Two Screens : More Workspace, Better Results.
I have been attached to the concept of multiple monitors ever since I saw a picture of the Matrox Triplehead linked up to three 19inch LCDs back in about 2003 and have been running dual screens for about 6 months now.
If you are still on a single screen setup, it might be time to consider the benefits of getting a second screen. The price of LCDs has certainly dropped dramatically and the cost of adding more screen real estate to your setup is not generally prohibitive any more.
Why would you want to do this?
The major reason is that you can easily work on two programs in full screen mode... and cut down on the amount of time you have to be alt-tabbing between programs.
For instance, if you are researching on the web, you can keep your browser open in one screen and word on the other and simply cut and paste directly without having to alt-tab.
You might not think it is that big a deal to have to swap between programs but there is not only the switching but also the loss of your train of thought. Its a lot easier to keep in the flow of your work when you still have you place fully identified in the browser and don't have to spend anytime looking for where you were in the original document as well as recalling what you were thinking about and why you wanted that bit of text anyway!
Researching is not the only use of a second screen, as stock trading (one window for your orders, one for tracking the market), web mastering (ftp and browser to check whether everything uploaded correctly) and one of my favourites, using Camtasia all benefit. You can keep Camtasia, plus your notes on what you want to say all on the second monitor and not interfere with what you are recording on the screen itself!
From a business management perspective it is also quite useful in having a screen dedicated to recording what you are doing to pass onto other employees - the meta-management of your business. Michael Gerber would be proud...
Once you try out two screens its certainly hard to imagine going back to just a single monitor. It is one of the better investments you can make on increasing the productivity of your work.
So if you want to try it out, what would you need? Read on for things you should consider in successfully getting a dual monitor setup up and running...