I've used WMs. It's not the same. Moving the mouse cursor is pain-free and fast. And the ability to compare the layout in different browsers visually is a big plus. I save the html/css, hit refresh and see the web-page in 4 different browsers. Now I can instantly see if any of them have weird CSS issues.
But you don't need multiple monitors for that. Just switch to the desktop that has the 4 web browsers on it.
A 30" monitor is bigger than 4 1024x768 monitors, remember.
(Why don't I like multiple monitors? They take up too much space, and it's very hard to get one monitor adjusted to be comfortable... much less 5 of them. And, pressing a key to switch to a new display is not much slower than glancing in another direction, unless you aren't planning on interacting with what you are looking at.)
There's no comparison between multiple desktops and multiple monitors, IMO. A 30" monitor is smaller than 2x 24" monitors (close to what I use, 24" and 22").
I have two 24" monitors at work and one at home. At work, I use XP. At home I use Linux/Xmonad. Xmonad on one monitor is vastly preferable to Windows on two monitors.
Even a 9" monitor is good enough with Xmonad.
Maybe you need two monitors if you are not an Xmonad/keyboard power user... but otherwise, two monitors just gets you extra neck strain.
I already have a system for arranging windows, but it's not based on tiling. My secondary monitor is for cascaded windows, such that the bottom-left corner of every window is aligned along a diagonal line. This makes window switching a spatial experience. As to keyboard power user, I generally exclusively use the keyboard when I'm using an IDE, terminal, email, Google reader, etc., but use mouse for documentation, web browsing, etc.
Two monitors comes into its own when you need to see more information on the screen at once. In my IDE as it is, when e.g. debugging, I have loads of tiled information displays, between the source, disassembly, CPU and FPU registers, CPU stack, memory, symbolic call stack, watches, locals, loaded modules, breakpoint list, thread list, log, project layout, etc. Fitting all that into 9" would be unreasonable; add in the actual running program in a terminal window, and scanning logs of previous runs in less, and it's hard to get by without two screens.
I find it hard to imagine how you can comfortably type on the left-most screen with the keyboard in the center. To keep your arms parallel to your head you must have to move the keyboard and mouse according to the screen you are looking at.
It doesn't sound like the most ergonomic setup, but it must work for you since you say you're twice as productive!
I don't do that. My arms/mouse/keyboard face the center LCD and I type/click without looking down. I turn my head slightly if needed but mostly it's enough to just turn my eyes. Like I said, sitting back helps.
When you first switched to a vertical orientation on your screens, did it take long to get used to? I loathe line-wrapping in my IDE, so I would imagine I'd prefer wider over taller, but then I loathe scrolling almost as much so maybe I'll have to try it someday. :)
Yes, it took some time to get used to. And it changed the way I code. I try to keep my line-width to under 80 chars now. My code works the same way but it looks different and I think, better/cleaner.
Samsung 22" (2243). No stands. The monitors can pivot. I got them from newegg for about $189 each. It's a pretty good deal for under $1k in cost. The resolution isn't bad, though if I had $2k to spare, I'd have bought 5 of 2443s (24") at 2560x1600.
Three dual-DVI ATIs. Nothing too expensive really. My PC is three years old but does have quad-core dual CPUs and mirrored C: drive. So even with 20 open apps, I've never had any speed issues.
Indeed. And I write funny so pen on the right is actually more helpful than pen on the left. I can only write if the paper is orthogonal to my body i.e. parallel to the keyboard. I make my left-arm parallel to the keyboard, which puts my fingers on the right-side of the keyboard, making it easy to pick up the pen placed on the right side.
Like Chime, it would seem I'm in the minority as well running Windows Vista 64 on my home setup. I don't follow any sort of pattern on what goes on what display, it just all depends on what I'm doing at the moment. Currently, however, I've got Chrome in the center, communications (TweetDeck, Digsby) on the left and Visual Studio on the right. Behind those are just a couple more windows such as Notepad++, another copy of VS running for an alternate project and I'll usually have SQL Management Studio up as well and maybe iTunes unless I'm listening to Pandora.
