Size matters

I've recently read about interesting studies from Microsoft. According to them, if you are looking for a technological solution to boost your productivity, almost the only effective way is to buy a large monitor or even two of them.

I found it intriguing because I'm still working on my 13-inch laptop and have recently started to think it's not enough anymore.

Another study from the University of Utah has shown that people using 24-inch monitors complete a series of tasks faster than people with 18-inch monitors by around 52% working with text documents and 26% with spreadsheets. They've also found that taking something more than 24-inch doesn't actually improve users' performance anymore.

Of course, users from experimental group may not have known hotkeys for switching between windows or their tasks can't be compared to programming. So, one may say it doesn't work this way.

But I see some obvious reasons for such results and how bigger monitor can increase my productivity as a programmer.

A bigger screen:

1. Decreases switches between windows.

I usually have 3-4 windows opened at once while working: code editor, phone simulator or browser, UI design, and StackOverflow. For now, I have 3 macOS desktops with needed apps in full-screen mode. Switching from one to another takes time and mental energy.

2. Allows seeing more information at once.

"When people have to remember more, they tend to focus on fewer possibilities and fewer possible solutions. In other words, when people can only see a limited amount of their data, they have to remember the rest, which tends to limit them to fewer solutions and fewer strategies." You can focus on solving the problem instead of remembering some parts of your program.

3. Takes more space in my vision field, which results in better concentration, because I become less distracted. (Personal point)

I've also read from some authoriative sources, that 24-inch is not the limit. The perfect size and configuration depends on type of tasks you have to complete and your working style. So, choose your own path to happiness.

What's your current setup? Are you happy with it?

#efficiency