Term of the Moment
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Definition: dual monitor
Two monitors attached to the same computer. The required computer hardware is typically a graphics card with two monitor ports. The monitors are typically set to "extended desktop mode," in which both function as one with the mouse moving seamlessly from one screen to the other. See window spanning and extended desktop mode.
The Larger the Better
Monitor Settings in Windows
Dual-Port Card
In the early 2010s, Alan Freedman, author of this encyclopedia, used dual 21" Samsung monitors connected to one PC (top). Later flipped into portrait mode (middle), they accompanied a 30" monitor to a PC and 26" monitor to a Mac. In the 2020s, all units were replaced with a 43" Samsung for the PC (bottom left) and 43" Dell for the Mac (bottom right).
Operating systems automatically detect multiple monitors. This Display Properties dialog in Windows is displayed by right clicking the mouse on the desktop.
Many graphics cards, such as this earlier DVI card from NVIDIA, have two monitor ports. Today, the connections are HDMI or DisplayPort. See DisplayPort. (Image courtesy of NVIDIA Corporation.)