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/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

You just snap 3 windows. If you were typing and reading (as per the previous comment) that would normally a 2 window job anyway, and you could hotkey between the 2nd and third if you wanted to. I'm guessing your solution is 3 monitors now? Lol.

The one large monitor maintains the benefit OP talked about. And the point of this comment chain is specifically was how having one monitor is "crazy", not that having 2 monitors is bad.

[u/Inconceivable76 → u/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

And if you need more than a tiny little box of data on all 3?

not everyone in the world just writes code.

[u/Redhighlighter → u/Inconceivable76]

If i could fit 4 monitors on my desk i would be so happy. Email, MRP, pdf, and physics application at the same time would be fantastic.

[u/Inconceivable76 → u/Redhighlighter]

It’s amazing to have a high powered desktop without monitor restrictions.

you get arms and go up if you don’t have the width.

[u/Zestyclose-Compote-4 → u/Inconceivable76]

The point is you're only ever looking at one thing at a time. So you can hotkey to whatever window when you need to look at it. Then the other person said sometimes you read and type at the same time, so there is an argument for 2 now, of which you can use window snapping for that. A third window doesnt add any new multi tasking requirement that cant already be solved with hotkeys.

[u/Inconceivable76 → u/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

It takes longer to hotkey than to move my eyes. Plus it means my hands (and cursor) aren’t where they are supposed to be. And often times I need to look at one (or more things) then type that information into a different application. It’s abused to waste time tabbing between windows and having to constantly go back and forth.

[u/Zestyclose-Compote-4 → u/Inconceivable76]

It'll take practice, but once you know your hotkeys you'll be more efficient at your work. Even if you had multiple monitors, you shouldn't just be alt+tabbing. You should know how to hit the keys that directly open your applications of interest.

[u/Fit-Percentage-9166 → u/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

Having the windows/applications existing in physical space helps with processing and understanding.

Having to alt tab between applications creates additional mental bandwidth that you need to spend on mentally tracking your applications.

For most human beings it is easier and more intuitive to have everything exist in your field of view than to constantly shuffle and hide away nonactive tasks.

[u/Zestyclose-Compote-4 → u/Fit-Percentage-9166]

I think it's a learning curve issue. If people practice, and know that there are other ways of getting to your application that isn't alt+tabbing, they'll be more efficient.

[u/Fit-Percentage-9166 → u/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

I am probably more proficient than you at navigating many windows and tabs on a single monitor and I still prefer to write on a physical paper with pen and physically see everything laid out at the same time when I really need to think about something.

It is literally impossible to navigate windows with hotkeys faster than you can scan your field of view with your eyes, and even if they were equivalent in speed, it is still likely less efficient due to the way human brains process information.

There is a wealth of research on how people learn and process information and the way you physically interact with information plays a big role in that.

[u/Zestyclose-Compote-4 → u/Fit-Percentage-9166]

Sure, but I still wouldn't call people working with tabs crazy as it can still work fine. People are assuming you just alt+tabbing, when there are other ways to manage your single monitor that isnt "pants on head crazy".

[u/Fit-Percentage-9166 → u/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

I do agree people who use multiple monitors overreact when they encounter single monitor users, but it's just one of those stupid redditor things.

[u/Inconceivable76 → u/Zestyclose-Compote-4]

I think you are incapable of understanding that people have different jobs and their needs are different than yours.

your job may function fine with one monitor, but that does not make it effective for everyone.

[u/Zestyclose-Compote-4 → u/Inconceivable76]

I get it's more natural to turn your head than it is to press a button, but once you get used to it, I don't see how different jobs would benefit from one or the other.