Multiple Monitor Use

[bkelly13]

I want to find out how many people use multiple monitors? Does your company support or encourage the use of multiple monitors? If so, what happened to get that support? Was management eager or reluctant to support multiple monitors?

If you use two monitors, or even three or more, please reply and tell us how many, what size, and what operating system you use them on. If you use multiple monitors on an OS other than Windows, please mention it.

I am trying to get my company to provide support for multiple monitors and need some ammunition. To get things going, I will provide some of the information I currently have.

First, a study from the University of Utah. It is an old study, but may be one of the first.

http://www.humis.utah.edu/humis/docs/organization_951_1147817063.pdf

Microsoft has an article here:

http://research.microsoft.com/displayarticle.aspx?id=433

The Tech Report references a University of Utah study and the Wall Street Business Technlology Blog from this page:

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/14343

Here is a page right from the Wall Street Journal:

http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/03/10/bigger-computer-monitors-more-productivity/

Some of the information may be duplicated, but read the comments on each for more information.

I will end with this link:

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001076.html

If you want to do some googleling, don't forget "multi-monitor" and "dual monitor" If you have other permutations and find additional sites supporting multiple montors and their cost effectivness, please post.

Just in case, if you don't know: Here is how to install multiple monitors under Windows XP. Buy a video board and plug it in. You can get dual monitor boards from Dell for under $60. Next, right click on your desktop and select Properties. It will show two monitors. XP is already set up for two monitors. Click on the right one, select the check box to extend my windows desktop onto this monitor, then set the resolution. Test as you wish, select OK. That is it.

If you have a Dell lap top and a docking station look at the back of the docking station. There is an analog connector and a DVI connector. Plug a monitor into each, do the setup just described, and you are set.

I bought a Linux computer from eracks.com and for about $60 additional, they sent it with dual monitors enabled and operating. I just fired it up and was running. They configured Ubunto for me and I did not have to do anything.

So, please rely and we will all will have some information to encourage our management to provide multiple monitors.

If you have more to say than you care to post here, please send me some email at

b 2 at symbol then bkelly dot ws.

That’s letter b followed by digit 2 and I am sure you get the rest. It’s a throw away email that I will discard soon. If I get some good information, I will post it on my web site.

Thank you

~bkelly

 

[vacunita]

We use 2 monitors for most work stations.

Once monitor is usually Office applications, and the other monitor, is reserved fro video conferencing and or other video applications. It helps when you need top go back and forth looking at documents and such so yo don't need to Alt tab or minimize the conference to look at something else.

Its easy enough when you have video card that can support it.

How we got it, may of our suers where complaining of just that,or of getting cut off when you tried to move around the vid application and look at another window. So we started changing the video cards on most machines to ones with the extra Video out. DVI or VGA.


We also have a PC connected to a large LCD screen in the meeting room for presentations and such. There's a small flat screen monitor under the podium that's also connected to the PC that allows the presenter to see what everybody else s seeing without having to turn around.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[ATLMatt]

As a busy IT guy for your company, when this gets proposed to me, I am not going to read a bunch of studies someone hands me, I am going to ask you the following questions.

1. Why do you need this?

2. Would a larger, wide screen monitor be just as effective if not superior.

3. How long until we see a return on investment, taking into consideration:
- Additional or dual output video card purchase
- Additional monitor or monitors purchase
- Addition power usage
- Additional desk space taken up by more monitors
- Man hour cost for IT to install and troubleshoot this
- Will mounting brackets/stands be needed
- How much eye and neck strain will be increased by users having to swivel are focus on multiple screens
- How much additional heat will be generated by the additional monitor power supplies and video cards

Now, for my personal experience.

Considering how cheap wide screen monitors are, in most cases I don't see the point. Using my wide screen monitor, I can have 2 full size word documents, or web browsers, or pages of code, or any combination of windows up at once. For stare and compare or document analysis, I prefer everything being on one screen, it is easier on the eyes and easier to line up lines of code/text etc.

Now that being said, it is great to have a 2nd screen if you are running gaming or image editing applications that benefit from having a display dedicated to just that application, but still want access to documentation, chat, web, etc. As far as the OS side of things, as long as you are running relatively modern OS, spanning across 2 monitors is extremely simple, and in most cases up to 4 fairly simple as well, just using functionality built into OS's such as XPPro.

Overall, the space, power, and IT man hours saved by simply using one larger monitor vs 2 smaller will usually make more sense, however, there are certainly specific instances where having 2 or more displays is invaluable.

 

[LawnBoy]

We've recently been down this road, some users convinced mgmt that dual monitors was the thing to do so we rolled out a couple of dozen as a test run. 2 months later we've pulled 1/2 of them back; the users want their (physical) desktop space back.


