Most of the people commenting on this are either trolls, idiots or fanboys. First of all setting up dual monitors on Linux was as easy as clicking the Nvidia TwinView radio button in the Nvidia control panel. Can it be configured a different way? Sure it can, you can manually configure your xorg.conf file and setup your screens, but we are debating ease of use. Anyone that can't use the Nvidia control panel in Linux, can't use it in Windows either so whats the difference?
I hope I don't get dugg down as a troll, but I really want to make a constructive point here: I am not necessarily against Linux. But as someone who has tried Linux and been unimpressed I feel that this is a key problem with the system. There have certainly been great strides, don't get me wrong. But now, the setup process is very streamlined, and for many simple users, it's good enough, but there's no ability in Linux to do a little tweaking without getting your hands really dirty. Linux has made a lot of strides to make things easier for low-level customization, but when it has serious weaknesses in a lot of areas.Secondly, it makes no attempt (at least in KDE and Gnome) to differentiate itself from the windows interface. I'm not saying it has to be like OSX, but the fact that it is a free windows clone (not my opinion, but the misguided opinion of others) that is more difficult to opearate doesn't help. If it were different in it's user interface, then I can see more attention.Now I know there are things like Beryl and such that change things, but in the end, there is a start menu, and all of the windows-like interface elements. Linux really needs to innovate in areas where it is noticed the most. This whole attempt at luring windows users by being a better windows isn't going to impress anyone. Linux needs to make it's own way of having better usability.To be honest, I'd welcome a version of Linux that made me think, "Wow, that's pretty cool. I haven't seen that anywhere" On OSX as a recent switcher, I was constantly amazed at the little differences that were better than windows. You want to get people to respect Linux, you need to start doing these types of things better.
there are many other window managers besides KDE and Gnome, that arent like windows, those two are just the most popular, either because people like the interface, or they are just the most well-developed.OS X is very similar too, they all have taskbar, menus, etc. There is a reason for this. If they were all drastically different, people would have a hard time using the interface.I do miss the dock in OS X...and I havent found a nice one for gnome yet...
dual screens give your more resolution per $/? for example:2 1600X1200 monitors is around ?600($1000) thats 4 megapixels of space1 2400X1200 monitor is $1200 ($2000) and less megapixels tooplus you need a dual link card to run it, and a microscope to read the text
@chickenrob (#5973098)Yeah I guess I shouldn't complain since I usually use Gentoo. I was surprised it was the same on Ubuntu.I have to admit I haven't tried any distros such as PCLinuxOS, Linspire, or Suse so maybe I shouldn't complain so much. Haven't been much of a KDE fan since Gnome 2 came out, but these days most of the time I use Xfce or fluxbox on Gentoo.Did you have to restart X for the changes to take effect? If so then it's still "broken" imo. I just want to plug it in like I do with basically all my hardware on Linux (3d acceleration being the notable exception).
nvidia drivers for linux were pretty easy to do (fedora core 6), and if had another monitor, all id have to do is plug it in, open the nivida software, and check a box
"it makes no attempt". well one of the point is for Windows users to be able to have a positive transition when migrating or maybe just learn how to use it and discovering its potential benefits far more easier than using a command line. now if you are adept then there are alot of different WindowManagers out there that you would find very powerful and suitable for you than those windows like ones.Frankly the main reason why i don't want a mac is that i am too lazy or maybe even afraid to learn all the mac stuff from scratch, I used it for a short time and i feel like a total newb. I know how to use, fix, tweek my windows os and i can do everything on it that i would on a mac, why should i go back in elementary to learn all over again? Linux is fun coz u find new potentials of a new OS but don't have to go back and learn how to use a single thing just common sense.
@chickenrob (#5975894) said: "yes, I did have to restart x like you always do with SaX2 for changes to take effect. I guess I don't think that is a big deal considering that in windows typically you need to restart the whole damn os to enact drivers and sometimes even just to install software. Restarting x remember is just like logging out and into windows and is a very quick thing with a newer machine (10 seconds maybe tops) I never had to reboot."Windows is hardly the mark we should set for Linux when it comes to things like that. Logging in and logging out may as well be a reboot as far as I am concerned. I have to close down all my apps and open them up again anyway. It would be nice if they all just supported sessions and logging in & out or rebooting didn't mean restarting desktop apps.
