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Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 11/27/2008 2:56:36 PM
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psaulm119
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I have found a pretty good deal on a monitor, but it has VGA only (as opposed to DVI). What are the chances that low-end computers 2-3 years from now (when we replace our desktop) will still have VGA, as opposed to DVI only? I see that you can't get computers (stock) with the 3.5 inch floppy drives any more. Is this port for the graphics cards going the same way as the floppy? Or is it reasonable to expect computers for several years into the future to have these VGA ports?
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 11/27/2008 9:17:34 PM
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Miss Giggles
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Its very easy to swap out a vga card. I wouldn't worry about it.
I have been a laptop only person for a while though. It's nice.
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 11/27/2008 10:24:53 PM
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psaulm119
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OK I have seen on amazon that adapters are less than ten bucks, so if worse comes to worse I can go that route. I'm sure swapping cards is doable, but for the price of a card I might as well pony up the extra cash and get a monitor that can handle both.
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 11/29/2008 6:47:51 PM
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Miss Giggles
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There is a slight producitivity advantage for some users. Over the course of an 8 hour + workday it adds up which is why some companies provide the setup to their employees
Its nice to have different applications open at the same time. I keep one open with my email at work (since I have to answer them) and the other one with other applications since I have to copy and paste a lot. Sometimes we have 5 or 6 apps running at once.
If you get used to it, its quite nice when you have to compare numbers or work on spreadsheets, etc.
< Message edited by Miss Giggles -- 11/29/2008 6:54:27 PM >
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 11/30/2008 4:41:57 PM
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figmentPez
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quote:
ORIGINAL: psaulm119
does two monitors really make one more productive?
I've found them to be very useful. I've been running dual monitors for about 7 years now. (Currently, I've got one 19" CRT as my main, and a secondary 17" CRT. For a while my main was a 20" LCD, but it died.) They came in most useful when I was taking online college courses. It was great to be able to have my assignments open on one monitor while doing research and writing on the other. Switching back and forth between two applications isn't that hard, but I really like dual monitors when I've got 3+ programs I'm moving between. I was able to work a lot faster when I could glance at a second monitor to check information quickly, and then get back to typing without loosing my place.
I've been told that multi-monitors are used heavily in stat heavy jobs like stock trading, where it's nice to have all the information on screen in fixed positions. I've also heard that some users of CAD and Photoshop, among others, like to have their toolbars off on the second screen, so that the main is clear to work on the project.
These days I mostly my second display to play solitare while I watch fullscreen video, and so that I can keep IM and Winamp easily visible without having to Alt+Tab every time I want to check their status. I could easily get by on one screen if my 10+ year-old secondary display ever dies, but I wouldn't want to.
---
Back to the original topic. It's likely going to be possible to run a monitor off of VGA for a while to come. DVI-I ports can be converted with a simple adapter (which comes with many video cards), I'm using two such adapters right now. There are two new connectors that are popping up on many video cards and laptops. One is HDMI, a standard that was designed for HDTVs. The other is DisplayPort, which was designed specifically for computers.
HDMI poses a problem for VGA users, since it is purely digital. However, licensing costs may keep it from being widely adopted on computers, especially since DVI and DisplayPort can be converted to HDMI with adapters. It's unlikely that any computer would only have HDMI output, though (maybe a home theater PC).
DisplayPort, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have the same problems. DisplayPort at least has the option of supporting VGA via an adapter. I'm not sure if that will be required, or just optional, though. DVI had the option of being DVI-D and only suppporting digital output, but as far as I'm aware very few devices have had digital-only output (cables and inputs are another matter). It seems likely that most computers with a DisplayPort output will be able to be adapted to VGA with an adapter.
That said, I think that getting a monitor that has DVI is a good choice. I'm still surprised that there are still VGA-only LCD monitors, when I can't remember seeing a single DVI-only model. To me, using analog on a digital monitor makes about as much sense as eating freeze-dried soup mixes when you're at home with a fridge and pantry, and not backpacking. Dehydrating and rehydrating may not ruin food like it used to (just like going from ditgital -> analog -> digital used to do awful things to video), but there's really no point to choosing dessicated stew over canned or fresh if you don't have to.
