I have been using more than one monitor on my computer for years. Once I read that Windows could indeed handle more than one video card, the light bulbs went off. I can have more than one screen? I shortly went out and purchased a second screen.

When I switched to the Mac Pro back in October, the system came with a single video card with two video outs. But, I had more than two monitors. I had visions, yet again, of being surrounded in monitors. You know, like I’m working at NASA or something.

So, I purchased a second video card for the Mac Pro. After installation, I had a total of 4 video outs. And, of course, I proceeded to hook up 4 screens. So, my Mac Pro setup had one Gateway 19″ widescreen, a Gateway 21″ widescreen, and 2 19″ standard screens (one a cheapo Mag Innovision and the other a Samsung). All screens worked fine, although it was a bit odd not having symmetry on the monitors (all the screens were essentially different sizes).

One of the most annoying problems I had with this setup was I would lose my mouse cursor fairly often. On Windows, you can configure it so that you hit the CTRL button and you get a little animated target around your mouse cursor to help you find it. On OS X, I’ve yet to find such a feature. So, of course, I would be forced to just move the mouse cursor around until my peripheral vision caught the location.

Yeah, a pain in the butt. I had hit the point of too many screens.

This weekend, I went ahead and picked up two Dell 24″ widescreens. I would have liked to get the 30″ screens, but they cost a fortune and really would not fit on my desk very well. Plus, the native resolution for a 24″ screen is 1920×1200. In order to get an increase, you have to jump all the way to a 30″. For any screen size between 24″ and 30″, you’re still getting the same screen resolution as the 24″. Obviously, everything just gets bigger. Not worth the money.

So, my current setup is 2 24″ Dell screens side-by-side and then my original 21″ widescreen is now a third screen. I use the 2 24-inchers as my main workspace and the 21″ for various apps that are running all the time such as instant messenger, Twhirl, etc.

So far I have not lost my mouse once. The most efficient multiple screen setup seems to be dual 24″. I only have the third screen because I can.

Multiple Monitors or Just One Big Monitor?

The answer is simple: multiple is better.

When your two monitors are identical (so you don’t have mismatched heights), a multi-monitor setup not only gives you a much larger workspace, but it is much more affordable. For about $400 less than the price of a single 30″ monitor, I was able to get two 24″ monitors. Or put another way, I could have purchased a third 24″ monitor and still came in less than a 30″ monitor. So, dollar for pixel, you get a LOT more for your money going multiple monitor.

How Many Is Too Many?

Well, as you can see above, four was too many for me. The sweet spot is two for me and I would assume that is the case for most people.

The thing to think about is how much you can visually work with. I can visually work with 2 screens at once. The others are in my peripheral vision and are thus best used for apps which just sit there and allow you to monitor things, If you actually try to WORK on more than two monitors, it gets to be too much. Your neck swings side to side and you lose your mouse cursor.

The Price Sweet Spot

24 inches is the current sweet spot. Sure, you can go larger but, again, you get no improvement in screen resolution until you hit 30″. So, from 24″ up through 28″, everything just gets larger. You’re not actually gaining any screen real estate at the native resolutions. So, what’s the point?

Preference is Personal

Others may have different opinions. Perhaps some cannot handle more than a single screen. Others may want the screen real estate but have weaker vision, in which case going larger than 24″ (so that you get larger images) may help you get the best of both worlds.

Both OS X and Windows can easily support a boatload of monitors. The question you need to answer is how many is right for you. If you are a stock day trader or have many apps open at once that you need to visually monitor but not necessarily work with, then perhaps more than two screens is necessary for you.

One thing I can tell you, though, is that multiple monitors is rather like broadband internet. Once you have had broadband, you can’t deal with dial-up. Well, once you’ve had more than one screen, going back to one makes your world seem a lot smaller.

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