Tools of the trade
I guess it’s a case of “The shoemaker’s children” when it comes to the tools I use. I say this because, though I recommend to our clients that they have work on a monitor that is of an appropriate size for the particular job (as in, if you’re a proposal writer, you should have a screen that is large enough to easily few two pages side-by-side and four pages on the screen. That said, I work on my laptop, even when in my office (and it is not for lack of a larger monitor as I have a full size monitor collecting dust in the corner).
On a recent (yesterday in fact) visit to a new client I had the opportunity to use a workstation that not only had a larger monitor (I’d guess it was 23” or so) but also had two of them. Using this set up, I was able to view my mail on one screen while working on a document on anther. I immediately realized efficiencies as I didn’t have to keep opening and closing windows.
Liking to believe I’m an old dog that can still be taught a trick or two, I’m having a two monitor (both 23”) set up put in this week. I’m looking forward to this allowing me to work in a much more efficient manner.
(I’ve also recently replaced my office chair and headset. This is a direct result of my having done a series of webinars that required me to be in my chair for some 30 hours over 3 days. Suddenly the chair wasn’t nearly as comfortable as it had been and I found the wired headset very restricting.)
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I love having two monitors. Very efficient!
I have 2 monitors that swivel, and I keep them on portrait (not landscape) viewing — it’s wonderful!
I can understand your loving the dual monitor set -up.
I have recommended the use of dual monitors to many clients over the years, knowing how it improves efficiency. But, in a typical case of “the shoemaker’s children being shoeless”, I didn’t use two monitors in my office.
I had been very content one my one, “too small but it’s what I have” monitor. That is, until I recently used a set up at a client site that included two, 27″ monitors. Once I’d done that, I was no longer content with my “how the heck can anyone work on something this small” monitor.
I’ve order new monitors and they are due to arrive and be installed next week. (Who says you can’t teach an ‘old dog’ new tricks. :-)
you will truly be cooking with gas.
I’ve found that even just a single large widescreen monitor can speed up your workrate immesurably.
Software programmes now come with so many on-screen toolboxes and menus. Being able to push them all to one side and get an unfettered view of the page you’re working on is pure bliss.
Strangely though, many of my workmates still prefer their titchy 4 by 3 16 inch jobbies even though they can see the benefits I’m getting – sooner them than me!