The laptop is rarely used, but I'm working on a Chrome Extension that requires syncing via a website across computers so I broke it out for testing.
The rig is a couple of years old now, nothing really note worthy aside from maybe my system drive and data drive's each being in a mirror raid. Screens are all Hanns-G. I had 2 - 19's and a 21, but one of the 19's fried and I managed to find a used 21 on eBay to match my existing one (it's an older model) so I picked that up.
It's just like any other dream - it has upsides and downsides. I wouldn't trade it for anything else though, and I can't imagine moving back into a small box in the middle of a crammed city. If you're a bit of a handyman and know what to look for it doesn't have to be that expensive. I've written half an e-book on how to find, buy and live on a boat. Hopefully I'll get the rest done this summer.
You won't be able to use xmonad to manage normal OS X apps. X11 will just be another OS X application sitting in your dock that you can switch to. However, it is pretty easy to install a decent set of X11 apps. If you have MacPorts installed you can install the packages firefox-x11, rxvt-unicode, unclutter, and 'vim +gtk2' (the +gtk2 variant for PRIMARY/CLIPBOARD support) to get started.
It's actually amazingly comfortable. Moreover, balancing requires you to sit erect, helping fight the second scourge of computer dorks -- bad posture. (The first being Carpal tunnel.)
That's interesting. I might buy one just to try it out then, I hurt my lower back a couple of years ago and it never fully healed, and slouching on a leather chair all day doesn't seem to be helping..
Let me know how it works out. I did it initially for similar reasons. A surgery I had years ago leads disk degeneration. Mine is not bad, but my back did hurt at the end of the day sometimes. Now it does not.
1) Quiet (but not isolated; 'Net and phone are adequate in this regard).
2) Clean (allergies).
3) Some natural light.
4) Ability to make basic ergonomic adjustments. Also the ability to get up and move around immediately and at will (helps my health, concentration, and to settle restlessness).
And, probably more in line with the question's expected responses:
5) Adequate (doesn't have to be exceptional) equipment and screen real estate.
Pretty simple. Yet I've found them ridiculously difficult to come by. People seem to really appreciate my work, yet they cannot seem to grasp the concept of allowing me these basic controls over my environment.
This is a primary motivation for my shifting to self-employment. Wish me luck.
EDIT: Currently, the home office has an L-shaped desk composed of two 6 ft x 2.5 ft segments with the height and angle of each segment independently adjustable. This provides plenty of workspace; I still find physical writing, printouts, and layout/organization of items useful in organizing my work and thoughts.
Windows on both sides, but now with the blinds closed due to a recent burglary :-( . Laptop with a separate keyboard. There was a second laptop, but it was ripped off. I don't have a particular need for a desktop; laptops have enough processing power, have effectively a built in UPS, and can travel with me. Short term, I'm substituting an older desktop for the stolen laptop. Some backup drives, printer, whatnot.
CFL desk lamp (soft white) and torchiere (daylight). Also a high intensity full spectrum "light box" angled to bounce off the white ceiling (otherwise, the LCD screens get washed out). The daylight / full spectrum bulbs do make a difference in perception. But they do not match the quality of and circadian synchronization provided by natural lighting.
I'm envious of the mousepad (of all things). I'm still chained to using one (using the desk surface just doesn't feel right to me), so I'd love to get a cheap, but decent oversized one.
I bought this at Fry's a few years ago--it's called a Razer "Mantis", and although it's supposed to be sold for gaming I find it great for daily usage.
Good eye--806v bookshelfs. I picked mine up on Craigslist for half off, and would highly recommend anyone else to do the same. Listening to music is an entirely new experience in hi-fi (I'm new to this).
My workspace- http://imgur.com/pWDwp.jpg
2 Ubuntu Machines, 1 Win7 Box, 1 WinXP box.
Using Synergy+ to share a KB/mouse between them.
I'm really enjoying the vertical monitors- Most monitors are wide enough these days, so having a maximized browser doesn't really help, but two stacked full-width windows is really useful.
I prefer the multiple monitors to divide up tasks- I can have email on one machine, Terminal windows on another, Browser on a third, etc.
