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One such software is Multimon which can handle 10 or more monitors, but it is pretty expensive at $39. I'm just using a dual setup now (and love it)They are new, identical units, so matching color and brightness isn't what I'm concerned about.
I use UltraMon, primarily for it's "Smart Taskbar". This extends the taxbar to additional monitors, and put minimized programs on the taskbar on the same screen as the program.
What's wrong with using Windows XP?
I am assuming that everyone posting here is using Windows XP native capability of expanding the desktop to multiple monitors.
What we are discussing is software to ENHANCE these capabilities - by adding capabilities that are omitted from the native Windows XP support.
For example, extending the task bar to multiple screens. Forcing dialog boxes to come up on the screen that a program is on. (Something, BTW, that I haven't had much luck with, even WITH UltraMon). Adding menu items/buttons to allow maximize to full desktop. Etc, etc. etc.
You're kidding right? I spend more than that on a ink cartridges for my printer. :) If it helps with efficiency or make my job more pleasant then it's worth dropping $40 on it!
since this thread started i went out and tried it - i have a three monitor set up on xp-pro
certainly worth the money for me, i've previously used the native support both on xp and win2000 as well as propriatory software from matrox when i used one of their dual head cards back before they were as common as they are today.
ultramon has so far worked for me without a hitch and has some very handy features - which i already wonder if i could live without now that i've got used to them.
Some examples? I'm eagerly awaiting my 2nd monitor (and the guts for a complete rebuild) and am interested in learning more.
You also get very good wallpaper support that isn't possible without the software. I find myself taking a lot more panorama photos now and stitching them together for my desktops now.
click of a button to move a window between screens (no dragging)
smart taskbar feature (as per bill)
desktop icons stay where i put them eg on different monitors, this in theory happens with the native xp support but annoyingly for no reason with xp they sometimes have all moved to the primary monitor on a reboot in the past
I don't care about wall paper/screen savers. I'd like my duplicate icons to stay put (a bug fix) and the ability to switch windows with a click. Expensive multi monitor video cards should come with basic software utilities that can do this.
I wasn't impressed by Ultramon's statement that the current version 2.6 was last updated more than a year ago even though dual monitors are becoming very popular.
The Microsoft Powertoys implementation is really clunky on two monitors, but this little German app called Dexpot is perfect. Four virtual desktops (although you can have many more) mean eight screens for me, and I can swap between them and move windows between them with hot-keys.
