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Why A Second Monitor Will Triple Your Productivity
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01-Dec-2008
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Typically, in the world of logic and mathematics, you would expect two to equal two, and three to equal three. However, in the world of computing and specifically relating to monitors, two monitors typically indicates three times productivity. Considering the drastic drop in LCD monitor prices (you can get a brand new 19” LCD from TigerDirect.com for $109.99), there really is absolutely no reason not to spend the 'Benjamin' and start producing three times as much (or working 1/3rd as hard, but who's counting). Here are the reasons you should:
Cross Referencing. Think about it; how many times during your day, be it while working on an E-mail, a report, a presentation, et cetera, do you have to consult other E-mail messages, Web sites, account data, and the list goes on? Now think about the process of constantly minimizing one window, looking at the other, copying and pasting, going back because you didn't copy and paste all of it right, lather, rinse and repeat. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could cross reference your documents while actually working on the document in question? You can! I can tell you from personal experience, I consider so many applications impossible to use without a dual display – and E-mail is at the top of the list (with spreadsheets and databases immediately behind).
Document Design. Ever had the text formatted just right, only to try and throw a picture in that completely did not fit the layout, then you found that resizing the graphic distorted it to the point that it was not usable, ultimately defeating the whole process? With a second display, you can browse through your clip-art, google images, whatever, and find the perfect image for the perfect layout – and even in the perfect size.
Expanded View. Sometimes, even a widescreen won't do. And the constant side-scrolling just gives you a headache. With dual monitors you have the ability to span a window as far onto the second one as you so wish, and when you're done you can simply span it back.
Multi-Tasking. Microsoft Windows (and other modern operating systems) was designed around the idea of multi-tasking. The problem is, it's very hard to multi-task with a single monitor, or with various and oddly sized subsections of that single monitor. With dual monitors, you can run your spreadsheets on one monitor, and checkup on your favorite news reports on the other. And this leads directly into our next, and biggest reason, which deserves special mention all on its' own.
Always On E-mail. We've all been there. Web conference, teleconference, important call with a client or business associate; and our hair-trigger mouse finger just happened to click the big 'x' in the corner, and you sit there fumbling around, trying to find the file (which is just futile, and the other people on the line are very well aware, especially if it's a Web conference). This is embarrassing, unprofessional and could cost you a sale, a promotion and possibly even your job. By having dual monitors, you have the ability to more adequately prepare for meetings, and rely less on minimizing (and potentially closing) programs, resulting in better overall performance. More so than just having information at your fingertips, it's having up-to-date information at your fingertips.
We've all been there, too. Walking out the door without the right information. Walking out the door to a meeting that's been canceled. Talking on the phone about a project that was supposed to be kept 'internal'. Or quoting a sales call with yesterday's prices. All of these could be drastically hazardous situations and could cost you a lot more than the $100 that the second monitor will. The always on E-mail is reason enough for anyone to have a minimum of two monitors.
The best part of all – Windows and most other operating systems were designed with multiple monitor support built right in. There's no added software necessary; you simply have to plug in and activate through your display manager. Just make certain that your computer hardware has a second monitor port (this is standard on laptops, more common in newer desktops), and what type it is (VGA, HDMI). Then simply decide what you want to get, and have at it. |
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