While I’m generally an early adopter of technology, occasionally I lag behind the times. For the past several years, I’ve noticed that more and more of my clients were purchasing two monitors when upgraded their workstations. Having had an 18-inch high-quality flat-screen monitor, it took me a long time (maybe too long) to real-ize the benefit of a second monitor.
When I bought my first computer (in what feels like the Dark Ages), the choices for monitors were monochrome yellow or monochrome green. They were 12 inches across and took up most of the desk. We installed screen savers to prevent images that had been displayed from burning into the monitor. A few years later, those monitors were beginning to be replaced by color monitors. I vividly remember a conversation with a law firm’s managing partner about whether to spend the extra money for color monitors. My argument in favor of color was that more and more computer applications were being written to take advantage of color and that, like television, once you saw programs in color, it was hard to return to a black-and-white TV.
For many years, the only upgrades to monitors were to increase the screen size and improve the color and resolution. In the past decade, the price for flat-screen monitors has made it possible for small businesses to buy them when upgrading workstations.
The trend to use more than one monitor took hold on Wall Street where traders had “Bloomberg” terminals along with computers to access different data at the same time. Gradually, second and sometimes third monitors have been finding their way onto other desktops as well.
Dell also offered monitors that can be turned sideways so the longer side is vertical rather than horizontal. This allows documents to be displayed more like a full sheet of paper. Ironically, this option is a throwback to the dedicated word processors that preceded personal computers. I’ve tried rotating my monitor but concluded that the bulk of my work doesn’t lend itself to showing the long side vertically. I would guess that those who primarily create or draft legal documents, this might be a helpful option.
As a consultant, I’ve found that more of my time is spent doing remote support sessions with clients. It dawned on me recently while watching status bars fly across the screen that I could be reading e-mail or doing other billable work while assisting clients. (Generally, when I am doing other work, I don’t bill the client being assisted remotely for that time if I’m able to work on other tasks.) A second monitor allows me to keep an eye on my client’s system while tending to other tasks. I’ve also found that while working on proposals, I can have my document on one screen and check pricing on the internet on the other.
Increased productivity
Lawyers who add a second monitor can be more productive. For example, an internet browser could be open on one monitor showing the results of a legal research search, while the draft of a brief is on the other screen. Another permutation might be to have a practice management or billing program open on one monitor, with other work open on the second screen. Once you open the possibilities of additional information up-front rather than behind the open application on a single monitor, you’ll find other uses for greater efficiency. Now that I’ve become reliant on the second monitor, I’m considering what a third monitor might accomplish! Of course, the real problem becomes where to put it since my desk is designed for papers rather than a computer terminal.
If you add a monitor, you’ll probably want one similar in size to the existing one. It can be a bit distracting to have two different sizes next to each other. The best time to get a dual monitor setup is when purchasing a new computer. Configuring dual monitors at the same time ensures getting a video card that can support two or more monitors along with the needed cables. The old monitor can be donated to a colleague or friend, or a local nonprofit.
A new 17-inch flat-panel monitor costs about $200. Companies that study the impact of technology on productivity have generally found a second monitor can improve output up to 42 percent.
Some companies sell stands that hold two monitors. Brands like Ergotron, Mass Engineered Design, Zenview and DoubleSight have good options.
