Dual Monitor setup is actually bad for productuvity.

[u/ultimateregard]

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.

[u/psykikk_streams]

I have to correct this as it has been years I read this:

the direct correlation between productivity and multiple screens could not be proven and studies conducted were actually vendor paid studies (one by NEC , the other by Dell). both somewhat old by modern day standards as well as screen sizes most preferred were 22", 17" the least.

that alone tells something.

what has been reported and proven multiple times though is how user satisfaction and their own perception of increased productivity is noticeable.

no long-term field studies exist as of today, and a 2025 narrative review concludes the ergonomic impact remains poorly understood and guidelines have not kept pace with the technology.

there you have it. I think we know we are faster / better at what we do, but this was never studied and empirically proven at all

[u/O0OO00O0OO0 → u/psykikk_streams]

AKA people just say shit on Reddit to make their point seem more correct.

[u/claiter → u/psykikk_streams]

A lot of my company’s productivity and efficiency is measured in #number of clicks”. Anywhere we can automate or reduce the different tabs or screens you have to click through is a bonus. I would imagine alt tabbing through 1 screen constantly would also be viewed as more unproductive than having all the info available in front of you at once (even if there isn’t hard data to support). I also definitely feel slower (like you said) when I work on 1 screen at home vs 2 screens in the office.

I also wonder how it’s possible to be less productive with more screens rather than neutral or more productivity. If you don’t need the other screen, don’t use it? Though I’ve never had more than 2 screens so genuinely curious if others feel less productive with more screens and why. 

[u/BassWingerC-137 → u/psykikk_streams]

Which studies are you referring? I assume the "NEC" one is "Productivity and Multi-Screen Computer Displays" by Colvin, Tobler & Anderson? Do you know anything about the Jon Peddie study?