I think the iPad/iPhone model actually makes a lot of sense. It's quicker for me to turn my head slightly to look at a new monitor, then to minimize/restore other applications that I use frequently.
Anyone running a desk at standing level (or adjustable height for part time standing)? I've been curious about this lately after reading all the articles about sitting being bad for you.
I've found it works really well, it affords me lots more storage space, and (after the first week of working with it) has eliminated my lower back pain.
I recommend it to everyone, and you don't need any fancy ergonomic equipment to get started, just a bit of ingenuity. However if you do give it a go, keep in mind that the first week of standing can be pretty... tiring! And if you're adventurous (and have one to hand) you could even try using it with a treadmill.
I've tried it a few times out of necessity in robotics pits ( http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/ ). I've always found it enjoyable (except for the noise) , but I was normally doing quick changes. I think my max time was an hour and I didn't feel any noticeable pain/discomfort.
I built a workbench in my shop with some 4x4s and good quality plywood. It's standing height, has our data recovery setup on one half and engine rebuilding area on the other half.
It's a really nice change of pace to go out there and stand for bit.
It's an Ikea Bestå Burs. The only disadvantage is that it is not height-adjustable, and it needs a mousepad. (Actually, I like the mousepad, but I did feel strange buying one from Amazon. I was worried that they would throw in some five-and-a-quarter inch floppies, too.)
But otherwise, the long and narrow form factor keeps my room nice and open, but gives me enough room to use 2 computers at once. This is also my first desk with drawers, which keeps all the clutter out of sight. Recommended.
I am very satisfied. So far, I sat for a maximum of 3 hrs at a stretch and its still comfortable. After 2 hours, my legs start getting cold, probably because the blood is not flowing there, after that I adjust the recline and it feels better.
I still find this lot better than sitting. The pressure on the back is horizontal. I read about workstations online and most of these here are reclined workstations.
I used to have a MBP. After a few months of testing it out I gave it to my wife and gladly got her $200 netbook instead, on which I immediately installed Arch and felt like I could do something again. Ah, the freedom of customizing my OS!
I used to have a MBP. After a few months of testing it out I gave it to my wife and gladly got her $200 netbook instead, on which I immediately installed Arch and felt like I could do something again.
It's just that I really disliked OSX windows manager and the finder; also I never liked the shared menubar location. Working with multiple applications has always been a pain in the neck for me. I loved the size and feeling of the multitouch pad but found it frustrating that it was hardly customizable (you even need third party app to do things as basic as third click emulation)
I never was a Mac person and I bought a MBP to give it/me a try. After a few months I was convinced I'll never be one.
Mine is similar to Chime, I have a 4 LCD setup. [Can't do 5 LCD setup because my table can't fit another LCD + my workstation can not take another display card!]
LCD 2 and 3: VMs for Development [VMWare supports multi monitor for the guest OS!]
LCD 4: 24" Widescreen LCD in landscape mode for movies and stuff. (I don't own a TV)
LCD 1, 2, 3 are Dell 2005FPW. They have an IPS Panel and you can rotate them in portrait or landscape mode. I hate the cheap LCDs available in market right now because they don't have an IPS Panel. [Tip: Search for 2005FPW on craigslist, sometimes you may find an awesome deal and trust me, they are way better than anything you can find in current market right now.] LCD 4 is Dell 2405FPW which is not IPS but because I only use it for multimedia, I don't mind it that much.
I've been looking for work tables just like those in your office. Where did you find them? Or if you made them, can you give quick rundown of the materials used?
Nice and messy right now - was working on an GPS(RC)-Car Arduino project. Monitors not turned on due to the cluttered work-surface. (primary machine is a 15" santa rosa mbp)
http://atk.me/files/170b56c8056c4aed4ad8f52e94182921.jpg
These pictures are a little old from right after I first moved into my new office back in January. It's much more moved into and setup now.
My office is in an old brewery in Ann Arbor that was built in the 1960s, shut down during prohibition and then turned into an iron foundry, then shut down for pollution in the 1960s, then renovated into an office building in the 1970s.
I really need a bigger desk. I had to add an extension to it to be able to fit both speakers, and the monitors have to be rotated towards each other more than I like, but it works for now.
