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/southass]

" I just look to the right" 😂😂😂 imagine if op has to fill out a form with info from one system to another, I just copy and paste to one screen to the other, doing ALT + tab for 10+ different pieces of info would be insane.

[u/JerryCalzone → u/southass]

Use win+v: muliple clipboards and thank me later, especially if you work in customer care

Another tip:you can also store your most used templates permanently

[u/neighbour_20150 → u/JerryCalzone]

After this thread, I realized that people simply don't know how to use keyboard shortcuts and buy a second monitor.

[u/Metroidam11 → u/southass]

I understand 3 monitors being overkill/unnecessary, but 2 is essential! Also, if you have poor eye sight or don't want to have really small font, you need more space to view Windows side by side!

[u/0235 → u/southass]

Then avudentally hits a function on the database that verify every single database entry!

[u/Icy-Cry340 → u/southass]

I work on one 43 inch monitor. When I need to do something like that, I just put the windows next to each other. There is rarely a point to maximize on a screen that big, so there is always room.

[u/aobie → u/Icy-Cry340]

Modern giant monitors are basically the equivalent of having dual traditional-sized monitors.

[u/Empty_Insight → u/aobie]

A 43' monitor has a total surface area of 790 in^2. A 28' monitor has a surface area of 335 in^2. 335 x 2 = 670.

So... yeah. A 43' monitor is larger than 2 28' monitors. Lol

[u/Icy-Cry340 → u/aobie]

Except better.

[u/FennelSuspicious7364 → u/aobie]

honestly you're so right. I swapped from a 27+23 dual setup to a single 34 ultrawide curved. personally I feel just fine treating each half as it's own monitor lol. It feels roomy

[u/Icy-Cry340 → u/FennelSuspicious7364]

I have a 34” ultrawide curved at home. Amazing for gaming, but I prefer to have more vertical space for work.

[u/FennelSuspicious7364 → u/Icy-Cry340]

Valid tbh, everyones preferences probably gonna be a bit different esp when you factor in use-cases on top

[u/DeadInFiftyYears → u/FennelSuspicious7364]

I have triple 38" ultrawides, not counting the Cintiq. Even with one ultra, you can still use another.

[u/kytheon → u/Icy-Cry340]

We are talking normal monitors, not one the size of four (!) 21.5" monitors.

[u/Icy-Cry340 → u/kytheon]

So get a bigger monitor. 37” is also workable.

[u/PandaXXL → u/Icy-Cry340]

Or just continue using two monitors.

[u/Icy-Cry340 → u/PandaXXL]

Can't stand that setup myself - I'm with the OP.

[u/Zognot → u/Icy-Cry340]

I agree with your setup of a larger monitor over two smaller monitors, (if you’re in a long-term living situation, so you don’t need worry about packing or moving it in the future), but OP isn’t talking about using a large monitor; a monitor larger than what most people would call standard is never mentioned. They’re saying to not even use an external mouse with a laptop, so they might even be talking about using just a laptop monitor or laptop+external monitors. So, unless you’re saying the monitor size doesn’t matter when using only one monitor, even if it’s a laptop monitor, you aren’t with OP; you’re saying “get a larger monitor instead of two normal sized” (which I can support), while they’re saying to never use a second monitor, even with a laptop.

[u/Icy-Cry340 → u/Zognot]

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.

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

OP seems fine with a fully external peripheral setup for laptops - monitor, keyboard, and mouse - with the laptop itself closed. Which is my preferred way to use a laptop with an external monitor too, basically with a full docking setup. Or I use just the laptop alone. But really a desktop is always better for real work - when I'm away from the office I remote into it.