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When One Small Monitor Just Won’t Do

October 11, 2008 by  
Filed under GIS Software, GIS Tips

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I recently found an interesting blog about Why your boss should buy you a larger monitor.  I found it very detailed in the benefits for buying a larger monitor for GIS work.  There is even a slide show with these details laid out.

I do not have a larger monitor, but I do have two monitors.  Althought you have to have a dual video card for this, I feel that the benefits are even greater than just a larger monitor.  I use the Dell UltraSharp 1908FP 19-inch monitor.  Well, I use two of them of course.  

Here are some ways I benefit from two monitors.

  • I keep ArcMap up on one and have ArcCatalog open on the other, therefore I can easily drag and drop layers onto the map.
  • I can keep an eye on Outlook while working with my map.
  • I can have a Excel spreadsheet up on one with my map on the other.
  • I sometimes put a map document on each monitor.  This allow me to compare and even drag and drop layers from map to map.
  • I also open the Internet on one monitor and can work in other application on the other.
Hopefully you have seen the benefits of two or more monitors.  Send this to your boss and start being more productive today!

 

UPDATE:
The above option is not saying that two 19″ monitors are better that a 21″ or greater monitor for the map interface.  I agree with the research that the map interface is enhanced at this monitor size.  The point I am trying to add is that a secondary monitor increases overall work productivity be enabling other programs to be viewed simultaneously with the map interface.  Thanks for the correction Muki!   

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Comments

One Comment on "When One Small Monitor Just Won’t Do"

  1. Muki Haklay on Sat, 11th Oct 2008 9:33 am 

    Dear Timothy,
    Actually, you are wrong about thinking that two 19-inch monitors are better than a larger monitor. Yes, there is a clear advantage of having two monitors in terms of seperating tasks (this is what you are describing), but based on the research that we’ve carried out about the productivity gain of larger monitors I would suggest that the most productive configuration will be to have something in the 21-inch and upward for the map interface (as this must be all on one monitor) and then a secondary monitor for your word processor, spreadsheets, email etc.
    Cheers
    Muki

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