Just want to make one comment on the people saying how Macs are so easy:- You have to use hardware made for the Mac- If it doesn't work, there's no xorg.conf to try and get it working. Time to call Apple.There's absolutely an advantage to a very closed system that is MacOS and Macintosh computers, but choice isn't one of them. Try using any video cards without an Apple sticker on them. Ohh, you can't.If you used only "Linux Approved and Known Working" type hardware, you'd have a lot less problems too.That being said, this shouldn't be something that requires editing files. Most video cards and their ports are indeed detected properly - there's just no GUI tools to get it set up. There should be some sort of something. That's why things like Beryl end up so popular (over Compiz) - nice easy GUI tools for things that have to do with the GUI.
The beauty of linux is it provides an operating system for those of us who are willing to spend a few hours learning some useful tools, in exchange for vastly increased productivity in the long run. For example, a colleague had to delete all the .svn and .cvs files he had sitting in his project since we are all switching to GIT. That would have taken him hours in windows. We installed cygwin (which provides a bash shell on his windows box), and I was able to accomplish the same thing in a few seconds using find, grep, xargs, rm and rmdir.Windows is designed for people who would rather spend hours performing repetitive monotonous idiotic actions, rather than strain their brain learning how to use their tool properly.
evanfreyApr 2, 2007
Most of the people commenting on this are either trolls, idiots or fanboys. First of all setting up dual monitors on Linux was as easy as clicking the Nvidia TwinView radio button in the Nvidia control panel. Can it be configured a different way? Sure it can, you can manually configure your xorg.conf file and setup your screens, but we are debating ease of use. Anyone that can't use the Nvidia control panel in Linux, can't use it in Windows either so whats the difference?
phillipjfryApr 2, 2007
I hope I don't get dugg down as a troll, but I really want to make a constructive point here: I am not necessarily against Linux. But as someone who has tried Linux and been unimpressed I feel that this is a key problem with the system. There have certainly been great strides, don't get me wrong. But now, the setup process is very streamlined, and for many simple users, it's good enough, but there's no ability in Linux to do a little tweaking without getting your hands really dirty. Linux has made a lot of strides to make things easier for low-level customization, but when it has serious weaknesses in a lot of areas.Secondly, it makes no attempt (at least in KDE and Gnome) to differentiate itself from the windows interface. I'm not saying it has to be like OSX, but the fact that it is a free windows clone (not my opinion, but the misguided opinion of others) that is more difficult to opearate doesn't help. If it were different in it's user interface, then I can see more attention.Now I know there are things like Beryl and such that change things, but in the end, there is a start menu, and all of the windows-like interface elements. Linux really needs to innovate in areas where it is noticed the most. This whole attempt at luring windows users by being a better windows isn't going to impress anyone. Linux needs to make it's own way of having better usability.To be honest, I'd welcome a version of Linux that made me think, "Wow, that's pretty cool. I haven't seen that anywhere" On OSX as a recent switcher, I was constantly amazed at the little differences that were better than windows. You want to get people to respect Linux, you need to start doing these types of things better.
briangigApr 2, 2007
there are many other window managers besides KDE and Gnome, that arent like windows, those two are just the most popular, either because people like the interface, or they are just the most well-developed.OS X is very similar too, they all have taskbar, menus, etc. There is a reason for this. If they were all drastically different, people would have a hard time using the interface.I do miss the dock in OS X...and I havent found a nice one for gnome yet...
kaserproApr 2, 2007
dual screens give your more resolution per $/? for example:2 1600X1200 monitors is around ?600($1000) thats 4 megapixels of space1 2400X1200 monitor is $1200 ($2000) and less megapixels tooplus you need a dual link card to run it, and a microscope to read the text
nofxjunkeeApr 3, 2007
@chickenrob (#5973098)Yeah I guess I shouldn't complain since I usually use Gentoo. I was surprised it was the same on Ubuntu.I have to admit I haven't tried any distros such as PCLinuxOS, Linspire, or Suse so maybe I shouldn't complain so much. Haven't been much of a KDE fan since Gnome 2 came out, but these days most of the time I use Xfce or fluxbox on Gentoo.Did you have to restart X for the changes to take effect? If so then it's still "broken" imo. I just want to plug it in like I do with basically all my hardware on Linux (3d acceleration being the notable exception).
