Dec
21
Desktop Widow Size and Productivity
Posted under Productivity
Hey, I had a question for everyone. Do you maximize the windows on your PC/Mac desktop as you work? Personally, I am a bit torn on this issue.
For years, I’ve gone with the “Maximize screen” effect. I try to work on one thing at a time and having the window full size seems to make everything within the program easier to use and access. However, when copying and pasting between two programs becomes a hassle of having to click between the two open windows. When dealing with routing tables, IP addresses, etc. it’s easy to become confused on what gets pasted where.
The alternative is to resize individual windows so you can view more than one at the same time. This can work for me sometimes. The obvious advantage is It allows me to simply look from side to side instead of playing the maximize/minimize game. However, with the smaller windows comes less viewing area and distorted toolbars. I also find myself messing around sizing the windows and moving them. This feels like a time waster.
So what’s your “sweet spot” window sizing for your desktop apps? Are you a full screen viewer or do you tile your windows?
Technorati Tags: Productivity, computing
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Full screen view all the way. For copy and pasting I use keyboard short cuts. I find it easier to say focused on the task at hand otherwise I am easily distracted.
Full screen. I’m a programmer by trade, so nothing less will really do - too much text editing. However, I do have a two-monitor setup, so there’s always a second full screen available. Which mostly shows firefox.
Only exceptions to fullscreen are
- Notepad for quick notes
- Various debugging windows. When debugging, I often need multiple views into the data at the same time.
And I’d very much love a third monitor so I could put all of those there…
One trick you may try is to use Alt-Tab to switch between windows. On the Mac I think it’s Option-Tab.
It’s much quicker and less frustrating than navigating between 2 (or many more) windows.
Correction:
It’s much quicker and less frustrating than navigating between 2 (or many more) windows with the mouse.
I typically keep all windows full-screen. I just ordered a new PC with dual monitors. I’ve heard that greatly increases productivity. We’ll see how that goes.
When I need to see two windows simultaneously I will tile them. I recently learned how to easily tile windows (in the Windows OS) without having to resize them manually:
http://rickyspears.com/blog/?p=99
I haven’t yet learned a similar trick for OS X.
Two monitors is a great idea. At home I have a graphics card that does TV out, I use for TV. I don’t know why I never thought of 2 monitors for the office.