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Hold the bonus - give me 24 inches of pure joy

CRAIG SILVERMAN

Special to The Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:13 AM EDT 25/03/08

Research suggests a bigger screen can increase productivity, so companies are ushering in an era of widescreen viewing in the office ...Read the full article

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  1. andy c from Canada writes: i got a 22inch widescreen a few months ago to replace a 17inch crt. at first i didnt like it because i had to turn my head side to side to view the entire area, but now i think it's fantastic especially if you edit photos or use large spreadsheets on a regular basis. it's so much easier to multi task
  2. Krusty G from Ontariario, Canada writes: I think this article is bang on.

    I personally work with two 20" screens. Everyone at my workplace has two monitors, and now I've got two at home as well. I even prefer 2 20's over one 24 inch, the ability to organize several different windows and maximize them on different screens has absolutely increased my productivity, no doubt about it. I can't go back to one screen anymore, the more screen space the better!

    I would like to see a study done on dual-screens, I would bet the productivity numbers are even better.
  3. Globe Insider subscriber content
    Victoria Rutherford from Canada writes: I purchased a 24inch Samsung , its great.
  4. Al B from Toronto, Canada writes: Just curious when you work on two monitors, shouldn't that require two computers? How can you make an applications into one monitor and not the other?
  5. tom harris from Canada writes: Al B from Toronto, Canada writes:

    "Just curious when you work on two monitors, shouldn't that require two computers? How can you make an applications into one monitor and not the other?"

    Can be done using software or hardware vis ave a video card designed for two or more monitors. Windows treats each as one big monitor. Your mouse will pass from one monitor to the other. Takes a bit of getting used to to keep track of that little arrow ! lol
  6. Krusty G from Ontariario, Canada writes: Al B - you only need one computer, with a video card that supports two monitors.
    the monitors act as a single large desktop and you can drag your mouse and other objects between the two screens and even leave them sitting halfway between both.
    but the best part is that it can still act like two screens, and you can maximize your applications into each screen.
    for instance, i use several different apps but do all my reporting and tracking in excel. so instead of constantly flipping between windows, i keep the excel stuff maximized on the right (so it occupies the entire screen), and all the other active stuff I keep shuffling and maximizing on the left.
    great way to keep everything organized, like I said, I much prefer it to having one large monitor.
  7. billy bhuj from Canada writes: i have 13 monitors at my workstation! i hope my manager takes notice of how much more work i get done because of all the monitors i have, and promotes me...
  8. Brent Corner from Canada writes: 2 monitors definitely increase productivity - you'd have a fight on your hands to take mine away.

    Also can be used for one-on-one training - hook the 2nd monitor up and use it as a clone instead of an extension. With a trainee nearby, you can 'monitor' (no pun intended) while you continue to work.

    Now if we could somehow get an extra day in the week, we could get even more done!!
  9. Who Are You from Canada writes: I was given a 22" WS for Xmas and immediately recognized the benefits and potential increase in productivity. I've been trying to persuade my employer to provide a WS or dual monitors ever since, but he might be leary of the creating the have/have-not situation.
  10. A B from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Interesting. I am wondering if resolution also makes difference. I had in the past 4 monitor setup with 4096 x 768. Now, I have single monitor with 1600 x 1200. Sometimes, this single monitor is easier then 4 I had. Of course, the best would be probably double 1920 x 1200. Anyone had similar experience?
  11. tom harris from Canada writes: A B from Saskatoon, Canada writes:

    "Interesting. I am wondering if resolution also makes difference. I had in the past 4 monitor setup with 4096 x 768. Now, I have single monitor with 1600 x 1200. Sometimes, this single monitor is easier then 4 I had. Of course, the best would be probably double 1920 x 1200. Anyone had similar experience?"

    Bionic eyes?
  12. Al B from Toronto, Canada writes: THanks for the info tom and Krusty
  13. Craig Cooper from Toronto, writes: Since 1996 I used a 21 inch paired with a 17 inch.

    For the last year I've used a 30 inch ws paired with a 19 inch ws.

    I can see all my apps at once.

    Who works in only one app at a time?
  14. Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, United States writes: Tom, my setup at home is 2x24". Both in 1900*1200. I would highly recommend that set up. I'm right handed, but I use the left monitor the most. I find moving to the right screen very easy and natural (vs. having the right one as my main one). Ensure your keyboard, mouse, desk and chair are also properly adjusted.
  15. tom harris from Canada writes: Ian Gunn, I use a 30" horizontal and two 24" vertical The setup is great too. I just find 1900*1200 a tad small, hard too look at for long periods. I am looking at it alot from a slight distance from my desk as I usually am doing other things. Also this is personal setup not in an office environment and most of the data is streaming to me with no need for interaction.
  16. J M from Ottawa, Canada writes: tom harris, what data is that? :P
  17. tom harris from Canada writes: J M from Ottawa, Canada writes: "tom harris, what data is that? :P"

    DAMN!! Left that one open didn't I?
  18. david ferguson from halifax, Canada writes: @tom harris try a kvm switch, you can use two computers and share a monitor and keyboard and switch back and forth as you like.

    quality and cost vary, avoid Belkin and go name brand, Lynksys or D-Link, think around 65 or 70 dollars.

