Monday, September 27, 2010

Does a Dual/Multiple Monitor Setup Increase Productivity?

1337 battle station
Awhile back, the New York Times published an article that claims that a dual monitor setup increases productivity.  The idea is that more desktop real estate results in multitasking that can get more things done.  On the flip side, too much multitasking (especially when distractions are included) could lead to less productivity.

Personally, I prefer a dual monitor setup.  I went from having three 17 inch monitors to a single 24 inch and now two 24's.

Does anyone else run a dual/multiple monitor setup?

69 comments:

Anonymous said...

Man, I don't know if it does, but that picture looks just amazing....

Dan said...

I have a 20.1" samsung and a 24" dell. I enjoy having two monitors as it definitely helps out for working in multiple windows. Unfortunately the smaller monitor is probably not used as much as it could be.

Archivist X0042 said...

damn, ive seen it thousands of times before, but that is leet.

moxie said...

I didnt try two, bit it does look good.

mandellameats said...

No one can really multitask, because your brain only thinks of one thing at a time but can cycle somewhat rapidly, like say checking the time on your phone and texting at the same time while driving keeps you distracted for like 4 seconds and BAM! there goes junior's cat

ramrod360 said...

I use to back when I had a desktop, got a laptop and haven't since then...I should again.

Gaius Baltar said...

I don't know that I could concentrate on two monitors at once. That being said, I have no problem with the Nintendo DS.

DongAlong said...

Holy shit,

Eferhilda said...

No but we have been considering getting that done. It does look cool and with how many things I usually have open and going at a time on the comp multiple monitors would probably be very good.

Politically Challenged. said...

I have run one, worked very well, although, after a fail'd graphics card i'm down to one, i think it's great for getting work done.

Although Facebook is distracting.

hunter time said...

i do dual dell 23"ers its really good for me cause i do 3-d modeling so i can have my 3-d programs on my main monitor and my browsers and chat stuff on the other

Hidden Blogger said...

I've got a single monitor solution at the moment..I mean, I have a second (HDTV) monitor connected but I only use it for gaming.

Rawr said...

wow, 24??

Drackar said...

I actually run a two-laptop system. Two lower end systems doing different tasks.

Naj said...

i still prefer a single monitor since i use my pc for gaming and watching movies.

comradejoker.blogspot.com/ said...

I run a multiple display, one with my IDE and coding, other for research/Facebook. lol
Supporting! hope you return the favor bro!

Flippy said...

I run with a 23inch samsung and my old 19 inch on the side for minor things. I really like it.

Splash87 said...

I don't have the room or the cash to, but I have used multi-monitored systems before and still only used one screen.

Applelove said...

I only run a single monitor at the moment. Kind of in-between on shelling out another 300-500 bucks for the second monitor right now.

Skyshock said...

New post up on my blog!!

ShredGuitar said...

I like this, awaiting your next update!

Ishu said...

I think productivity relies more on the user, so it may be more productive, as well as less

Ishu said...

I think the drill is who uses the monitors, not the monitors themselves

Anonymous said...

Well, what a nice battlestation.

Themensquarters said...

fuck yeah duals increase productivity! you have more space derp :D

Jim said...

Why dual monitor when you can dual boot!?

Blenderhead said...

I'm thinking about setting up my new PC with dual monitors. Let's see.

Mister Sharaf said...

i dont think so

Writofassistance said...

i use a laptop. but back at home i had two 30s to keep track of my stocks. feels good.

LoreBlogger said...

Always wanted to try dual moniters

Sona-Love said...

I really want to do a dual-monitor set-up at work (i'm a graphic designer at a magazine, so i always have at least six programs running...).
problem is I need an adapter since my2 nd monitor is PC.
I have no idea what to do about that. Sigh.

MC said...

I think that dual monitors with the old CRTs was crap, but with the LEDs it works a lot better

Unknown said...

wow that's a big battle station, mine's small but quite efecctive!

Biff Tanner said...

That's so sick

Lizard said...

never really thought of getting into dual monitors. might have to consider it sometime.

Whitewolf Starr said...

not at this time but I think I will in the future.

niceonice said...

I only have 1 screen.

shirou said...

dual here and i love it but after seeing gscreen's dual screen (17"x2) notebook every other setup seems poor to me :]

loloriz0r said...

Sometimes too much isn't good either. :P

jj_srk said...

what about TRIPLE monitor???

Defkon said...

I run dual monitors. I think maybe 3 or 4 would be my max without it getting TOO distracting. i don't think I could live without dual screens.

Piripi Anxo said...

nahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Trashcanman said...

I'd be so pissed if i had this much monitors to look at

Rosebug said...

Yep 3D animation software, one screen for windows and interfaces, one for the actual work area!
No facebook, no web, no...whatever, 3D takes all my concentration

google4christmas said...

dual or triple monitor, ok.
but this ,... this is madness!

Anonymous said...

i run with 3 monitors and a wall mounted tv, i do compositing work, so i use ALL of the available space.

Admin said...

need that !

Oscar said...

1337 setup u have there

Iburnaga said...

I manage to get research papers done a lot quicker with dual screens as I have a screen for the text I'm working on and a wide screen for two windows of research.

AnbuJustin said...

i dont have room on my messy ass desk to run more than 1 monitor. if i can though i would run 4-6 monitors fuck yeahhhhh

AnnoNeuvo said...

I think 2 is enough if you're gonna have more than 1 :P

Mike said...

That's an interesting question, I guess it really depends on how well you can multitask, or if you are using both monitors on a single task that requires lots of monitor space.

Although I read a while back, that multitasking even with woman doesn't lead to greater productivity as the task as usually not as well done if an individual focusses solely on one task.

Mike,
Lifehack's guide to forecasting the weather without gadgets out now!

LucidDreamer said...

There is a moment when you have to ask yourself if you want to increase your productivity at all cost. Don't you think bro ?

mateusz said...

oh hell no! 27" imac is good enough

Undertaker said...

I run single. It works good enough for me, so why set up a second one?

Unknown said...

I run 3 24" LCD's. Great for driving and flight sims.

Anonymous said...

I really see no point in dual monitors unless you work in stocks or something in which you NEED to see multiple things at a time. Wtf are people like us gonna use it for, 1 for facebook the other for some game? No thanks, its a waste of cash and electricity.

Joshua said...

If you're good at multitasking or doing multiple things at once its very useful. I could do with an extra monitor or two..

West0o3 said...

That battle station is WOW.....

Jeremy Calvinton said...

I used to run 2 monitors, but now I'm a laptop man now, so that's a bit awkward to do.

That Which Haunts said...

I cannot get enough of these well done tech blogs. Nice posts, I will keep up.

phantaaastic said...

Okay, that's insane.

I want.

Hello! said...

Absolutely! Since I've been away from home (posting from an eeePC right now), I feel like my desktop real estate has gone from villa to crappy london flat.

Apó said...

Sucks to be that guys electricity bill!

slugnasty said...

I would definitely run a dual monitor setup if my computer wasn't a steam powered laptop designed in the 1800s. It does have an abacus though. Does your PC have an abacus?

Shugo said...

As of now.... i run usually dual/single... im looking into having at least triple to a quad display setup.... that would be sexy.... and allow me to be more productive on certain things......

bruno said...

i dont have 2 to make the test =/

DerpFiles said...

hmm, i'd like to be more productive. maybe i should try two monitors then. thanks for the info.

infostation said...

I would think it would decrease productivity if you just have no real reason to have dual monitoring happening. Like I make music, so while making music I have a reason to dual monitor. But if i'm just using my computer normally, no reason to have more than one screen open.

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