In the past I’ve been told that using more than one computer monitor is a real distraction. And back in the CRT days, perhaps it was a bit much. After all, consider how much space is being used there. But with the adoption of LCD monitors a few years ago, owning more than one single monitor suddenly became a whole lot more practical. Now for the really big question: do you know how to use two monitors effectively? Most of us like to think so, but there is more to it than merely adding two connections to the video card and going forward from there.

Before we get into the dos, let’s examine some common don’ts to be remembered along the way here:

1) Don’t watch YouTube or other video media on the second monitor. While I’ve been known to listen to music while working, the idea of trying to follow a video at the same time as doing something work related will simply come back to bite you. You will never get the work done doing this.

2) Double check the monitor settings and make sure the refresh rate is the same with both monitors. It’s a common mistake people make as they truck forward on the road to productivity, but avoiding this will ensure you’re not fighting extra headaches along the way.

3) Avoid mirrored desktops. Instead, opted for a single “larger” desktop where windows can be dragged back and forth between the two screens.

Things you should be using the dual-monitor setup for:

1) Video editing or graphics work. Without any question, either of these tasks becomes massively easier when spread across both screens instead of jumping from one minimized program to the next. No special effects for switching views even begins to approach the time saving ability of having it all right there in front of you.

2) Research. When writing a piece or needing to check the spelling on something, having the second window to the opposite side of things is a fantastic solution to bouncing between programs.

3) Comparisons. If you are trying to do something creatively and need to make sure that what you’re working on matches the individual vision, dual monitors is the only way to go. So much easier than needing to rely on a second computer to keep things in plain view.

Other considerations?

Size matters… at least with regard to monitor sizes. You will do best with at least two 19 in monitors. I own two Samsung 20″ monitors and having used two different sized monitors previously, matching monitors connected via DVI is the only way to go. Another consideration is working with widescreen monitors if at all possible. This just provides you with more real-estate, but is helpful when working on Web sites and other related things where maximum resolution is being sought out.

And finally, own a decent graphics card. Not saying it has to be the top of the line, but something from NVIDIA or ATI that provides enough horsepower to comfortably run two monitors will make your life a lot easier.

[Photo above by Jose Florido / CC BY-ND 2.0]