Ask HN: Have you switched back to single display after trying multi displays? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Have you switched back to single display after trying multi displays?

3 pointsfirstSpeaker16 comments

I used to have 3 displays and as time passes I find less and less use for extra display other than them being distration. A while back as an attempt to reduce distraction I moved to two displays (big primary and 24" secondary). I think it is reducing distration but it might be just me assuming since I want the result to be less distraction and more focus. I wonder if anyone else has tried moving either way (to more displays or to reduce the number) and want to share experience.

View on HN

I'm using a single display and often close all the windows except the one that I am trying to focus on. Otherwise, there are just too many distractions and 'open loops', particularly if I have to tab over to something else (for the focus task) and accidentally come across something like a new email. Militant single tasking has been my mantra. I can't say this has been super successful and am contemplating more drastic options.

In the office and about half of the time at home, I use one display. I don't tile the screen either, typically just maximize all applications in use and tab between them. It was never really conscious, but I also find having a bunch of other windows on the same or other screens to be distracting and/or exhausting at times. I do have a dual monitor setup on my desktop at home for when I'm not using my laptop, but even then many times I simply unplug one of the displays. When I moved into a new house, a few months went by before I even pulled out the cables for the second one and turned it on.

I'm definitely the type of user who doesn't like to spend too much time arranging things, especially windows/screens. I will change font sizing and color to suit, but otherwise I'm fine with the defaults.

I primarily work on my laptop with just one display. When previous employers provided me with machines they always provided 2 or 3 displays, and later one _really huge_ display. I _did_ make use of them, but personally tend to gravitate back to a laptop screen.

Yes, a couple of times. Circa 1995, I had a B/W monitor and a color monitor on Sun SPARC IPC. Moving windows from one monitor to another didn't work. CRT monitors were too deep and used up all of my desk.

Had a 2 monitor set up around 2009 on Linux, didn't offer any benefits right then. My budget was limited so 2nd monitor was 2nd hand and small.

After writing this, I'm surprised that ability to move windows between monitors is important, as are desk scale ergonomics. Overall monitor volume seems important.

At home, I use a single display now.

At work, I still use 3 displays, not so much for multitasking, but one is for work, a second is for at-a-glance status board, and the third is for a browser window with some sort of documentation on it, along with my daily notes in Obsidian.

I'm typically not moving windows around, and I use different virtual desktops for different apps. My standard work desktop is a browser window and either vscode or a couple of terminals.

Other than that, all my active work is on a single monitor.

Yes, I did. I used to have 3 monitors: the laptop on the left, 27" horizontal in the center, and 27" vertical on the right side.

I switched to a single 4K 43" monitor (Dell U4320Q). I consider it the best thing I've ever bought. Paired with a window organizer (Moon) and virtual desktops, it is a very flexible setup, and also simple (no more dragging windows across monitors, no more dealing with window reshuffling when unplugging the laptop).

I've considered upgrading to the U4320Q from a U3818DW (38" curved), but have been concerned about neck strain. Do you notice any issues like that with this monitor?

Could I ask how are you approaching the ergonomic setup for the display? According to many write-ups [e.g. 1] the eye level should be about the same level as top of the screen.

How are you setting your elbow with correct angle and have the right eye level with the screen?

1- https://www.viewsonic.com/library/business/best-computer-scr...

I use a single 40" 4k display at 1x. This allows me to fluidly switch between different layouts like one huge canvas when doing design or multiple windows when coding, writing, etc.

I used multiple monitors in the past, but the seams between displays was a hinderance when spanning a single window across.

Only with certain work. Writing documents, definitely. Coding UI? Can't do that yet. I have been copying designs from Figma onto paper though and then building off that, but it's just easier to refer to typography, padding, etc from a secondary screen.

I have two 24" monitors on my desk, one in landscape, one in portrait, and wouldn't have it any other way (ie, neither more nor fewer, nor any other arrangements).

When I travel I work on my laptop screen and it's fine but I prefer my desk setup.

The only real use-case I've found for multiple displays was keeping monitoring sites open for on-call duties.

Besides that, the macos workspaces fit my needs. Knowing shortcuts is essential though

I only have one macbook built in display and I three-finger-swipe between desktops... Others in the office think that more displays = better worker for some reason

I have a laptop and a bigger screen above. Big screen is for what I am doing, laptop is only for browsers.

started with 2x 21" then 3x 24" then 2x 27" but now i am content with using 1x 43" 4k. very good for watching while not working LOL.

Yes, I used to do two big monitors, and now prefer just the laptop screen. I always hated how things changed around between the monitors and the laptop screen. Virtual desktops/spaces are enough for me to organize windows effectively. I would say Mac’s trackpad gestures are pretty key to my working this way.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com