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This article is a good reminder that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. His setup would be horrible for me. I currently have three 1920x1080 monitors

This article is a good reminder that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. His setup would be horrible for me. I currently have three 1920x1080 monitors in an L configuration (two in the middle, one to the right) and it works great for me- because I need to see a lot of windows at once. I tell everyone I work with "you need at least two monitors" because for our work, it's true. Clearly a different case with OP.

stepbeek 4y ago
I guess it’s true: there is no generalization that’s absolutely true including this one.
VBprogrammer 4y ago
Very generally, what is your work? If some part of it is "monitoring", maybe some metrics or live orders of some kind then having it permanently on another monitor is a no brainer. I generally do all my work on one screen and keep email / teams / Spotify on the laptop screen.
- geocrasher 4y ago
  I work in the high end managed WordPress industry as Customer Success Manager. At any moment I have Slack, Tickets, Live Chat, Shell to several servers, and my server monitoring system up. ADHD means "out of sight out of mind" and so it's all visible all the time.
  - JohnBooty 4y ago
    ADHD means "out of sight out of mind" You know, it's funny. I believe I'm similar to you in this department. I use a giant 4K monitor as an ADHD mitigation tool. But I used to work with another guy. Also ADHD. And he said he absolutely had to restrict himself to smaller, single screens, in order to focus because looking at multiple windows at once was anathema to his ADHD. Just doubly reinforces how unique brains are. Even with the same diagnosis, different strategies.
    - ehnto 4y ago
      I tightly control the amount of context switching I do since you can get derailed by them, for much the same reason. I don't think I have ADHD but I certainly struggle with attention, and that is a strategy I use. Every alt+tab/window switch is an opportunity for me to lose my train of thought.
      - JohnBooty 4y ago
        Yeah, this is the specific reason for me. As far as my trains of thought go, every alt-tab or cmd-tab is something close to a guaranteed derailment. It sucks, because it sure looks fun to do some work in a coffee shop or whatever from time to time!
  - throwbadubadu 4y ago
    Interesting, but this is avery specific condition (on top of every one is individual) vs a generalizing advice "you need at least two monitors" because for our work, it's true." And not wanting to tell you it is wrong if this works great for you, but tbh I wouldn't see the necessity in this setup for multiple monitors, by your first post had assumed a very different kind of work ;)
karmakaze 4y ago
I don't like having two monitors side by side because I find myself looking not-straight for too many hours of the day at my 'primary' monitor. I too used to use an _| shape with one in the centre and one tall one on the side. Now I use a 43" 4k monitor and use most of the middle 2/3rds. I would use an extra wide monitor but they're made excessively wide & short. When playing games I can use 2560x1440 @59 Hz and the monitor knows to do 1:1 pixels so it's only using the centre of the display. I'm not so hardcore I need higher refresh rates--though the buttery smooth scrolling on new Macbooks is nice.

stepbeek 4y ago

I guess it’s true: there is no generalization that’s absolutely true including this one.

VBprogrammer 4y ago

Very generally, what is your work? If some part of it is "monitoring", maybe some metrics or live orders of some kind then having it permanently on another monitor is a no brainer. I generally do all my work on one screen and keep email / teams / Spotify on the laptop screen.

geocrasher 4y ago
I work in the high end managed WordPress industry as Customer Success Manager. At any moment I have Slack, Tickets, Live Chat, Shell to several servers, and my server monitoring system up. ADHD means "out of sight out of mind" and so it's all visible all the time.
- JohnBooty 4y ago
  ADHD means "out of sight out of mind" You know, it's funny. I believe I'm similar to you in this department. I use a giant 4K monitor as an ADHD mitigation tool. But I used to work with another guy. Also ADHD. And he said he absolutely had to restrict himself to smaller, single screens, in order to focus because looking at multiple windows at once was anathema to his ADHD. Just doubly reinforces how unique brains are. Even with the same diagnosis, different strategies.
  - ehnto 4y ago
    I tightly control the amount of context switching I do since you can get derailed by them, for much the same reason. I don't think I have ADHD but I certainly struggle with attention, and that is a strategy I use. Every alt+tab/window switch is an opportunity for me to lose my train of thought.
    - JohnBooty 4y ago
      Yeah, this is the specific reason for me. As far as my trains of thought go, every alt-tab or cmd-tab is something close to a guaranteed derailment. It sucks, because it sure looks fun to do some work in a coffee shop or whatever from time to time!
- throwbadubadu 4y ago
  Interesting, but this is avery specific condition (on top of every one is individual) vs a generalizing advice "you need at least two monitors" because for our work, it's true." And not wanting to tell you it is wrong if this works great for you, but tbh I wouldn't see the necessity in this setup for multiple monitors, by your first post had assumed a very different kind of work ;)

karmakaze 4y ago

I don't like having two monitors side by side because I find myself looking not-straight for too many hours of the day at my 'primary' monitor. I too used to use an _| shape with one in the centre and one tall one on the side. Now I use a 43" 4k monitor and use most of the middle 2/3rds. I would use an extra wide monitor but they're made excessively wide & short. When playing games I can use 2560x1440 @59 Hz and the monitor knows to do 1:1 pixels so it's only using the centre of the display. I'm not so hardcore I need higher refresh rates--though the buttery smooth scrolling on new Macbooks is nice.