How to use two monitors (and why it helps)
(www.myorganizedbiz.com) - This topic is the first in a series of interviews with Brian Kelly, owner of Willamette Technical (that’s wil-AM-it, dammit), a computer services company in NW Oregon that specializes in data integrity for home, small, and medium business.
Jen: Hi, Brian! What’s a hot topic this month that helps the small or home business owner use technology for more productivity?
Brian: I want to talk about how to use two monitors instead of one - and how it can help your productivity and focus.
Jen: Cool! I’ve seen people do this – tell us about it.
Brian: Well, the way I see it, it’s the job of a business owner to effectively handle information and data as it goes in and out; things like email, work projects, billing, etc. Managing all of this effectively is part of your role.
Jen: You’re singing my song. That makes perfect sense.
Brian: You’ve probably noticed that every time you open a window, it takes time off from whatever you’re working on. If you have to focus on managing the display, you get distracted from the project and flow of your work.
For example, when you have to search through your email to find a piece of information, you can get distracted by a new email waiting for you. Having the open project in front of you on one screen while you search on the other can help you stay on track and help prevent wasted time.
Jen: This sounds great for people who are really visually-oriented.
Brian: Exactly. And you can configure it a variety of ways. One of the best systems is to use one monitor as your dashboard, displaying your calendar and email. While you do the actual work on the other monitor. It’s like having a paper calendar for structure and a notepad for writing and working.
Another system is to have your web browser open on one screen to do research, and the other one for the actual work in progress.
In either case, this structure allows you to seamlessly switch between a passive viewing window and the active working window without having to open or close anything. You can switch back and forth easily - and it’s great for staying focused.
Jen: So, if someone wants to set this up in their office, how do they do it?
Brian: Well, first you need two monitors - and they don’t even have to be the same dimensions. And for around $50, you can purchase a video card that supports dual monitors
The you just install the video card, connect the two monitors to it, and then configure your computer to recognize both of them. It sounds complicated, but it’s pretty straightforward.
If you’re not technically inclined, it’s inexpensive to do and worth every penny. Depending on your area, you can expect about $100-150 for a computer services company do it for you.
Jen: This is great - thanks for the tips, Brian!
Tags: brian kelley, business, computer, dual monitors, monitor, time, willamette technicalRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Friday Feature, Time Management
1 opinion for How to use two monitors (and why it helps)
Jessica Reagan Salzman
Feb 17, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I couldn’t live without my dual monitors! Great post!
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