The second monitor is useful indeed, I tried it for a couple of months, but to switch is too much work for my eyes. I guess what I should really try is to use a

The second monitor is useful indeed, I tried it for a couple of months, but to switch is too much work for my eyes. I guess what I should really try is to use a very big monitor, so that I can have for instance the xterms in one side, IRC in another place of the screen, and so on, all visible, with a goal: instead of a notification I can see what is happening in the other windows, and chances are I don't need to take any action at all. Btw using an external monitor I lost the "portability" benefits of the macbook, and I'm used to work on the balcony when it's sunny :) This poses another problem btw, the contrast is too low with the macbook display.