Dual monitors setup

[PaladinPete]

Hi all. I have been using a 19" widscreen monitor on my PC for some time. The resolution is set at 1440x900, the native resolution for the monitor. I just got a Dell 17" monitor from my job that I'd like to use but my question is what resolution should it be set for? I'll be using the set up for Photoshop work and video editing with Vegas.
Thanks for the info.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Is it 4:3 or wide? All 17" 4:3 LCDs I've seen have a native resolution of 1280x1024, which drives most people nuts.

17" wide, I couldn't even begin to guess.

[PaladinPete]

It's 4:3. So the native resolution is cool?

[Nathan J]

A LCD monitor will always look best at its native resolution -- if it's 1280x1024, stick with that.

[bpalermini]

I agree with Nathan. Go to the Dell site, search for the model of the monitor, see what the native resolution is and set it to that.

[PaladinPete]

Thanks all. I'll get that information and try it. Do most folks extend the desktop to the second monitor or just clone the display?

[[Admin] osborn4]

For a workstation, there is no benefit for cloning. You get the same thing on both. And with 2 different monitors with 2 different aspect rations, it will look odd.

Extend is almost always the way to go. Gives you more desk space for a workstations and gives you a discrete display for display on a projection computer.

[Pastor Ryan]

If you extend you may run into your primary monitor down converting to the secondary monitors resolution.