does having X * (PC, monitor, laptops, servers <insert hw>) make you X times more productive?
i guess not, it could be diminishing return
or even negative return (more distractions, harder to admin / sync / whatever)
i guess not, it could be diminishing return
or even negative return (more distractions, harder to admin / sync / whatever)
My productivity was certainly lower when I was a PC user, as compared to the Mac. I really enjoy using my Macs and don't find work to be so grating when the system keeps out of my way and the hardware is solid.
Could I produce just as well with one machine and a smaller monitor? Sure, but I probably wouldn't be as jazzed or enthusiastic about getting started.
Actually, no. Studies have shown that bigger monitors make just about everyone more productive -- one estimates 2.5 hours per day in savings:
http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/03/10/bigger-computer-moni...
The study did find that extremely large monitors are less effective (this might be an ergonomic artifact. They didn't differentiate between one doubleplusbig monitor and two singleplusbig), so you'd be on firmer groud if you'd said:
"Could I produce more with ... a bigger monitor than what I've got now? Maybe yes, maybe no, but I'd definitely be more jazzed or enthusiastic about getting started."