me that a long while back somebody posted a picture of their workspace and others posted what their setup looked like. I'm hoping that others will post comments with images of their development systems and maybe, just maybe we'll convince some folks to put down the straw. Friends don't let friends work on Flash on a 1024x768 desktop.
In the image above you'll see one 19" CRT (so I can change resolution down), and two 19" LCDs.. the CPU is in a big closet about 15' away (so it's silent), and the laptop is used for e-mail and IM mostly. I use a Logitech MX1000 wireless laser mouse (some of the best $ I've spent in a while on computer junk), and the two LCDs are Neovo F-419s (cheap, and a good image). There's a big Altec Lansing subwoofer in the corner behind the desk. I can crank it up and put my feet on it for a foot massage. heheh.. I used to do the KVM thing with a server and another PC running in the closet, but I've simplified and now mostly just have the one "dev" PC running.
25 Feb 2006 at 08:42 am | #
heh, i actually develop in flash on an old laptop that has a 1024x768 screen. i've gotten used to opening and closing panels all the time. even when i eventually get a new laptop, i don't expect the resolution to be that much better, since i will likely be getting a small and light ultraportable...
25 Feb 2006 at 07:38 pm | #
.. bunnyhero.. most laptops these days have an external monitor jack on them so you can connect a monitor and share your desktop across the built in LCD and the external monitor. So you might be able to plug in an external monitor and drag your panels onto it. That would save you from opening and closing all those panels all the time. Give it a try.. once you go dual monitor you won't go back.
04 Mar 2006 at 10:24 am | #
... and here's a new gadget from Matrox that will enable you to hook three monitors up to a system without adding extra video cards. It even works for laptops.. nifty. http://www.matrox.com/graphics/offhome/th2go/home.cfm
It's an external device that your system sees as one giant monitor. So your system thinks it has just one monitor plugged in, when you've actually plugged three into it.
11 Mar 2006 at 05:14 pm | #
I am using a 24' Dell widescreen monitor ( 1920x1200 ) I also find when I switch back to my laptop that my productivity goes down. You can work at lower res, but you can work faster the more things you can keep open and not "open, close, open close" all the time.
05 Apr 2006 at 06:37 pm | #
I run two monitors and it's great but I am having problems with Flash 8 remembering that the panels should be opened on the secondary monitor. Any ideas how to solve this?
02 Sep 2006 at 04:36 am | #
Hi,
I've got a silly question. I am living in France, so I have a French copy of Dreamweaver, though I'm not french.... sooo, I haven't figured out how to unlock the panels to spread out across multiple monitors, and it's driving me crazy, please can anyone drop me an email and tell me where to find the options, file, edit, insert, etc???
Thanks in advance!
M
12 Jul 2007 at 03:18 am | #
How to get Flash to remember the action panel is on my second monitor ????
I've tried saving workspace under different names and even over "default" no success
Thank you.