How did you get used to have multiple monitors?

[Hi P]

I've been using two monitors since last year and I still don't get used to it

 

I'm very used to my left monitor which is nearly in front of me, but I have to turn my head just a bit to see the right monitor which is slightly bothersome. I lie to myself saying that I need that second monitor but, truth be told, I could be perfectly fine without it.

 

Then I see people with 3 monitors, how do you do that???

 

[aisle9]

My main one in front, and smaller ones off to each side. Three is easier than two imo

[Zalosath]

3 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I've been using two monitors since last year and I still don't get used to it

 

I'm very used to my left monitor which is nearly in front of me, but I have to turn my head just a bit to see the right monitor which is slightly bothersome. I lie to myself saying that I need that second monitor but, truth be told, I could be perfectly fine without it.

 

Then I see people with 3 monitors, how do you do that???

 

I have 2, one central and 1 off to the side. 

First monitor is my main, I do mostly everything on it, and then the second one is just used for things like discord and stream chat if I'm streaming, it's just nice to be able to see the chat without alt+tabbing every time I want to look.

[WereCat]

Main monitor is for games or software I work with... or browser if I don't do anything else. 

 

Left monitor is for Discord mainly and Steam or for watching movies when I don't do anything else since it's positioned in such way that I can sit comfortably for movie watching. 

 

Right monitor is for browser when main monitor is occupied or for OBS or for file manager and some monitoring stuff. 

[Brooksie359]

What are you using your computer for? For me personally I have to have a second monitor especially for work as I am constantly looking at pdfs while in my modeling program in on the other. Sometimes I even have multiple pdfs open at a time and need to compare to pdfs. As for when using my computer for things other than work I usually like to have a stream or youtube on one monitor while I do something on the other monitor. Also nice when online shopping and I need to compare prices of different websites. 

[Brooksie359]

Also at home I have a 4k monitor mainly for content consumption whie I have a 1080p 360 hz monitor mainly for gaming especially when I play esports games. Sometimes I play on my 4k monitor for slower paced games that I want to turn on the eye candy for. 

[orate.cl]

you gotta asign in your head duties to your screens, I can't work without 3 now.

central screen its where I write, think and put ideas down, right screen it's for content I need to compare with what I'm working on and left screen it's for contact stuff, like instant messengers windows, etc.

[FrozdY]

I have 4.

1 tall/portrait mode to the right for chat, stream events, text and what not that's useful for.

1 to the left of that so that I can monitor the stream as a viewer, to see stutters/buffers/other.

1 to the left of that which is my main.

And the left of that which is also my HTPC laptop and the last screen which I use for discord and OBS.

 

I don't have any problem turning my head because it's more convenient to just turn my head instead of alt+tab, I'm one of those that typically has tons of stuff running at the same time and navigating through them is easier with multiple screens, for me anyway

[Hi P]

22 minutes ago, Brooksie359 said:

What are you using your computer for?

Gaming mostly. Programing during work hours, but on the second monitor I tend to throw YouTube, Slack or something, but it's a slight hassle having to turn the head

 

16 minutes ago, orate.cl said:

you gotta asign in your head duties to your screens, I can't work without 3 now.

7 minutes ago, FrozdY said:

I have 4. I don't have any problem turning my head because it's more convenient to just turn my head instead of alt+tab

I can't fathom having to use 3 or 4 monitors

 

Perhaps my problem is that I have the monitors kinda close, they are sitting on my rather small desk, I could try wall mounting them and pull back the desk

[FrozdY]

7 minutes ago, Hi P said:

Gaming mostly. Programing during work hours, but on the second monitor I tend to throw YouTube, Slack or something, but it's a slight hassle having to turn the head

 

I can't fathom having to use 3 or 4 monitors

 

Perhaps my problem is that I have the monitors kinda close, they are sitting on my rather small desk, I could try wall mounting them and pull back the desk

I wouldn't recommend moving them apart, that's just gonna make it worse I think.

 

Maybe put things you use a lot at the same time on the extra screen, like videos/streams, just to force your brain to be trained to use it?

 

If not, maybe it's just best for YOU specifically to just have the 1 screen? If you try going back to just 1, just put the extra away, so that you can pull it out in case you actually need it in the future

[191x7]

You get used to it by having to work. And its not meant to have all the monitors in your vision, it's meant for you to move your head.

I wouldn't be as productive at work if I were limited to a single monitor, especially not a 1080p one. There are often situations where you have to do one thing on the main screen while reading/watching/comparing on the second.

Asking this question simply implies that you're not doing something where you'd actually notice the benefits to your time and efforts.

[ToboRobot]

Depends entirely on your workflow.

Generally I have my main task on the primary monitory where I "do my work", and secondary reference or chat screens there to communicate and look up information

But it's going to depending on your work.

[Stahlmann]

My main monitor is right in front of me and is typically what i pay attention to. The 2nd monitor on the side is mostly showing spotify, teamspeak, youtube and twitch.

 

And in the office i also use 2 monitors. My main monitor is where i do most of my work, my 2nd monitor is for monitor e-mail and having documents that i need for the work on my main monitor. So i don't need to print out as much.