remote training class
2012-Sep-24, Monday 11:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mellowtiggerWord of advice: don't take a traditional computer class remotely when you have only one monitor at your pc.
I'm supposed to spend all week in a SQL 2012 Administration class. The first two hours have already been immensely frustrating. I'm skipping lunch to go buy another pc screen. I wasn't intending to spend this money. In fact, I've refused all these years to buy a second monitor because of my environmentalist objections (using electricity on an unnecessary device). Today, however, that extra monitor has become necessary. I will not pay attention to class if I have to maintain 4 different windows on a single screen: 2 pdf books, 1 instructor slideshow, and 1 remote virtual machine (window in a window). I've already given up, and we've only started.
I'll go to the local Microcenter to buy another screen on short notice. I favor screens with 16:10 resolution ratio, which means my new monitor will be a little more expensive than equivalent devices. I like Dell's attachment bar, but their screen only has 8ms response time. I'm not sure, is that fast enough for smooth screens with computer games? My current screen is 5ms response time, and it works great. I generally trust Tom's Hardware, and their forum suggests that 8ms will work fine for non-professional gamers, and Maximum PC's review article concurs, with caveats.
Okay, it's decided. I'm spending $330 at lunch today for Dell's U2412M monitor.
I'm supposed to spend all week in a SQL 2012 Administration class. The first two hours have already been immensely frustrating. I'm skipping lunch to go buy another pc screen. I wasn't intending to spend this money. In fact, I've refused all these years to buy a second monitor because of my environmentalist objections (using electricity on an unnecessary device). Today, however, that extra monitor has become necessary. I will not pay attention to class if I have to maintain 4 different windows on a single screen: 2 pdf books, 1 instructor slideshow, and 1 remote virtual machine (window in a window). I've already given up, and we've only started.
I'll go to the local Microcenter to buy another screen on short notice. I favor screens with 16:10 resolution ratio, which means my new monitor will be a little more expensive than equivalent devices. I like Dell's attachment bar, but their screen only has 8ms response time. I'm not sure, is that fast enough for smooth screens with computer games? My current screen is 5ms response time, and it works great. I generally trust Tom's Hardware, and their forum suggests that 8ms will work fine for non-professional gamers, and Maximum PC's review article concurs, with caveats.
Okay, it's decided. I'm spending $330 at lunch today for Dell's U2412M monitor.
no subject
Date: 2012-Sep-24, Monday 07:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-Sep-24, Monday 08:42 pm (UTC)This screen seems much larger than the 20-inch that I was using previously. The display is very nice, though. It's much brighter than my several-years-old Sceptre X20. I'll try gaming later tonight. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-Sep-24, Monday 11:25 pm (UTC)Class was over at 6pm, so I immediately logged into GW2. I didn't notice any visual effects caused by the new monitor. Lag did seem worse because of the higher resolution. I may need to tone down some of the settings to enjoy all of this extra pixel space. :)
Oh, and I discovered that I had turned down the brightness on my old monitor. I probably did it years ago to avoid getting blinded while viewing it at night. Now, I have 2 crisp clear screens. I guess it's good to have a backup, even though I did suddenly spend 10% of my savings to get it. :(