"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[BadBigBen]

At work I do use Dual Monitor setup, aswell as one machine which uses DUAL LINK...

the double monitor is for everyday use and is attached to two 19" TFT's... Dual boot, Linux and XP PRO, both no problem what so ever... as mentioned by vacunita, standard open apps, ie. Outlook is displayed on the right side monitor and things that need switching is usually kept on the left (Primary)...

the Dual Link setup, is used extensively by the Boss for graphical applications and everyday work, on a humongous 30" monitor...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[kmcferrin]

It really depends on what you're using it for and what types of monitors, how much space, etc. Most video cards these days come with dual outputs. Many corporate PCs do as well. If you have a laptop, most docking stations have two display outputs, or alternatively you can use the docking station output and the laptop screen together. So extra cost could simply be monitors, and many companies have leftover CRTs as they move to LCDs.

For my own personal use, I used to use dual CRTs until I switched to LCD. I made do with a 17" LCD, but ended up going to a 22" LCD later because I needed more screen real estate. I use the 17" LCD for a different PC now, but even with the widescreen I would prefer to have a second display when I'm doing coding.

At a recent consulting position most of the team that I worked with had dual LCDs on their workstations. When I had to do some coding/development I had a really hard time with just a single monitor, so I ended up switching to dual 19" CRTs so that I could code on one and do normal work and run testing on the other screen. I definitely wouldn't recommend dual 19" tubes unless you have a lot of desk space, which I did at the time. On the upside, getting the monitors was easy because tubes were being phased out and there was quite a supply of them available for people who wanted them.

I highly recommend dual displays for anyone who spends a lot of time multitasking, especially for coding and image/video editing. For a receptionist, I don't see the point. At my current consulting position I'd love to have a second screen, but since I have to share a small cubicle with someone else I barely have room for the 17" LCD that i have now.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCSE:Security 2003

 

[bkelly13]

To ATLMatt,


1) I need more real estate on my computer monitor to do my work more efficiently. Changing between multiple windows slows me down and prevents me from looking at two full size documents at the same time. This helps when I need to compare documents or write code to specifications, or write specifications as a conglomeration of several source documents.

Having the ability to run my program under development on one screen with the IDE un-obscured on the other is a great help. If you have not done this yourself for a few hours straight, please don’t doubt me and just take my word for it.

2) The HP wide screen monitor W2207 and the Acer AL2216WBD are 1680 pixels wide. The Samsung 245BW is 1920 wide and costs $439.99. Two standard 17 or 19 inch screens are at least 1280 each for a total of 2560 pixels wide at a lower cost.

True, double monitors are not for everyone, but I need viewing real estate more than desk space. I believe most software engineers need more monitor space. It depends on your needs. And I find that two LCDs don’t take much room at all.

3) Return on investment, I am glad you asked.

Before I answer, please write down two numbers. If the return on investment was ___ months, I would champion this upgrade and ensure it was done within the year.

If the payback was within ___ months, I would drop what I was doing and order some monitors and video cards today.

Did you write down those two numbers. Probably not, but here is the answer anyway.

If a software engineer earns $50,000 per year, they cost you over $100,000 per year to keep employed. If the engineer has a dockable desktop, the upgrade cost is under $200. That means it the engineer is 0.2 percent better, or if they can save 50 minutes over the course of an entire year, the investment will payback in one year. If, per the University of Utah study, they improve productivity by the minimum of something like 5%, they will increase productivity by $5000 per year. $5000 / $200 = 25, it pays back 25 times per year, or twice a month. If you need a new video card, or the engineer gets less than 5% improvement, it will pay back only once a month. And if the engineer earns $100,000 per year and costs you $200,000 to keep, the payback is even faster.

So,…, did I just hear a whooshing sound of you running out of your office and placing an order. Or was that just wishful thinking?

BTW: How much might it be worth in employee morale to give us a little trinket like a second monitor?

To get to some of your finer points:
The second monitor is about $200.
If a video card is needed, $50 to $80. I bought a board from Dell for their computers for $55.00.
Power usage, what, maybe 20 or 50 watts 8 to 10 hours a day, not enough to count.
Desk space, it depends on what each user needs. Give each the opportunity and let each decide.
Cost to install. Most software engineers can do it themselves in 10 minutes. If your IT guys do a bunch, five minutes each after the second one.
Brackets and mounting stands, not needed. You can if you want.
Eye and neck strain, it’s up to the user. Put the documents where you want them.
Additional heat, almost un-measurable

 

[LawnBoy]

That means it the engineer is 0.2 percent better

That's a pretty big if. 0.2% annual efficiency can be gained or lost by a huge variety of factors, including how much time the engineer spends in the bathroom each day. Kinda hard to guage such small numbers.


"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[remeng]

All,

I own a dual monitor system for CAD work and I love having the ability to have my CAD system on one screen and a reference document on the second. At work I am using a high powered microscope and I would love to be able to put two documents up. Once you understand how to use the two screens to make life easier, it is very hard to want to go back to a single display. Yes, space is an issue, but there are so many good options out on the market that it might not matter.

