I read a post recently from Brian Tankersly on Multiple Monitors. He was interested to see that the “multi-monitor thing is going much more mainstream.”

Just to note, there’s plenty of research that proves dual displays equate to more productivity. One Fortune 500 account’s call center experienced 45% gain in productivity with dual monitors.  Think on that a moment. Folks out there, from gamers to CPAs, acknowledge they get more done, or have more fun, with multiple monitors.  And we can even help prove the ROI with our Payback Calculator. So why isn’t the business community talking about it?

I think I know.

I’ve heard department heads tell me, after they’ve seen our products, that they’ll get in trouble, because all of their employees will want one. 

Get in trouble for investing less than $500/employee for a product that will pay for itself in as few as two weeks?

Get in trouble for increasing employee productivity?

Get in trouble for improving employee morale and providing workplace wellness?

Yup, I think that’s it.  Am I right? Or is there more to the story. Is it safer to stay with the status quo or to actually empower a workforce to get more things done, and actually feel good when they are done?

Jane Payfer, Chief Marketing Officer @ Ergotron.com

I remember my high school graduation address, 30+ years ago; it’s had an impact in my life.  Do you remember yours? 

I’ve been fortunate to get to meet a people all over the world, and frequently, have an opportunity to have a business dinner with them.  Sometimes, the conversations that take place are challenging.  Finding that connection point with customers and clients isn’t always easy.  So I frequently ask people about their graduation address as a conversation “starter.” 

In over 20 years of these business dinners, I’ve met only three other people who have a clear recollection of the event.

Two of these didn’t remember so much what got said, as who said it;  a major celebrity  was involved.

I’ve only met one other person who had an inspiring, get your head in the game graduation address.

Why do I remember mine? Because it was short and sweet. Five simple words that have profoundly shaped my life: Don’t forget to do good.

Short and sweet is a good thing for we marketing types to keep top of mind. Short and sweet is memorable.  And Impactful.

Pete Segar, SVP Product Innovation & Chief Technical Officer @ Ergotron

There are lots of us “road warriors” who shuttle a laptop computer between work and home, yet also have a home CPU computer with flat panel monitor.  Great productivity gains can be had by hooking up the system so that the computer monitor can serve as a second display when using the laptop (see my separate blog entry describing my work computer setup which uses the laptop as a second display).

Here is a fantastic solution that is easily achievable:

• Share a keyboard, mouse and monitor between the home CPU and work laptop
• Switch back and forth from laptop to CPU instantly in one keystroke
• View dual monitors when using the laptop computer
• Position the flat panel display and laptop in convenient ergonomic positions
• Reposition the laptop and flat panel monitor easily- adjust height or swivel

A very simple solution allows both the home CPU and the work laptop to share the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and even USB devices.  The solution uses  a “KVM Switch,” which can be purchased from any computer equipment retailer for less than $30 and be installed with ease. 

The KVM switch looks like a Y-cable with connections for the keyboard, mouse, monitor and possibly USB devices on one end, and two sets of corresponding connectors that go to each computer.  Pressing CTRL_SCROLL LOCK twice switches the display and peripherals from the laptop to the CPU and back.   This allows use of dual displays for the laptop computer.  I have not yet figured out if there is a way to use the laptop as a second display when using the CPU computer.

I purchased an inexpensive port replicator for the laptop on EBay, and mounted it on an Ergotron Neo-Flex Combo Stand.  The display is also mounted on the same stand.  This allows me to easily position both displays in an ergonomic and convenient position.  

Figure 1) Home computer setup showing dual monitor system – my home computer display serves as the second monitor when using my work laptop.

 Figure 2) Press Ctrl-Scroll Lock twice, and the flat panel screen now shows my home CPU computer.  The keyboard and mouse also now operate my home computer.  The work laptop computer is still live, but now is in single monitor mode.

Figure 3) Rear view of the setup.  All the laptop wiring is attached to a port replicator, so my laptop can simply be snapped in and out of the dock.  The whole system is height adjustable and swivels side to side.

