Multi Monitor Computing

nView

nVidia supply their Desktop Manager software which can add an extra option to right clicking on the desktop which I find useful and employ. They, like many others add an icon to the tray bar, which I do not like and disable. Still, at least I get a choice in it! They also offer extra nViewbuttons for taskbars, which I use occasionally nView options from the Green Icon and minimise or expand to desktop (i.e. both monitors) from the second button.

The main change is the huge range of options on offer from the nView Desktop Manager. You certainly have to spend some time playing with it trying to work your way through them all. My personal favourite allows you to 'throw' windows between monitors, which is quicker than the clicking the extra green button menu and navigating through the two popup menu options to send it to the other monitor. Sureley this should be on the nView button bar.

The only other criticism I offer is that since 52.xx Detonators (yes I know they're called Forceware now, but it sounds like my joystick, not my graphics card) you no longer have the option to stretch the Start Menu Bar across both monitors, in Dual View, the most useful mode which is extremely useful. You can have it in Horizontal Span, but it's less intuitive to use. That said, they have spent a considerable amount of effort in simplifying setup too. The 61.xxs are a no brainer to install.

The only work around I have discovered to date is a programme called Ultramon, which allows you to add Start Menus per monitor, not quite what I want, but beggars can't be choosers. On the plus side, the extra bar only shows what's running on that monitor by default; something agian, I find useful. It also can add buttons to maximise to monitors, swap monitors etc, but as you only need on programme to do this, I use nVidias offering.

Some of the first problems you then encounter is screensavers nly running on the primary monitor. The gash ones with windows happily work on both, but unless you are in nVidias horizontal Span mode, most are limited. Ultramon allows you to run two separate secreensavers (or however monitors you happen to run). Still, a little research allows you to access some quite decent savers that are both free and multimonitor capable. The current incumbent on my machine is the rather excellent Matrix Revolutions which I use as a glorified dual monitor clock!

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