Studying with a Second Display

[bluefalcon32]

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Reading posts and speaking to people, I noticed that several students have a second computer screen in their room. In terms of reviewing (I understand this is subjective), do they extend their screen or just use that second screen for reading and making their notes and the laptop as the barebones for typing?

I am looking to go electronic with my notes and would like some advice from people about how they maximized the efficiency of a second screen if any.

 

[SBR249]

I had a smaller second screen (19in) for a while and that was helpful because my laptops are all pretty small to be portable (11-12in) and their resolutions are around 720p. With a second screen, I can watch a lecture video and have the slides open in pdf for annotation or take notes while reading a document or something.

However, in the end it wasn't an efficient use of my limited desk space. I ended up just getting a high res 27in monitor (2560x1440) and driving it through the thunderbolt connection on my macbook air and using it as my sole display. It had a higher resolution than both of my displays combined and I could put everything on one screen (my neck was really grateful for that). Those displays have really come down in price. I got mine at microcenter for around $400, and you can get them these days for probably $300.

 

[NeuroLAX]

I love having two displays, especially for watching lectures and having another screen open for looking something up or typing notes, etc. I don't think I'll ever go back to single monitor.

 

[popopopop]

^I'm doing that right now. Desk space isn't a problem because I have a dual monitor stand. The keyboard sits on the weighted base, while the screens are suspended off the desk. I used to think it was a novelty having two displays, but now I can't live without it. Imagine editing an essay on one screen, pulling up articles on another, having a window for youtube vids, or not having to change tabs for google searches. In my case, sdn on one screen and Chad's videos on another lol. You can get a good 1080p 24" for a bit over 100 bucks, not much to lose.

 

[boogaloo]

You can do UWorld and type notes on the other screen if you're into that sort of thing. It's legit.

 

[Flamen04]

You can do UWorld and type notes on the other screen if you're into that sort of thing. It's legit.

Bingo. Investing in a second display is worth it for this reason alone.

 

[bluefalcon32]

Thank you for the input. Two questions:

1. What screen do you guys recommend?

2. Is a second screen necessary with a laptop and how does one best utilize it? Do you extend your screen from your laptop or just transfer everything to the new screen and just work on that screen alone?

 

[masaraksh]

I think if you have to ask whether a second monitor is useful, you clearly don't need one yet.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Thank you for the input. Two questions:

1. What screen do you guys recommend?

2. So do you guys extend your screen from your laptop or just transfer everything to the new screen and just work on that screen alone?

Are you talking about with desktops or laptops? I have the dual screens with my desktop, one is a tv and the other is a monitor.

 

[bluefalcon32]

My mistake. Is a second screen useful with a LAPTOP and what is the best way to utilize it?

 

[PL198]

My mistake. Is a second screen useful with a LAPTOP and what is the best way to utilize it?

I mean a laptop isn't any different than a desktop besides being portable.... Just extend your desktop so you can have crap on both and easily switch out between the two.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

You can do UWorld and type notes on the other screen if you're into that sort of thing. It's legit.

That's what I did.

Once you go multi display, it's difficult to go back.

 

[SBR249]

I mean a laptop isn't any different than a desktop besides being portable.... Just extend your desktop so you can have crap on both and easily switch out between the two.

There are some differences. Desktops often have dedicated graphics cards with multiple outputs. Laptops may not. Windows laptops usually come with HDMI and macs come with thunderbolt. Newer HDMI can drive higher res but many manufacturers limit to 1920x1200 or something like that. Thunderbolt can drive up to 2560x1600 as can newer HDMI versions I think. Also, very few laptops are set up to easily drive 2 displays if at all. Finally, using a laptop screen and a second screen changes the ergonomics of your desk a lot especially if you don't have a separate keyboard and mouse because instead of side by side (which makes typing super awkward), you'd often need to have it foreground/background. Eye strain and neck strain can definitely be issues there.

 

[PL198]

There are some differences. Desktops often have dedicated graphics cards with multiple outputs. Laptops may not. Windows laptops usually come with HDMI and macs come with thunderbolt. Newer HDMI can drive higher res but many manufacturers limit to 1920x1200 or something like that. Thunderbolt can drive up to 2560x1600 as can newer HDMI versions I think. Also, very few laptops are set up to easily drive 2 displays if at all. Finally, using a laptop screen and a second screen changes the ergonomics of your desk a lot especially if you don't have a separate keyboard and mouse because instead of side by side (which makes typing super awkward), you'd often need to have it foreground/background. Eye strain and neck strain can definitely be issues there.

