Dual-Monitors Increase Productivity

29. Jul, 2008 1 Comment

This post from LifeHacker shows how the New York Times mentions that your productivity rises with dual monitors. Is this true?

Survey after survey shows that whether you measure your productivity in facts researched, alien spaceships vaporized, or articles written, adding an extra monitor will give your output a considerable boost — 20 percent to 30 percent, according to a survey by Jon Peddie Research.

– Source

Do Dual Monitors Increase Productivity?

I have two 22″ Dell wide screen monitors. I bought one of them and the other one I mainly “took” over since it wasn’t being put to use. Since I have these two bad boys, I really can’t go back. I usually have them both landscape, and sometimes I tend to rotate one over for a portrait view in order to have a ridiculous amount of reading space.

During casual web surfing, I have my IM, Winamp, Thunderbird, etc all my gadgets on one side while I have my browser open on the other. Is this really useful? Yes! I never really switch between windows!
When programming, I usually try and keep one side for “refreshing” of my final product and the other of code itself. Using gvim, I can probably open around 16 decently sized files for my coding galore if my “product” is viewable in the terminal, or even a small window.

So yes, I do believe it increases productivity. I feel when I have one monitor I am less productive as its harder to switch to and from in order to view your resources and whatever you are working on!

So how can I do this?

If you don’t have them yet, by purchasing a second monitor, and a video card that supports dual monitor support.

You may also use your laptop and a VGA cable to use a monitor as your extended desktop! (Nearly ALL laptops have this functionality) Many newer tvs come with a VGA input so you can use your TV as well! I’ve managed to walk into offices, yank the cord off a CPU connecting a CRT, or LCD and plug it into my laptop to use it as my own! Really useful!