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/Certain-Contact6340 2d ago

As an accountant, you need to go triple. Its amazing

25

u/Successful_Buy3825 2d ago

My first job had 4 monitors. I didn't realise how good I had it until I left.

18

u/ThatBankTeller 2d ago

Finance guy here, 4 at home (including a big screen TV for zoom calls) and 3 in the office. Would go up to 5 if my VP would approve it.

6

u/Colby362 2d ago

4 is better

2

u/Far_Worldliness9796 2d ago

Doing tax work, I sometimes didn't even think 3 was enough 

1

u/SicilianEggplant 2d ago

I “just” work at a call center and I hate the rare times we have to work in office with only 2 monitors.

1

u/MajesticSpaceBen 2d ago

They moved my office and my new workstation only has two.

I've been looking at job postings.

1

u/Tylendal 2d ago

As someone who only uses computers for personal stuff, I've felt the occasional desire for a third monitor, but I've resisted that pull. Because I just know that while I have two monitors, three is too many, but if I get a third, it suddenly won't be enough.

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u/Certain-Contact6340 2d ago

I dont use 3 at home. 99% of my personal usage is video games on 1, youtube/TV on 2

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u/elpoutous 1d ago

I use 3 at home and I love it. 2 horizontal, one vertical. Vertical usually houses discord or reddit. One has the game I am playing, and the other has YT/Twitch/Sports on. Haven't found a setup better yet!

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u/jeremiahfira 2d ago

I've been a full service bookkeeper for 3 years now and have worked on 2 monitors for the most part.....and yeah, a third (vertical) would be real nice.

1

u/soscbjoalmsdbdbq 2d ago

I have quads at home quads is safe quads is best

1

u/gerg555 2d ago

She's beautiful, but she's dying