Screen size and productivity

Santtu · 06-25-2008, 03:28 PM

I came to understand the effect of good resolution to my productivity a few years ago. Using many applications at a time has been necessary in my work as long as I can remember. Well, since the first GUIs on a computer. Currently I use 1600x1200 .. 1792x1344 resolution on my main screen, and 1680x1040 on another. It's about 4Mpix total, and close to being adequate.

Any users of super-sized screens, starting from 2560 x 1600, or about 4Mpix? Have you noticed a productivity boost over a 2-screen setup of similar number of pixels, if you do web design, programming or work with CAD?

file cabinet · 06-25-2008, 04:03 PM

in a way, yes. I have found using a third-party tool such as SplitView (splitview.com) helps to make different windows more manageable and to use up the screen's real estate more effectively.

ygolo · 06-28-2008, 05:45 AM

I still use a dual screen set-up at work both 1024x768. That little gap in the middle is annoying. I think I would prefer a large single screen.

Higher resolution and more pixels in general is rather useful. I can look at schematics and layout simultaneously--they both need a fairly large number of pixels.

I print stuff out a lot less often now.

aeon · 06-28-2008, 06:10 PM

I think it very much depends on the application in question.

Sometimes a single screen with extended resolution is best. I find this to be true when the app is designed as such, or when there is use of a long timeline as in music and animation applications.

Dual setups tend to work best when the app has specialized windows, e.g., 3D animation where screen 1 is keyframe and timeline and screen 2 is real-time render. I also like dual setups when an app has a number of palettes that I like to keep discrete and open.

I find that a dual 2560 x 1600 setup is almost too wide visually in that it induces some degree of neck- and eye-strain.

I remember working on an SGI system in the 90s that had an 8-head 1600 x 1200 setup. That was great for the task (algorithmic/procedural animation and rendering).

cheers,
Ian

denzien · 07-21-2008, 05:23 AM

Portrait mode for the win...especially for viewing PDF documents or lots of lines of code.

Of course, this image shows 4 pages of Word document at a time.

Edit: Oh, and I use UltraMon to add a taskbar to each monitor and allow me to quickly relocate windows from one screen to the next.

06-25-2008, 03:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
Santtu Survey Monkey Join Date: Sep 2007 Type: enTj Posts: 1,542	Screen size and productivity I came to understand the effect of good resolution to my productivity a few years ago. Using many applications at a time has been necessary in my work as long as I can remember. Well, since the first GUIs on a computer. Currently I use 1600x1200 .. 1792x1344 resolution on my main screen, and 1680x1040 on another. It's about 4Mpix total, and close to being adequate. Any users of super-sized screens, starting from 2560 x 1600, or about 4Mpix? Have you noticed a productivity boost over a 2-screen setup of similar number of pixels, if you do web design, programming or work with CAD? __________________ ENTP/ESTP/ESTJ/ISTJ/INTJ/ENTJ/ENFJ

06-28-2008, 05:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
ygolo My termites win Join Date: Aug 2007 Type: intp Location: North of somewhere (so not the south pole) Posts: 3,203	I still use a dual screen set-up at work both 1024x768. That little gap in the middle is annoying. I think I would prefer a large single screen. Higher resolution and more pixels in general is rather useful. I can look at schematics and layout simultaneously--they both need a fairly large number of pixels. I print stuff out a lot less often now. __________________ sloan+ Rxua\|I\|; primary Inquisitive; R(82%)L(52%)U(62%)A(54%)I(86%) CTO of IPTN (see Maverick's Sig.) and member of Maverick's Biker Club. Accept the past. Live for the present. Look forward to the future. My Blog I linked some of your blogs; if you feel that is inappropriate, please let me know.

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06-25-2008, 04:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
file cabinet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: Posts: 371	in a way, yes. I have found using a third-party tool such as SplitView (splitview.com) helps to make different windows more manageable and to use up the screen's real estate more effectively.

06-28-2008, 06:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
aeon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Type: INFP Location: Tenkay Lakes Posts: 276	I think it very much depends on the application in question. Sometimes a single screen with extended resolution is best. I find this to be true when the app is designed as such, or when there is use of a long timeline as in music and animation applications. Dual setups tend to work best when the app has specialized windows, e.g., 3D animation where screen 1 is keyframe and timeline and screen 2 is real-time render. I also like dual setups when an app has a number of palettes that I like to keep discrete and open. I find that a dual 2560 x 1600 setup is almost too wide visually in that it induces some degree of neck- and eye-strain. I remember working on an SGI system in the 90s that had an 8-head 1600 x 1200 setup. That was great for the task (algorithmic/procedural animation and rendering). cheers, Ian

07-21-2008, 05:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
denzien Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Type: INTP Location: Covington, LA Posts: 1	Portrait mode for the win...especially for viewing PDF documents or lots of lines of code. Of course, this image shows 4 pages of Word document at a time. Edit: Oh, and I use UltraMon to add a taskbar to each monitor and allow me to quickly relocate windows from one screen to the next.