Double your desk size for not much money

02/12/20 update: My monitor setup has grown to three!

A PC monitor is often referred to as the desktop. The analogy works well as it is a place on which to put stuff that you are working on. Just like on a regular desk, it is nice to be able to have space to spread out your stuff. The price of PC monitors has plummeted in recent years. Taking a quick look at Microcenter.com, there is a 22″ monitor for under $100, a 24″ for under $150, and a 27″ for under $250. There are lots of options, and the price can go much higher, but most of us don’t need all the extras. A monitor priced near the low end of the range for whatever size you want, will probably meet your needs, and it will more than double your desk space. Often, I use the extra space to put a reference document while I am creating another document. That way I can see both of them at the same time.

Setup is pretty easy. For most laptops, just plug it in, and then select “extend desktop” in the display settings. Many desktops have two monitor ports, so the setup is the same as for a laptop. If your computer doesn’t have a second port, you can get an inexpensive adapter that plugs into the USB port. Contact me if you would like help on the details.