As stated before, what are you doing and will it really make your life easier or can you get by with a larger screen.

 

[bkelly13]

Hello LawnBoy,
I say that 0.2% is a pretty small if (grin).
My point is that it doesn't take much to make a 0.2 percent gain. And that is all that is needed to get a positive payback. And in a darn short time period.

I do want to emphasize / repeat one point. How much does management value employee morale? $200 to $300 is truely trivial when compared to the work that most engineers do and comopared to the cost of hiring / replacing people. For that cost, I believe management should be happy to give us such a low cost workspace improvement that makes us happy.

 

[ArizonaGeek]

All of the users at my company use dual monitors, about 45 users total. Most really do need the real estate in their day to day functions.

I have one user who is using 4 monitors, had to order a special ATI video card for him. I was against the idea, we have a bunch of cry babies at my office and when one person gets something they all think they need it. But so far we've only had one person cry about it and our VP told him "no" the other guy has a special job with the need for it.

The cost of LCD monitors have dropped so much that it is really pretty cost effective to use dual monitors. We order all of our Dell desktops with DVI video cards which helps in two ways, one it allows the dual VGA splitter, and two it doesn't steal from your RAM like an on board video card would giving an all around better working PC.

I have two 19" monitors at work and love using so much I got two for my home PC. Much easier to use now. I also use UltraMon for my home computer makes having two monitors that much easier.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[ceh4702]

If you are a big-time multi-tasker maybe 2 monitors might help. You could be working on say programming or database stuff and have the second monitor working on your groupware/Email client like Lotus Notes and if an important message comes through you would see it on the second monitor. For some people, if the work they do is both busy and critical the need could justify the request. Key to the request is how much time you actually spend in your office. If you are at meetings most of the time just how useful could it be.

If you are getting rid of old computers maybe keep the old monitor.

I kind of wonder if you could take a widescreen monitor and do split screen.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[LawnBoy]

When we did our little test there was no cost involved. We have plenty(!) of older monitors and all of the test group had dual video cards.

It was a big morale booster and everybody was excited etc. etc. But a couple of months into this thing there's only a few using duals and no more requests for it... This is on a network of ~100 "regular office" users.


"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[bkelly13]

Hello LawnBoy,
How many people in your test group are engineers? Software engineer, Hardware engineer, etc? Do any of them spend time writing requirements? What do most of your people do?

I am suspecting that one's role at the office has a significant effect on how you view multiple monitors and the desk space versus monitor space balance. People who are generally resistant to change might not like two monitors just on general principle.

 

[LawnBoy]

We've got 5 structural/mechanical engineers. Most of their time is spent creating specifications that 3rd party contractors then bid on. The rest of their time is spent managing (scheduling, compliance) these contracts once awarded.

None of them have expressed any interest in dual monitors after seeing them in action.

As for the rest of the users: we have Finance, Administration, Contracts, Legal, Operations, Building Maintenance, Marketing, Field Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, and Electrical departments. Oh, and IT...

For a few of these users dual monitors provides a vast improvement in efficiency. It's just not needed by most of our people.

On one of the control system I run even I use dual monitors. One to display an alarm screen, one to display the application. At my desk I only have 1 monitor, but I've installed MSVDM which gives me 4 "virtual desktops" that I can switch between. Nice little package, but it does misbehave a bit.


"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[bkelly13]

Hello Lawnboy,
Thanks for your thoughts. I often let my personal position set my agenda. Not bad, but I need to recognize it.

As a software engineer I often need to step through programs with a debugger and understand what they are doing. Sometimes the program display is fixed in place and I need to move the code over to the other monitor so I can watch what happens and see the code at the same time. If the code covers the window and the program is in break, moving the code out of the way leaves the window needing painting. It cannot do that when in the debugger so I cannot see its current state.

I have spent a lot of time writing requirements. I need to see the requirements document and maybe two or three source documents. Flipping windows and looking at them one at a time through a knothole just doesn't make it.

I like the quote in the signature. But I have to think that sometimes we may not realize that there are contingencies that we have not recognized. The improbable answer might not be the truth.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[HiTechRedNeck82]

I use 2 monitors at my office. In my opinion it has allowed me to be much more productive. My main monitor is a 24" widescreen, and my secondary is a 19" standard aspect ratio. The ability to have a document open on one monitor and transfer data to another windows on the other is great. I can also have windows that I need to monitor open on one monitor and still work on the other.

Jason

http://www.jrmarshall.com

"Assumption is the mother of all F*** ups."

 

[ceh4702]

There are many things in IT that are not really justifiable on paper. Most of the time a cost benefit analysis is just a way to Lie about what you want. This is a case that looks like you cant really understand it unless you actually test it out. Often I wish I had dual monitors when I have a Development system and a Live Production System so I dont have to close the Development system then open the Live one to do some work. There could be many uses for having an additional monitor. This might also be nice for working in places like a Help Desk.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.