Advantages of two monitors

I am about to buy a new PC. I was wondering about whether to go for two monitors or one 24inch widescreen. I guess it depends how you work, but would be interested in your views on the advantages of using duel monitors in X1. 

I record mainly audio, and only occasionally edit midi data. I often have the screen arranged so that I can see the track and console views at the same time, along with the inspector. I use Session Drummer and Guitar Rig often, but once they are set up I don't tinker with the settings much. 

Thanks.

Bill

At the very least be sure your video card has two outputs and is otherwise suitable for dual screens.  Then consider getting one monitor and add the second when you see the need.

I use a single.  Just upgraded from a 19" 1440 x 900 to a 24" 1920 x 1080.  Giant difference for the better.  I'm not a real power user, and I don't think I'll be adding my old one or buying a second monitor.

Oh, I forgot to mention.  Take into account the space where you will be setting up your monitor(s).  This is very important.  I have two 22" displays and they are set between my studio monitors with just barely enough space between each piece.  The displays are angled slightly inward toward each other.  One display is mounted on a desk arm mount which allows me to adjust it's position easily.

    I currently use 2..2nd monitor is for console view when mixing, or PRV view when editing or video view when ..err video'ing.  Sometimes 2nd monitor is used for looking at the score or some other non Sonar object that I need to reference while mixing, editing..etc.  I wish I had 3 monitors.  
   
    When I use my laptop I realize that only having 1 monitor is a major PITA after getting used to having two.

Agreed. I don't know of a situation where MORE real estate for the UI was ever a bad thing. 

The original question was one big monitor or two smaller ones. My vote goes with the latter, but with an important caveat.

Screen real estate isn't the whole story. In an ITB digital studio, video monitors are the main culprits for causing reflections from speakers. You do not want any part of the video display to block your speakers, even slightly. Doing so will impose surprisingly large EQ anomalies on of your otherwise carefully compensated room.

For example, if you locate your nearfields in an equilateral triangle 3 feet on a side, there will only be about 30 inches between the speakers for the video displays. Depending on the style, that may be inadequate for two 22" monitors without having them impinge on your line-of-sight to the speakers.

I've never used one BIG screen so I can't comment on the functionality of one, but I do know my two 23" displays are great.

There are several reasons why I like it, one of which is that I have DVI, HDMI, and VGA outputs on mine so I can change from the DAW to the internet computer, or the DirecTV feed with a push of a button and still be using the other screen for the DAW. Total flexibility.

I'm with Bitflipper on this one.
I've got just enough space between my reference monitors for two 17" displays,
or I could upgrade to one 28" widescreen...maybe 30".
Anything larger and my speakers are too far apart for the mix position.