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Made in us
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




Hello,

I recently began a coding course, and they are suggesting I get a dual monitor setup for my home workstation. Right now all I have is an old Acer laptop.

Can anyone suggest or point to a good place to start? Looking to spend under 300 for the monitors and mount. Would it be cheaper just to buy two cheap Dell 19" monitors and link them using DVI or should I go with dedicated dual monitor bundles like from Best Buy?

I was looking on walmart and was very unimpressed. Maybe amazon? I live in a rural area, and there are no real "local computer stores". So it's either Best Buy with the big prices, or Amazon.

Thank you for any advice/help!
   
Made in us
Terrifying Doombull




For coding?
I'd just throw $50 at amazon for a single additional monitor for the laptop, unless you're doing something far more complex than what I'm thinking.

But coding to me is mostly editing a text file for a compiler (with or without display & formatting assistance from the editor), so I can't think of a reason to have two additional monitors attached to a laptop. I'm not 100% sold on the need for an additional one specifically for coding, but I love having dual monitors for a lot of stuff, including research and editing)

So... what kind of coding, specifically?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/20 23:37:26


Efficiency is the highest virtue. 
   
Made in us
Morally-Flexible Malleus Hearing Whispers




I am taking a CompTIA Security + program, and I need to be able to monitor both my code, and the network changes. The class is recommending this, so I don't know if I NEED it or not. I had considered using just a 19" HDMI TV for a second screen, but I wanted advice from someone who knows it, and isn't trying to sell me something.

*Clarification - The class isn't trying to sell me monitors, just the idea that I need them. They already have my course money.
   
Made in gb
Frenzied Berserker Terminator




Southampton, UK

This is a personal ergonomics thing, we can't really tell you what you'll find comfortable to work with. If the basic requirement is being able to see 2 things on screen at once, and your laptop screen is not big enough to do this comfortably on its own, then the cheapest and easiest solution will be to connect 1 additional monitor to your laptop.
   
Made in gb
Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

I have two 24" monitors with separate Ergotron arm mounts, and that's worked fine for the last 10+ years.

(Obligatory Stefan Didak’s Home Office Desktop link)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/01/21 14:52:35


 
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka






If that 19" TV is 1080p HD, then it'll be 1920x1080 resolution - the same or better than your laptop, probably.

If your laptop has an HDMI output (almost certainly) and you have a cable handy, try that out for a while before spending money you don't have to.
   
 
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