… if you know how to use virtual desktops and shortcuts. You can’t look at two screens at a time, anyways.
One use case I can understand is having a 2nd monitor for checking stock prices or checking for a certain event. Other than that, I don’t see how it contributes to “productivity” while working or coding for example.
P.S: Tiling WM users may understand this post more
One screen is fine if it’s huge :)
You really can see more than one at a time, though. I have a lot of tasks in my day that take some minutes to complete.
When I’m working on two screens, I can leave the window open running the task on one screen, and work on something else or read the news or whatever on the other screen. When my task is done, I notice right away and get on with the next step.
When I’m working on just one small laptop screen, I have to remember to switch back and check periodically. It takes me much longer to notice the task is done this way, and distracts me from whatever I’m trying to get done in the meantime while waiting.
Two screens, or anyway enough real estate that I don’t need to full-screen the app I’m working in, is extremely useful to me for this reason.