Want to get more productive at your computer? Get a bigger screen!
Many of us who have spent long periods working on our PCs would agree that it can be easier to perform certain functions when you have a larger display. Some enlightened organisations and individuals have understood this for years and have invested in the most appropriately sized monitors for each workstation. Some use one very large screen, others combine pairs of medium-sized monitors.
GTD Times have highlighted a benchmarking study that has compared the relative performance of a 17-inch and a 30-inch monitor. This study, compiled by Pfeiffer Consulting, measures a range of typical computing tasks, some of which are readily applicable to most users. The example highlighted below is typical of the findings; the time taken to perform something as routine as moving files between folders is seemingly halved by the move from 17-inch to 30-inch.
Given the ongoing reductions in price for larger monitors, it seems there has never been a better time to make an investment. However, it may be difficult to convince those who control the spending in less progressive corporations to splash out. If you live in that world, at least now you have some data to back your argument!
(Note this blog post was compiled, relatively slowly, on a little 15-inch MacBook Pro.)
Excellent! Just the excuse I needed to buy that 42″ screen.
Speaking from experience, this is definitely true!
I have a relatively inexpensive setup which consists of 2 x 19″ Samsung 940NW’s (check it out on Komplett – very reasonable pricing).
This is what the setup looks like:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/3072438332_61efb44eb7.jpg
Huge difference in productivity!
Cheers,
Alastair.