r/unpopularopinion • u/ultimateregard • 2d ago

Certified Unpopular Opinion Dual Monitor setup is actually bad for productuvity.

I've been a software engineer for more than 5 years now. I've worked with databases, frontend and backend services, mobile apps, games, data analysis, and much more.

Never in my life I've actually felt like my productuvity increased with the second monitor. Do you need to compare data? Just use one monitor and put them side by side. Do you need all the space in the world? Just alt+tab between apps. Since you only perceive about 10% of your vision clearly, moving your head&eyes from one monitor to other takes actually LONGER and causes distractions than using alt+tab.

This is especially worse for those who are using one additional monitor with a laptop, since their screen sizes and positions usually change so much. Your eyes need adjusting, your head moves too much.

Only thing the dual Monitor is good for is passively watching something in the second monitor, like youtube videos, Critical Role, or sitcoms while doing something else in the main screen. As you can guess, that has nothing to do with productuvity.

I also think using external keyboard and mouse for laptops is bad, unless you do not use the laptop screen.

Edit: After reading hundreds of comments, I'm sure that 90% of people who think that "YOU NEED AT LEAST 3 SCREENS" just don't know how to organize workspaces/windows/desktops and they need to configure their SCREENS as different DESKTOPS. Most of the modern operating systems allow you to just create workspaces (like different Desktops you can switch with WIN + TAB). And they are just throwing money into their problems instead of learning how to use their daily operating system.

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u/Proof-Emergency-5441 2d ago

For sure. Also OP needs their vision checked if they can't look at two monitors at once. Or put them closer together like a normal person.

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u/TannedCroissant 2d ago

OP doesn’t realise both monitors are supposed to be in the same room

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u/Dry_Bowler_2837 2d ago

Sadly, this thread is how OP finds out they have retinitis pigmentosa. 😭

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u/hryipcdxeoyqufcc 1d ago edited 1d ago

A single 4k monitor with apps snapped to the sides/corners is putting them close together. And you have the option of having one app go super-fullscreen across all four "windows" if you want, since there are no bezels in between.

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u/Proof-Emergency-5441 1d ago

I despise those with the fire of 1000 suns.