Modern computing is all about multitasking. Do you use email, a web browser, Office and Twitter simultaneously? There's no better way to see lots of data at the same time than with two – or even three – separate monitors.
Having an extra monitor in a dual monitor setup extends the scope of a single program. With email, for example, you can have your email client on one monitor and your browser in the other. If you have a web link in a message, just drag it onto the other monitor and into the browser.
Most PCs have video adapters built into the motherboard, or have a separate graphics card with dual ports (HDMI, DVI or old-fashioned VGA).
Turn off your PC, connect the monitor cable and boot up. Windows will spot the dual monitor setup and a multiple displays drop-down list will appear.
Windows doesn't offer many options, but the UltraMon software provides extra versatility. Let's get started.
Windows should automatically detect each monitor. If not, right-click the desktop and click 'Screen Resolution', then 'Detect'.
Under the 'Multiple displays' drop-down list you can choose to 'Extend your displays', 'Duplicate your displays' or 'Show desktop on…' The latter is commonly used with a laptop if you want to keep your laptop screen blank after you've connected to a desktop monitor.
On the Customize Installation screen you can choose to install some of the key features in a different location (or not to install them at all). Click 'Next'.
All of UltraMon's action takes place in the system tray's 'Show hidden icons' area. Click the arrow on the Taskbar, then right-click on the UltraMon icon to see all your options.
From here, you can manage your monitors without ever having to go into the Windows Control Panel.
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