Comments on: Now Running Ubuntu….or not! http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/ Confessions of a code Junkie and anything else i fancy! Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:02:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mark Mandel http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-893 Mark Mandel Fri, 23 May 2008 21:31:42 +0000 http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-893 I run two monitors, and it wasn't that hard to setup at all. I had to do some tweaking of the xorg.conf, but nothing major. Since you have a dell XPS, I can assume you have an nVidia card. Fire up the nVidia X Server settings (may need to run this in sudo mode, but don't worry about it for now) - this is pretty much the best place to configure X with nVidia cards. Click 'Detect Displays', and set the configuration of your monitors to 'TwinView'. You may actually be able to apply this straight away and have it work, if you are happy with it, save it to an X configuration file. I needed to do some tweaking on that xorg.conf file, just to bring across some settings from my original, but the basics are there very easily.. but that was in Hardy, it may work better in Gutsy. I run two monitors, and it wasn’t that hard to setup at all.

I had to do some tweaking of the xorg.conf, but nothing major.

Since you have a dell XPS, I can assume you have an nVidia card.

Fire up the nVidia X Server settings (may need to run this in sudo mode, but don’t worry about it for now) – this is pretty much the best place to configure X with nVidia cards.

Click ‘Detect Displays’, and set the configuration of your monitors to ‘TwinView’.

You may actually be able to apply this straight away and have it work, if you are happy with it, save it to an X configuration file.

I needed to do some tweaking on that xorg.conf file, just to bring across some settings from my original, but the basics are there very easily.. but that was in Hardy, it may work better in Gutsy.

]]> By: Jim Priest http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-884 Jim Priest Fri, 23 May 2008 14:46:55 +0000 http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-884 I'll have to go back and revisit that. My xorg.conf got trashed when I moved to Hardy so I set things back up using the latest drivers, etc. I’ll have to go back and revisit that. My xorg.conf got trashed when I moved to Hardy so I set things back up using the latest drivers, etc.

]]> By: Terry Schmitt http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-883 Terry Schmitt Fri, 23 May 2008 14:31:01 +0000 http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-883 This is kinda funny! Sounds exactly like my story. I bought a new Dell desktop w/Vista (mistake), reloaded with XP and had a HD failure a month later. After 1hr 45min w/Dell India support, I had a tech arrive the next day to replace the HD. I've toyed with Linux over the years, but it was just never quite there. I tried the new Ubuntu Hardy, but have settled on Kubuntu. I don't think I'm looking back this time. All my web dev tools work great in Kubuntu except for CF Report Builder. My experience with dual monitors was extremely good. I have an Nvidia 8600. Using the restricted driver and nvidia-settings was painfully simple and it just works with my 17" and 19" LCDs using twinview. Even though it has worked well for me, I think this is one area that Windows really shines over linux. I disagree with the description of twinview in the link that Jim provided. I use Twinview and it behaves exactly like Windows does. You can drag between monitors, maximize an app in each monitor etc and that is with different resolutions. Don't give up! I'd agree, Linux dual monitor support sucks, but I just got lucky :) This is kinda funny! Sounds exactly like my story. I bought a new Dell desktop w/Vista (mistake), reloaded with XP and had a HD failure a month later. After 1hr 45min w/Dell India support, I had a tech arrive the next day to replace the HD.
I’ve toyed with Linux over the years, but it was just never quite there. I tried the new Ubuntu Hardy, but have settled on Kubuntu. I don’t think I’m looking back this time. All my web dev tools work great in Kubuntu except for CF Report Builder.
My experience with dual monitors was extremely good. I have an Nvidia 8600. Using the restricted driver and nvidia-settings was painfully simple and it just works with my 17″ and 19″ LCDs using twinview. Even though it has worked well for me, I think this is one area that Windows really shines over linux.
I disagree with the description of twinview in the link that Jim provided. I use Twinview and it behaves exactly like Windows does. You can drag between monitors, maximize an app in each monitor etc and that is with different resolutions.

Don’t give up!
I’d agree, Linux dual monitor support sucks, but I just got lucky :)

]]> By: Jim Priest http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-877 Jim Priest Fri, 23 May 2008 12:27:54 +0000 http://john.beynon.org.uk/2008/05/23/now-running-ubuntuor-not/#comment-877 It does suck... BUT you can make it work. I run two screens at home - one an old 17" CRT and the other a dell 22" widescreen. http://www.thecrumb.com/2008/01/22/ubuntu-nvidia-and-two-monitors/ Once you do get it to work - back up your xorg.conf file :) It does suck… BUT you can make it work. I run two screens at home – one an old 17″ CRT and the other a dell 22″ widescreen.

http://www.thecrumb.com/2008/01/22/ubuntu-nvidia-and-two-monitors/

Once you do get it to work – back up your xorg.conf file :)

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