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> My boss came into my office yesterday with the following
> question: Do you have any hardware/software requests for the
> coming year?
Others have talked about software.
I'll second or third any recommendations for Snag-IT or
other screen-capture specialist utility.
But he said "hardware", too.
Might as well take advantage. If you don't ask, you'll never get.
You want a pair of 20-inch (or larger, and I'll leave it to you
to make the metric conversion...) flat-panel LCD monitors,
driven by a video card that's designed for dual-head or multi-head.
Once you've experienced all that visual real-estate, you'll
never want to go back.
Most writers spend a lot of time with numerous source-material
documents open on the desktop, as well as ssh windows to lab
computers, browsers, etc., along with the the Help Authoring
Tool or publishing program that they're using. It's just SO much
nicer to work with stuff that you need in view, rather than
constantly flipping through stacks of overlaid windows.
The reason that you want flat-panels, rather than a pair (or
more) of CRTs, is that most of us work in cubicles with
limited space. One massive monitor is bad enough. It's very
difficult to place _two_ large monitors such that they sit
side-by-side and can be pushed far enough back from your
face. Yes, younger eyes can focus really close, but you'll
get old, just like the rest of us... besides, if the array
is too close, you'll need to swivel your neck to see everything
and you don't want that. :-)
Flat panel LCDs don't have that big protuberance in
the back, that bumps into your office/cubicle walls.
The only drawback (if it is one) of replacing CRTs with flat-panel
monitors is that you don't have that heat source to dry your
running shoes or cycling gear after slogging to work in the
rain/snow/slush...
oops! Did I say that out loud?
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