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Using two medium sized monitors instead of one large monitor has price and functional advantages as well. PC Magazine recently compared using two 17” flat screen monitors compared to one 20” flat screen monitor. The dual monitor solution provided 30% more space and was nearly $160 cheaper. Furthermore, the combined aspect ratio (width to height) of a dual monitor setup (10:4) is more conducive to working with two applications than a single monitor (5:4). Larger screens do not eliminate overlap problems because although their size increases, their aspect ratio does not. (I wrote this on a 21” monitor and still cannot have two standard pages side-by-side at full size). New widescreen monitors are entering the market, but their aspect ratio (16:9) cuts off the bottom third of a standard 8.5 x 11 page. That requires the user to scroll, which hurts productivity & accuracy.
One note regarding the video card that powers the two monitors. In the past couple years, most computers have come equipped with dual head graphics cards that support two monitors. The Windows operating system itself supports dual monitors, and the software provided with the graphics cards might add features like specifying what programs open in which monitors. If your graphics card does not support dual monitors, adding a mid-range, dual-head graphics card costs $70-$150, slightly less or equal to buying the larger monitor with all the advantages of dual screens.
Law firms already on the digitization path will benefit most from dual monitor solutions. For data entry-intensive aspects of your law firm such as accounting, docketing, and litigation support, your firm would see a quick and substantial return on investment in terms of productivity gains and higher quality. Even some paralegals and attorneys who do a lot of research could benefit from such a setup. Since a dual monitor solution of two 17” monitors is cheaper than purchasing a single, 20” or 21” monitor, the economics speak for itself.
As an added benefit, your firm will be saving a few more trees.Peter von Elling consults on interface design, web sites, and Internet applications and strategy for SAGE. To learn more about SAGE’s solutions for imaging, workflow and human interface, please contact Peter at pvonelling@sagesol.com or call 202.659.9390.
