Workspace Upgrade
Posted Sun May 4, 2008 in
Computing
While working on the computer, I use quite a few windows. But until recently I didn’t feel like I needed access to more than one or two at a time1. However, with my foray into World of Warcraft I need to have another window open with text displayed or a website open.
I often have a copy of one of Jame’s Leveling Guides open. But, because of the hassle of switching windows while in the game (and getting jumped by a monster), I started printing them. That’s a waste of paper and means I have to switch glasses or strain to read the print with my computer glasses2.
I have a spare monitor for my notebook computer (currently not used because the cables for the keyboard are in a box, somewhere, in my garage). I recently upgraded the display adapter in my desktop Mac with an NVidia 7800 series card3. Now I have two video outputs — a DVI and a VGA. The Apple Cinema Display is plugged into the DVI. Now I have a Viewsonic plugged into the VGA.
I think I’m really going to like this. I wonder if a second Apple Cinema Display would plug into the VGA output? It would be most cool to have two 23” monitors side-by-side. Way cool!
1 Interestingly, the time when I most need two windows open simultaneously is when editing LaTeX source. I use TeXShop for all the heavy lifting and it’s default mode is one window for source and the other for viewing the typeset result. I absolutely must have both windows open and side-by-side. I love my widescreen monitor for this.
2 I hate getting old.
3 There’s an interesting back story here. The frame rate was lower than I wanted for my game. No one is making upgraded display adapters for Power Macs. However, a few folks are working on upgraded ROMs for PC adapters that can then be used in a Power Mac. I bought one from an eBay seller. It works well, although it’s a little noisy. (The fan runs most of the time.)