    depending upon tasking large monitors can be a time saver. for the average home user though, if you are looking at the odd movie from a file on the pc, or games, look at native resolution.

    larger image size given a specific source resolution can look significantly worse, not better or you end up watching in a sized window, tiny in comparisin to total screen area. Also, not all programs will utilize full screen resolutions.

    timing on the monitor is a consideration too. While this is usually user adjustable, if you are in the 10 ms range, gaming is going to be iffy and anything higher will seem to tear or draw with a stutter.

    the larger the screen, the more apps running at one time, the greater the pc spec requirements to keep things moving, think, ram, processor speed and graphics unit.

    running full screen, high end graphics requires significant horsepower in the tower. having a largescreen is nice, provided it fits your tasking.

    gopher66ca
    mcse, mce, mcp , sysco
    Anteres C and Networking
  19. A non-Imus from Canada writes: A 24" monitor makes it easier for the boss to catch you chatting on message boards. Ergo, increased productivity.
  20. Mad Max from Toronto, Canada writes: My employer provided me with a laptop but, I bought a docking station with DVI and connected it to a 24" monitor for use at the office. It has been worth every penny.
  21. Kitty Burgers from Hamilton, Canada writes: While a larger wide-screen monitor - (a dual-monitor setup is better) will in most cases will make working with two documents at once a little more efficient, I'd have to says it's a stretch to suggest that it boosts productivity.

    The monitor manufactures might want you to believe this, though ;)
  22. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: I worked my way up on a series of Apples to a Beige G3 with a 21" monitor. Then I upgraded to G4 with an eMac and got demoted to 17". The built-in monitor died (a blessing in disguise), so I plugged in an external 21" and it was so liberating! I'm now running a PowerBook G4 with a dead LCD that I picked up for cheap, to replace the eMac. (That's my ad on Portland's Craigslist, btw)
  23. H B from Canada writes: I do a lot of number crunching, research and writing, and two screens is absolutely a huge boost. At home I use a laptop for entertainment and surfing, but when I work from home, I always the laptop it into a second monitor. They just upgraded us from two 15" to to two 17", and even that has made a noticeable difference when working between, for example, Excel and SPSS. I just wish I could connect my 19" Apple monitor to my laptop as a second screen when working at home - it's an older one and my laptop doesn't seem to support it.
  24. Albin Forone from Canada writes: So glad, I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life looking at an iPhone.
  25. Globe Insider subscriber content
    Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Yeah no real surprise here. Try creating a powerpoint using a handful of excel documents and a handful of word documents on two 21" screens, or one 15". It's like moving from the stone age to the 21st century.
  26. Geof Wyght from Cincinnati, United States writes: Having had 2 monitors for about 8 months now, I could do with 3. One to view a database interface, one to read documentation on how to upload the data to the database, and a third to look at the raw data and make sure it all got loaded properly.

    If I ever go back to a client with one monitor, ... yuk.
  27. P Martin from St. John's, NL, Canada writes: Everyone in our office has at least two 19" monitors. A few people are paired with 30" monitors. It has been that way for years. When we put in a new work station we add another 30". Eventually I hope to have everyone with all dual-screen, 24" widescreen monitors. Productivity is extremely high.
  28. Kevin G from Canada writes: and to think I can't even get a 17" flat screen. Some companies understand productivity, some don't. sigh...
  29. Henry Egan from Cyberland, Canada writes: Well the productivity improvement attributable to my second monitor was fantastic. Now I can run Halo on one and Excel on the other, before I could only run Halo...
  30. s like from Canada writes: I have a dual flat screen setup and I can't imagine going without it now. It's much easier and faster to manage multiple windows and I usually have a lot of window open.

    Throw in a little app called altdesk which gives you three virtual desktops and you can really get a lot of things happening at once without getting lost in the clutter. The only danger is info overload.
  31. B M from Calgary, Canada writes: Two monitors are best. Especially if your work requires you to reference inventory data or BOM's while working on a document. Nothing is worse then jumping between three of four applications at once when your trying to get work done. and nothing beats playing a video game while watching a movie or checking your facebook.
  32. brad williams from Canada writes: This article is bang on. I've had dual screens for about 6 years now and just recently went to three screens. The productivity gain is unbeleiveable with either 2 or 3 screens. I find traveling with my laptop painful even for the few hours on the plane when i can't have multiple monitors.

    Bottomline, how often do you only have one piece of paper on your desk... Almost never.. then why do we still all have only one screen.

    Finally, if anyone is looking for a cool application for your multiple monitors, i've been very impressed with Ultramon, which gives me complete control over backgrounds, screen savers etc on each screen.
  33. Comments are Closed from Toronto, Canada writes: I don't know if I'd call writing email on one monitor and comments to the Globe on the other being productive. But I could never go back.
  34. Hugh Campbell from Canada writes: More electronic trash for China, more profits for non-Canadian manufacturers. Some day researchers may discover that the widest screen, reality, is best for productivity.
  35. RD Lone from Vancouver, Canada writes: Going from a 18" to a 24" increases productivity by 30%? Hahahahahha, that's pretty hilarious.

    Double monitors probably have a larger effect, but even then I would doubt 30%. I use 3 monitors at home and 1 at work; slightly inconvenient, but if you are good with keyboard shortcuts it's really not that big of a deal.

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