They're supposed to be used as studio monitors. I don't have them set up appropriately for that, but they're higher quality than most computer speakers. With them at about half volume, the volume level on my iMac controls them pretty well.
XMonad is actually managing the split there with emacs on the left and screen the right. There are Screen patches[1] for vertical split floating about but I don't use them.
Opps, missed this. Yea, it's very good. It turned out my left hand traveled one column over to the right too far, so I had to learn to type again. Still, well worth it.
Had to switch back to Windows 7 after Ubuntu 10.4 decided it no longer wants to work with my video cards. I guess that's what I get for buying new hardware.
* Monitors: 30" Dell, 21" Samsung and a 20.1" Dell vertical
* Keyboard: Kinesis Advantage Pro
* Chair: Herman Miller Embody
Not featured is the Dell Latitude e4300, which was the perfect buy for mobile productivity.
PS: Moving to an apt with a view at the end of the month. The painting just doesn't cut it.
Highly adjustable. Shifts pressure away from your spine which makes long workdays a lot more bearable. I owned the Aeron before, I like the Embody better. If you have the money, I would recommend it. I bought mine new through eBay.
A reflection: you people need to get better cameras and/or learn to use it properly! I'd have guessed that the average HN:er would have a decent camera… Apparently not!
Idea: site that lets people show off things they own/ setups. Girls would love it for fashion, guys with cars, geeks with comp setups,etc. Also shoe collectors.
I'm very surprised that no one is standing up while working. I tried a couple times in the past, but never stuck with it. Prompted by an article I read this morning, I tried again this afternoon: http://bit.ly/dyBXft (my live reactions on Twitter).
It is a bit tiring, but it has an amazing way of focusing your mind.
Anyone here has done this on an extended period of time? How was your workspace structured?
That's me, running ArchLinux. This is in London in a co-working space in Shoreditch.
EDIT: I find 2 or at the maximum 3 screens to be optimum but i do keep a separate laptop for communication, browsing activities. When i need isolation I simply close my communication machine, the main "work" machine does not have IM,Email and has a very strict firewall.
£28 worktop and legs. £12 glass marker board/whiteboard. Both from Ikea. The silver thing is just a mini stereo, not a computer. Fruit, because I'm always hungry.
It's night time in London, apologies for the terrible grainy photo. There is a nice door to the garden just to the left (so I get lots of light and fresh air.)
I saw this desk at a pottery barn and had a local guy in san diego build one for me in the green color - the one at pottery barn was brown. It turned about to be a lot cheaper too :)
My home office from a year ago (wow), it's a bit messier now and the Fujitsu laptop has since been replaced with a Macbook pro. Both my main pc and my laptop are running Ubuntu.
Working on a friend's website in Quebec. I also had to work dishes when things got really busy. The free food and free beer more than made up for it, though.
Thankfully I cleaned out the cans last night hiding my current lit survey due soon crazy caffeine addiction.
Still running windows xp, nothing special.
Almost all my stuff except the laptop is in there... sony reader, notebook, monitors, logitech keyboards, wrist rests it's even got the wowbot running and my weight lifting gloves.
I love the belt!
You should find a way to mount it. It's a very cool trophy, but when it's just sitting around it's too easy to look like clutter, rather than being a nifty and unexpected gift.
Yes I use both machines. I often use the one on the left for recording screencasts and for testing different configurations.
The wall has a bunch of project notes and motivational stuff
"There is 0 value is fear and anxiety"
"Differentiate every day"
and my favorite
"The thoughts of others were light and fleeting,
of lovers meeting or luck or fame,
mine were of trouble and mine were steady,
and I was ready when trouble came - Houseman".
Picture: http://chir.ag/stuff/5lcd.jpg
* LCD1: Communication (chat/im, email)
* LCD2: Test browsers (IE, FF, Opera, Safari), Photo Editor
* LCD3: Main browser (Chrome)
* LCD4: Text Editor (EmEditor), SFTP
* LCD5: Media (music, video, audio controls)
I'm about twice as more productive on this setup than on my laptop.