Dual Screen and Improved Productivity

My life both, personally and professionally, has been changed by simply adding another screen to my workday.  Yes that is right, completely changed. 

I, like many others, am prone to intense feelings of anxiety and A.D.D., not because I have a disorder, but because who wouldn't get stressed out and distracted by constant incoming emails with links and attachments, opening up new windows and new applications that just pile up on top of one another. It is so easy to get lost, forget what task you originally started to tackle and in general just stay sane!

Anyone who works on a computer - I don't care the industry - should have two screens at work.  Office managers, public relations professionals, sales rep's, you name it - should all be given the opportunity to be more productive and efficient.  Let us multi-task in a way that allows us to seperate our spaces. Apple's "spaces" feature on Leopard is starting to address this issue, but a much better solution remains... give us more screens!

Comments

[Kary Rivera]

I totally agree! I work on dual monitors and it is unbelievable how much more you can get done. Like you said anyone who works on a computer should have two screens, the benefits are numerous!

[Sameer Vasta]

Good timing for this post! The WSJ just came out with a story on how bigger screens lead to better productivity: http://is.gd/1VV

[Seg]

Want to know what's better? Using a PC connected to one screen, a Mac connected to the second, but using only one keyboard and mouse between the two of them. Copy/paste working between the two computers. How?

Synergy
http://synergy2.sf.net

Free as in beer and in freedom. It's like having a KVM switch, but better. Synergy is all software that uses your LAN to communicate keystrokes and mouse movements between computers. Cross-platform, including clipboard for text objects. Think of it as having a second screen connected to you computer, but it's actually a different computer instead.

I use Synergy at home and work. Actually I have four computers at work (Mac Laptop, XP, XP, Vista) which still works with Synergy. Just assign one computer as the 'server' where the keyboard/mouse live, then the other computers as clients.

[Hans]

You've got a point and i've thought of it many times. I just can't seem to really find a solution that I like. Adding another screen to my MacBook, hoisting the MacBook in a stand (like the iCurve) and adding a mouse and a keyboard would probably be ideal, but that's so much stuff on the desk (although I try to keep mind empty all the time). I'll play with a different setup. I take your word though for this being a more efficient way to work.
Cheers, Hans

[Julio Fernandez]

Hey Julia, 2 is good, but 3 is better. Look at my set up:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oraclejulio/2200013671/

[Julia]

Seg- Dude, I am salivating.

Hans- Get a wireless mouse and keyboard, and start calling your work day "sexy time." :P

[Seg]

Almost forgot!

There is a Mac OS X GUI for Synergy that makes things easier.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/synergykm

[Yianni Garcia]

Ah so true. So true. I've always wanted two screens and anyone who needs to ask their boss for one but doesn't know how should just forward this post to them.

[Yianni Garcia]

Or work somewhere cool like Undercurrent

[Bernard Ramsey]

Yep, totally agree that 2 screens on the desk are better than one and with Leopard's spaces, I actually feel organized!

[Bernard Ramsey]

BTW, don't you just totally dig that new Apple keyboard?

[David Fisher]

I don't think you ever saw the 37" TV that I got that I've been using as a monitor. It's pretty awesome. I have the 24" one at betahouse and that's ok, but this just rocks.

[phoFuki]

I once worked in a place that wouldn't give me a second monitor. So I stole one form an unused desk bought a cheap graphics card that drive the two monitors and hooked it all up. I was laughed at for some time but then other managers started to see the wisdom in having the two and started to request dual monitors for themselves :) There is no question in my mind that 2 is better!

[Greg Turner]

I got two monitors at work a couple years ago--no easy task when working for a non-profit. But I dug up an article that indicated dual monitors increases productivity by 30%.

Ah! NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/technology/20basics.html?ex=1303185600&en=6fc17b9bf54c62ef&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Ryan Fitzgerald]

Dual monitors + Synergy = computing & productivity bliss. A friend of mine showed me this a couple years ago and I had forgotten about it until recently. Changed my whole working world.

[Laurent Blondeau (Evidencesx)]

Julia, it's a comfort, I agree with these two screens...What about adding two arms to manage easily...;-) ?
L.

[Michael Coughlin]

so true! i use two monitors all the time~!

[Joe 10]

It's all about real estate:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe10/2369668425/

[gerhard]

Went dual screen about a year ago and I'm not going back. Spaces is cool and all but duals are the bomb!

[Adam Jackson]

this is my setup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamjackson/1279030171/in/set-72157602967565887/

although I just bought an additional computer and 24" monitor so that'll be updated soon.

[Really?]

C'mon....A.D.D. means Attention Deficit Disorder, so when you say you have A.D.D., and in the same sentence so that you don't have a disorder, well...that's just confusing, cupcake.

[Really?]

C'mon....A.D.D. means Attention Deficit Disorder, so when you say you have A.D.D., and in the same sentence so that you don't have a disorder, well...that's just confusing, cupcake.