Recently I took the plunge and added yet another monitor to my rig at work, bringing the total monitor count up to three. “Three!!?” you ask, “isn’t that just a little silly, a little overkill?” I say no. I have 2 Apple Cinema Displays ( 20″ and 23″) and a 20″ Dell monitor, and I feel as though 3 may be the perfect number for my current situation and needs. Try to follow my reasoning as I explain myself.
It all goes back to my freshman year of college when I got the handmedown monitor from my parents ancient Gateway (remember those moo-cow boxes?) and used it as my TV screen since my computer at the time had a cable card installed. Not too long after that I ended up getting a real TV and therefore had a newly usable second monitor. It was at that point that I realized how much I had been missing out on. I could have the internet open in one monitor, while on the other I could have 3 IM conversations running, and watching the progress of a file transfer. All at the same time, with no overlapping windows! I was thrilled to say the least. Obviously I used it for much more practical things such as home work and various projects I was working on. But the doors had been opened to the joy of multitasking and the sense of productiveness that came with it. Since that time I have always felt the need to have multiple monitors.
