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What is something you never understood the hype for? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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Original question by @zachimusprime44@lemmy.world

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[–] 25 points 1 year ago (36 children)

Having multiple monitors. My boss now has three. One is dedicated to displaying their calendar the whole day.

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  • [–] [S] 35 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    This was not a response I expected, I thought the only people who didn't like multiple monitors were ones who never tried it lol

    My peak was like 8 monitors, I'm at 6 now, but I can never go back to a single one long term. Whenever I do it temporarily for whatever reason it's agonizing

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago

    It’s taken me awhile to figure out, but I feel like the vast majority of people dismiss new things if they aren’t:

    1. Very clearly presented in exactly applicable use-cases for the person, including easy to understand benefit explanations. 2. They try it themselves in a way that the benefits are immediately apparent and understandable.
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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    There no way you're actively using 6 monitors at the same time. How many of this are just storing windows you don't look at for an hour at a time.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    It's a whole lot faster to turn my head to check on a process than to Alt-Tab 30 times hoping I don't miss the window I'm looking for.

    Though 6 monitors seems a bit nuts to me, but I don't know what he's doing.

    I can use 3 when I have some long-running tasks, or need to RDP into multiple systems. It's just easier than using a tabbed remote tool like mRemote.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago

    I'm the same person who also has 600 (Not an exaggeration) Chrome Firefox tabs open at a time LMAO

    It's a lot easier to just have whatever windows open on a monitor than constantly switching between windows. Sure there's 1 or 2 that just has Spotify open or whatever, but there's also ones with ya know documentation open or a browser or an IDE or RDP sessions there's also a dedicated crib monitor one as well

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  • [–] 29 points 1 year ago

    When doing work that requires multiple apps to be open or file explorers, web pages, and reference stuff then having a second is very convenient a lot of the time. Yeah, I could stretch it out on one giant monitor if it was an option, but two just makes it easy to keep track of what is where by having physical breaks.

    At home it is great for having discord or other thing off to the side for communication or reference while playing games full screen on one monitor instead of needing to alt tab or use windowed mode smaller than full screen. If I did a more immersive driving/flying set up I would have three for the wrap around effect and a fourth for the extra stuff.

    Both situations are for convenience.

    I do know someone at work that has three but they handle the infrastructure and they often have multiple apps and browsers open for all the things that interact when troubleshooting and having it large and readable makes it easier to see what is changing and what isn't changing at the same time.

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  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    I have 4. Game, discord and task manager, Japanese and YouTuber, code practice. It's an adhd man's dream and nightmare. Without 2 minimum It sucks. 3 is the sweet spot I feel. 4 is overkill

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago

    I didn't get it either until one class in high school (graphic design) had second monitors installed for all work stations halfway through the year. It's super useful being able to have reading material open on a vertical monitor! Only reason I don't have one still is because of very limited space (can't even fit a normal PC).

    I did start using my TV as a second monitor recently though for putting Zoom meetings on it. I got tired of having to alt tab back to it every once in a while when doing stuff. TV sits behind my laptop so only like half the screen is visible but it's good enough!

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    they're great if you do more than one thing at a time or need many programs open at the same time. anyone who regularly 'alt-tabs' to find or switch to a different window that they cannot currently see could benefit from another screen.

    one wide or ultra wide display may not work as well, as some programs simply aren't made with that aspect ratio in mind. we have one program here that insists upon being in a maximized window--always. a lot of wasted space, even on a 16:9. that user has two 5:4 instead and loves that setup.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    As someone who never understood multiple monitors, one day I just got a second one and now I feel working without a second monitor is limiting.

    Having said that, I can’t see a use for a third monitor at all (not to say it’s completely useless. I’m sure some people find it useful).

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Two at least. I am an accountant and constantly comparing at least two things. I have never been able to work on a laptop, need the multiple screens.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    That’s a use case I can agree with. Iff the two things you’re comparing actually take up the width of 1 monitor, each.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (3 children)

    OK so now imagine 4 things you’re doing and they take up the width of one monitor each. Ok, now expand that to a different metaphor. Imagine your kitchen, but you only have enough counter space for just the cutting board. Anytime you need to put something in a pan you have to hold the cutting board in one hand and pull a pan out and then put whatever is on the cutting board onto the pan, etc. Imagine cooking an entire meal like this. It would be a nightmare.

    If you’re working on one thing, and that one thing requires referencing several different things, then having to juggle them rather than just look to a different monitor slows you down significantly. I don’t think you necessarily need 8 monitors, that sounds like a neck injury waiting to happen, but 2-4 is almost necessary in any workplace or even playing video games at home (game wiki on one screen, game on the other).

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (2 children)

    OK so now imagine 4 things you’re doing and they take up the width of one monitor each

    That’s an assumption I [Edit (bad English): contend challenge]. Often when I see people who claim they need n monitors, then they’re wasting screen space like nothing. For instance, giving 2560px to a web browser that effectively uses the 920px in the middle to display text, because reading a line across 17 inches is terrible.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    /shrug You can challenge that assumption, and it might be the case for you, but if you're a developer, or you're working in applications like DaVinci Resolve, or you're comparing multiple spreadsheets, or you're comparing a spreadsheet with your taxes, or the list goes on and on. For example, here is someone developing a game with Unity https://i.sstatic.net/TrHVR.png and they don't even have their IDE window up!

    Here's a really good example 😉 https://www3.nasa.gov/specials/mcc360/

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Your first example is exactly what I’m talking about. 2/3 of screen space are wasted and literally show an empty void. And you’re telling me it’s essential to see that?

    I grant you that this might change as development goes on, but as the screenshot stands now, it’s an argument in my favor.

    As for the NASA image: I see that all these indicators may be open, so the user can immediately see when one flashes red. That isn’t so much the case for people who have discord (or task manager, WTF?) open on a full screen. Or a calendar, as I mentioned in another comment.

    Also: Are you a NASA engineer?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    Giant monitor >>> multiple monitors. For my internship of making 3D animations I had a really big monitor on my desk. I could fit every single viewport and UI element I ever needed on that screen!

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  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    I find multiple monitors better. The physical separation helps in creating mental separation, allowing me to focus on the currently important areas and ignore the periphery.

    Started working on double monitor setup still in the 90s (two big ass crts) and never went back. I tried some ultrawides, but always default to 2x instead.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    If you want to ignore the periphery, anyway, why do you need to see it in the first place?

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    Focus.

    Say I'm working on Photoshop. I may need to use the palettes, tool presets, brush catalogue, alerts, etc, but then I may want to ignore them and focus purely on the image.

    3D - I can put references on secondary screen and peek at them every now and then, but not have them distract me while modeling and texturing.

    I can put tools like calculator, notepad and timer - all accessible, but all out of the way.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (3 children)

    Dude either needs to streamline to two monitors, or pick up iRacing.

    Only reason I'd have 3 monitors is for racing sims, but even then I usually use VR anyway.

    Two is fine for most.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Three monitors is incredibly handy sometimes.

    I have two, but one is in pirtrait mode. I use it when I need to read through a document but also can have two windows one above other to simulate a second monitor and use it like that at work fairly regularly.

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