Using dual monitors when giving PowerPoint presentations can greatly enhance your ability to deliver compelling and professional presentations. Here are some best practices for setup and tips for making the most of a dual monitor configuration.

Benefits of Using Dual Monitors for Presentations

Presenter view on one screen: You can display your speaker notes and preview the next slide on one monitor privately while your audience views a clean version of the slides on the second monitor.
More screen real estate: Spread your slides and supplementary materials across two monitors to avoid constantly toggling between windows.

Improved collaboration: Share your screen more easily with remote participants. Dedicate one monitor to your presentation and one to video conferencing.
Keep an eye on other programs: Monitor email or other applications on the second screen without disturbing your slideshow.

Hardware and Setup

Check compatibility: Confirm that your computer setup supports connecting two monitors. Most laptops can handle it, but capabilities vary.

Position carefully: Place both monitors directly in front of you, side-by-side for ideal viewing. Adjust the height so you can comfortably view both.
Match display settings: Use extended desktop mode and match resolution, DPI scaling, and orientation between monitors to prevent image distortion.
Design for dual monitors: Set the slide aspect ratio to match your dual monitor dimensions (e.g. 8:3 for two 4:3 monitors).

Configuring PowerPoint for Dual Monitors

From the “Slide Show” tab:

Select “Use Presenter View”
Choose the monitor to show speaker notes

Select the second monitor from the “Display slide show on:” dropdown
Click “From Beginning”

This will display the slides full screen on the second monitor and speaker notes on the first.

Presentation Tips

Display supplementary charts, graphs, or videos on the second monitor. Pause the presentation to discuss them.
Use the second monitor for video conferencing, dedicating the primary one to your slides.
Refer to notes or other programs on the secondary screen without interrupting slide flow.

Open a web browser to quickly display any additional web resources.

Pros and Cons of Dual Monitors

Pros

Enhanced presenter view options

Ability to show more content
Improved collaboration capabilities
Increased productivity

Cons

Can be distracting if not used carefully
Requires compatible hardware and setup

Design considerations for slides
Potential technical difficulties

Conclusion

Using a dual monitor setup for PowerPoint presentations unlocks powerful capabilities. With proper configuration and an understanding of best practices, dual monitors enable smoother presentations, better collaboration, and increased flexibility. Carefully consider if the benefits outweigh any potential downsides based on your specific presentation needs.