DUAL MONITOR SETUP: A PRODUCTIVITY BOOST
Laptop Vs. Desktop
It’s a big problem for coders and creative folks to work on smaller screen sizes. Working on a laptop for long hours could cause eye fatigue and can also be frustrating, especially when you have to swap between multiple documents or have to multitask. A desktop will give you bigger real estate, however, would compromise on the portability and the document swap, multitasking will still be a problem.
Dual Monitors Setup
Dual Monitor setup is a big productivity booster especially for programmers and creative folks. It’s always easier to troubleshoot, see as much code in one glance as possible, fine-tune the designs on a big screen. Also, when you have to compare two documents, code snippets, or swap between multiple documents, having dual monitors help a lot. It also enables you to multitask, work with multiple applications, easily. You can achieve anywhere from 20-50% productivity boost with the usage of dual monitors.
How to Setup
The dual monitors can be placed side by side on the table or can be VESA mounted. The monitor stands are big space savers and some also provide the flexibility to twist and angle the monitors to more comfortable positions. Even if your monitor doesn’t come with flexible stands, the monitor stands can help provide such flexibility. You can even mount a monitor horizontal and one vertically if your work demands that. Both the monitors can be connected to a desktop or can be simply hooked to the laptop through an HDMI cable. You will also need an HDMI splitter or an adapter that can take 1 HDMI input and provide the output to the two monitors.
Brands & Costs
The cost would depend upon the Monitor size, brand, features, etc. that you want to go with. However, if you are just starting up with dual monitors and don’t want to invest huge amounts then you can do this entire setup at a cost less than that of a decent smartphone.
- Size:- 24 inches is a good size but if you are into creative UI work then you can even opt for 27 or even 32 inches.
- Brand:- LG, HP, Samsung, BenQ are good brands to opt for
- Cost:– A decent 24 inch Monitor will cost anywhere between 8K to 12K
- HDMI Adapter:- A decent adapter can be will be in the range of 2K to 4K
- Monitor Stand:– between 3K to 6K you can find a good Monitor stand. It’s not a must, to begin with.
Will it Really Help?
If you are struggling with the laptop screen size or from swapping multiple documents, a dual monitor setup will definitely help. You will see the difference within days. Based on your work even a multi-monitor setup can also be useful, however, the dual monitor setup is good to start with and will suffice for most IT professionals.