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 12/1/2008 8:00:57 AM
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iluvatar
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quote:
ORIGINAL: psaulm119
Rant mode warning:
I don't see that happening anytime soon--I gotta ask: does two monitors really make one more productive?
It depends on what you're doing. I've actually got three set up right now, though because of issues with drivers and limited space, I'm only using two. All of my work is either video editing, audio production, or web development and it's not uncommon to bounce between several apps at the same time. More importantly, though, is that many apps have multiple windows that really benefit from having their own physical screen. Pro Tools (audio), Logic (audio), and Final Cut (video) are all much nicer on multiple screens. Multiple screens are even more advantageous when you're using programs like Kontakt & Reason that run as plug-ins inside of Pro Tools.
-Dan.
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 12/1/2008 9:08:33 AM
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DaveW
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quote:
ORIGINAL: psaulm119
I don't see that happening anytime soon--I gotta ask: does two monitors really make one more productive? Isn't this why they call it "Windows," so you can minimize what you aren't working on at the moment? I don't know--my "work" is essentially reading (hard copy and webpages) and then typing up my notes,so its rather one-dimensional. It depends. If you are using multiple graphic programs at once it can really help.
I have had 2 screens for about 4 years at work and using Lamps (geographic database) and microstation (cad program) and dKart (graphic S-57 validation suite), frequently a couple at the same time, along with Word or Exel, 2 screens is an absolute must.
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 12/1/2008 10:14:58 AM
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psaulm119
Posts: 190
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DaveW
I have had 2 screens for about 4 years at work and using Lamps (geographic database) and microstation (cad program) and dKart (graphic S-57 validation suite), frequently a couple at the same time, along with Word or Exel, 2 screens is an absolute must.
quote:
ORIGINAL: iluvatar
Pro Tools (audio), Logic (audio), and Final Cut (video) are all much nicer on multiple screens. Multiple screens are even more advantageous when you're using programs like Kontakt & Reason that run as plug-ins inside of Pro Tools.
-Dan.
These sound like legitimate uses of two screens. However, I've walked into plenty of offices where I can assure you no such media editing was going on, and seen two screens. When I've asked they've assured me that they make them more productive... not wanting my own reasons for coming into the offices stymied, I didn't argue the point...
OK then let me modify my original allowance: if you are Bill Gates or Steven Spielberg, you get two monitors. Civilians only get one. 
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 12/1/2008 5:05:50 PM
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DaveW
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2 (or more) screens for all cartographers!!!! And Cad designers!!!
Did you know the first concept of Computer aided Design (CAD) was in a 1950s SciFi novel (Heinlien I think) where an architech had a dual-screen setup, with the plan, front and side elevation views of his building design on one screen and an isometric view on the other? (3D even!)
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Avatar is DW holding Saphira at her first birthday party and myself holding Louvena at 30 months!
We are now grandparents TWICE!!
====================================
Our CD is now available here:
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RE: Thoughts on future of VGA-DSub ports on computers - 12/1/2008 9:40:57 PM
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iluvatar
Posts: 2029
Joined: 4/12/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: psaulm119
These sound like legitimate uses of two screens. However, I've walked into plenty of offices where I can assure you no such media editing was going on, and seen two screens. When I've asked they've assured me that they make them more productive... not wanting my own reasons for coming into the offices stymied, I didn't argue the point...
OK then let me modify my original allowance: if you are Bill Gates or Steven Spielberg, you get two monitors. Civilians only get one.
It can still be handy if you've got multiple windows open and it really doesn't add all that much to the cost of the computer. Virtually all after-market video cards have 2 outputs and monitors can be had relatively inexpensively. Even if the whole unit is packaged by Dell, you're still only talking about an extra couple hundred dollars. For a business, that's a fairly cheap investment for any increased productivity.
If you need extra screen real estate, adding a second monitor is often cheaper than getting one monitor that's twice the actual desktop space (i.e. not just physical size, but also pixel dimensions), particularly if you're talking about LCD's that really only work well at one resolution.
-Dan.
_____________________________
Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.
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), tho it is a nice one: 