Pushing graphics at any resolution for any laptop made(integrated graphics or not) in 2014 isn't a problem. We're not talking about gaming at 1080p on Crysis with max settings here. I was referring to using the laptop display and then another monitor. Not to mention things like 1600 aren't really efficient for any function of a medical student as most people can't read text at 12 font at 1600. People struggle enough with 1080 or 1900 x 1200 , which is only an aspect ratio for computers. I'm not sure how that messes up with the ergonomics at all. You put the second monitor next to the laptop and it's literally no different than two desktop monitors. I use two desktop monitors on my desktop that I built myself and use for fun and then for work I use a laptop and an external display. Literally can't tell a difference between either in terms of ergonomics. I agree with you about the ports though. I'd never recommend a med student getting more res than 1900 x 1200 as you're never really going to use it. The primary use for most of those higher res monitors is gaming. It's just paying more for features you don't need, and then in the event you have to run a non-native resolution, that would obviously be non-ideal and possibly look like crap.

 

[SBR249]

Not everyone has an up to date laptop. I personally used (and still use on occasion) my 7 year old IBM thinkpad during most of preclinical med school and that thing definitely needed a little extra help even driving a 19in monitor. And I wasn't implying that driving a monitor would be difficult for a laptop, just that driving multiple monitors would be which ties into ergonomics. When you have a 30in monitor 12pt font at 2560x1600 is definitely readable. My 27in is 2560x1440 and I wouldn't call it unreadable from a standard sitting position. The ergonomics I was talking about is that you generally use a laptop at a position much closer than you would a desktop, because that's how laptops are designed. Computer monitors however, one generally pushes to the back of the desktop. IDK about you, but I like to have a rather large desk, so if I was to use a monitor at the same distance as a laptop, I'd be wasting a ton of space.

 

[TheShaker]

So do most of you just study at home then? I would imagine this doesn't apply to a library...

On the other hand, I would get a double display just for the ability to watch Netflix AND read Reddit.

 

[NeuroLAX]

I study pretty much exclusively at home, so the dual monitor is obviously not a problem. I have a lot of desk real estate, which definitely helps. The only time I studied at the school library was between exams on those glorious of days, and even then I just brought my ipad with me.

 

[PL198]

So do most of you just study at home then? I would imagine this doesn't apply to a library...

On the other hand, I would get a double display just for the ability to watch Netflix AND read Reddit.

Go hard and bring a monitor with you to the library. Just kidding. I type extremely loud and I always feel like clicking a mouse( can't stand trackpads) is really annoying for others, so I study at home if I'm doing anything on a computer.

 

[SBR249]

I mostly studied at home as well. But my school's library had cubicles with computer workstations (I guess for those on wards to work on the EMR during break times) and I suppose I could have used one of those and just hooked up the monitor in there to my laptop and rocked a 2nd screen at the library. That'd be pretty hardcore but doable I guess.

 

[TheShaker]

Go hard and bring a monitor with you to the library. Just kidding. I type extremely loud and I always feel like clicking a mouse( can't stand trackpads) is really annoying for others, so I study at home if I'm doing anything on a computer.

I'm the same way. It's even worse with a mechanical keyboard.

 

[ChEMD]

Just came across an iOS app called Air Display. It allows you to use your iPad as a second monitor wirelessly, Mac or PC (as long as you are on the same network). Looks like it could pretty useful for traveling or when you're at the library. In the videos it looks a little laggy, but it's only $10 so I might try it out.

 

[bluefalcon32]

So most people have a 24" or 27" display then? What is a good one to get?

 

[PL198]

So most people have a 24" or 27" display then? What is a good one to get?

It all depends on how you want your set up to be. I think a 24'' monitor is a nice size for most. Keep in mind that as you increase the size, you have to sit further and further away apples to apples. Just buy one that is highly rated on newegg from a good manufacturer, like Samsung, Dell, LG, etc

 

[evilbooyaa]

The resolution doesn't matter 9 out of 10 times in relation to studying.

A second display will be useful so you don't have to continually alt-tab between two windows, like a lecture's video (with PPT slides showing) and a word document of typed out notes.

I never did it during medical school b/c my desk was too tiny (carry over from undergrad) but seeing it in friends' rooms at the end of M2 made me wish I had it for all of the pre-clinical years. Would've been helpful with M3 as well with studying UWorld on one screen, and not having to alt-tab to my word document of typed notes on the other screen.

 

[Kahreek]

it is very good but not essential.
There is a reason why all professionals, that rely on computer displays to do major bulk of their work, use multiple ones.