I’ve got two screens sitting on my desktop. Tonight, after I’m finished writing, I’m going to be putting a second LCD screen on Ponzi’s desk, too. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have a second monitor attached to your computer. If your desk footprint is too small, get a bigger desk - because the more pixels you have, the more productive you can be (and that’s a fact):

Microsoft researchers haven’t perfected the genie, but they’ve found a tool that can increase your productivity by 9 to 50 percent and make your work day easier. And you can begin using it right away. The researchers conducted user studies that proved the effectiveness of adding a second or even third monitor to your workstation, creating a wide-screen effect. In addition, they found out how the operating system needs to change to accommodate a larger screen area. Their work encompassed changes needed in the next version of Windows, as well as looking forward to when wide screens would no longer mean side-by-side single monitors, but would instead take many different forms. They even developed a prototype wide-aspect monitor to test their ideas.

If that’s not reason enough, then consider this: the next version of Windows will come with something called a “Sidebar” with “desktop gadgets.” You can gadgetize your desktop today with Yahoo!’s own Konfabulator (and yes, it’s free). With all those desktop widgets and gizmos, you’re going to need more real estate. 1024×768 ain’t gonna cut it. I was able to get a special deal on a widescreen 21″ flat panel display with my recent Gateway computer purchase. I’m not as happy with it as I would be had I not gotten used to a regular sized screen at 1600×1200 resolution - but an additional 1680×1050 ain’t nothin’ to cry over. And heaven help you if you’re still stuck on a CRT monitor. I can’t see straight after staring at one of those ol’ things for longer than five minutes. Remember, LCD screens have no refresh - and they’re much kinder on your eyes!

Tags: gizmos, desk, computer purchase, desktop widgets, konfabulator, 1600×1200 resolution, lcd screen, lcd screens, crt monitor, microsoft researchers, flat panel display