spikitoApr 3, 2007
nvidia drivers for linux were pretty easy to do (fedora core 6), and if had another monitor, all id have to do is plug it in, open the nivida software, and check a box
teckieeeApr 3, 2007
SS or it didn't happen
teckieeeApr 3, 2007
"it makes no attempt". well one of the point is for Windows users to be able to have a positive transition when migrating or maybe just learn how to use it and discovering its potential benefits far more easier than using a command line. now if you are adept then there are alot of different WindowManagers out there that you would find very powerful and suitable for you than those windows like ones.Frankly the main reason why i don't want a mac is that i am too lazy or maybe even afraid to learn all the mac stuff from scratch, I used it for a short time and i feel like a total newb. I know how to use, fix, tweek my windows os and i can do everything on it that i would on a mac, why should i go back in elementary to learn all over again? Linux is fun coz u find new potentials of a new OS but don't have to go back and learn how to use a single thing just common sense.
nofxjunkeeApr 4, 2007
@chickenrob (#5975894) said: "yes, I did have to restart x like you always do with SaX2 for changes to take effect. I guess I don't think that is a big deal considering that in windows typically you need to restart the whole damn os to enact drivers and sometimes even just to install software. Restarting x remember is just like logging out and into windows and is a very quick thing with a newer machine (10 seconds maybe tops) I never had to reboot."Windows is hardly the mark we should set for Linux when it comes to things like that. Logging in and logging out may as well be a reboot as far as I am concerned. I have to close down all my apps and open them up again anyway. It would be nice if they all just supported sessions and logging in & out or rebooting didn't mean restarting desktop apps.
cbreakerApr 22, 2007
Just want to make one comment on the people saying how Macs are so easy:- You have to use hardware made for the Mac- If it doesn't work, there's no xorg.conf to try and get it working. Time to call Apple.There's absolutely an advantage to a very closed system that is MacOS and Macintosh computers, but choice isn't one of them. Try using any video cards without an Apple sticker on them. Ohh, you can't.If you used only "Linux Approved and Known Working" type hardware, you'd have a lot less problems too.That being said, this shouldn't be something that requires editing files. Most video cards and their ports are indeed detected properly - there's just no GUI tools to get it set up. There should be some sort of something. That's why things like Beryl end up so popular (over Compiz) - nice easy GUI tools for things that have to do with the GUI.
sarahmaddelsonMay 11, 2007
Of course! I've did it several times and everything was ok with 2 monitors!
mhmdkhamisOct 23, 2007
Option "metamodes" "1024x768, 1024x768; 1024x768, NULL"Open up a terminal and put in:xrandr -s 1024x768To make both screens work again reset it to its default resolution eg.xrandr -s 2048x768<a class="user" href="http://www.paramegsoft.com/forum/">http://www.paramegsoft.com/forum/</a> <a class="user" href="http://www.paramegsoft.com/flash_games.html">http://www.paramegsoft.com/flash_games.html</a> <a class="user" href="http://www.paramegsoft.com/top_software.html">http://www.paramegsoft.com/top_software.html</a>
spacemooseprimeSep 8, 2009
The beauty of linux is it provides an operating system for those of us who are willing to spend a few hours learning some useful tools, in exchange for vastly increased productivity in the long run. For example, a colleague had to delete all the .svn and .cvs files he had sitting in his project since we are all switching to GIT. That would have taken him hours in windows. We installed cygwin (which provides a bash shell on his windows box), and I was able to accomplish the same thing in a few seconds using find, grep, xargs, rm and rmdir.Windows is designed for people who would rather spend hours performing repetitive monotonous idiotic actions, rather than strain their brain learning how to use their tool properly.