With a few inexpensive devices, it is easy to create a really innovative, flexible, space-saving, ergonomic workstation that integrates your home computing equipment with work computing equipment.  Here is my “bill of materials:”

• KVM Switch ($20)
• Neo-Flex Combo Stand  ($179)
• Port Replicator  ($99 used)

I really encourage those of you who use work laptops and home computers to consider this solution.  The ergonomic and productivity benefits are well worth the few hundred dollars of investment.  Everything can be acquired from most major IT resellers.

Happy computing!!

Denise Luther, Senior Graphic Designer @ Ergotron

At a recent family reunion, I was talking to my cousin’s wife, who has worked at one of the biggest event graphics companies in the state for the past 20 years. “So how does that feel?” I asked. “Like I’ve spent two decades of my life filling landfills,” she replied. The company used to recycle most of their construction materials and signage, but stopped some time ago. This was horrifying news.

I’ve been happy to discover that one of my vendors, Big Ink, has implemented a Zero-Waste Graphics Recycling Program for their customers. They accept PVC, polystyrene, paper-based materials, acrylics and aluminum. The PVC is turned into plumbing pipe and outdoor furniture, the polystyrene into commercial landscape materials. They also offer what they call Eco-Green Options: biodegradable fabrics and boards, and a fabric with 100% recycled content.

I’m interested to hear about techniques, workflows, materials, vendors from other marketers/designers. The heroes and the villains helping move us all toward more sustainable design practices.

Many of you have asked, “What blogs are worth reading?”

Here are a few of the blogs in my feed reader and why I like them:

Robert Scoble – Robert started out with Microsoft and quickly became the most widely read tech blogger in the world. Right now he is at fastcompany.tv where he hosts Scobleizer TV – interviews with the top CEOs and technologists. I look forward to the day he stops by and talks with us, because Robert would love our products and our CEO.

Paul Buchheit – I followed his blog when he worked for Google (he is credited with creating gmail), but he hasn’t posted since April so now I keep up to date via FriendFeed (FriendFeed is the company he co-created after he left Google).

Jeremy Zawodny – About everything from DB storage to recipes. Jeremy recently moved from Yahoo into his new digs with Craigslist. Recently he explained why average users don’t care about .com or .net. You can check out Jeremy’s FriendFeed here.

Louis Gray – Original insights on the Web 2.0 phenomenon and technology in general. This recent post by Robert Seidman (guest writer) explains how Google is leveling the playing field with technology that gives us the ability to market ourselves via search for for little or nothing ($0 really). It’s amazing how a company can make billions giving something away for free, isn’t it?

Leo Laporte – Tech podcaster best known for TWIT.

Matt Cutts – Software Engineer at Google. Information on SEO and how Google fights search spam.

Chris Pirillo – Irreverent funny product reviews and technology news via live video. This unboxing of the Optimus Maximus OLED keyboard is good example of his work.

Someone I respect recently asked, “Why Blog? Who has time to read blogs? You people should quit reading blogs all day and go outside and do something.”

She’s right, I should get outside more.  But that doesn’t mean you can afford to disregard blogging and social media. You should embrace it. Why? Because you care about your customers, your partners, and your employees. It is not your job to talk at them, but to talk with them, and blogging allows you to do that, instantly, worldwide, on their terms.

If you want to know more about blogging and why it is important to your business, there is one blog you should read, Chris Brogan. It isn’t enough to just have a blog. You need to know why you’re blogging and how to best use the medium.

Everything you need to get started with social media is linked on this page:

http://www.chrisbrogan.com/best-social-media-advice-from-this-site/

• Community Development
• Social Networks
• Social Media
• Twitter
• Branding
• Creating Media

Ignore the new media at your own peril.

Also, if you are in marketing (or communicate for a living) read Brogan’s recent post directed to PR and Marketing Professionals.

There are over 100 million blogs on the internet. A lot of them are garbage and most of them aren’t meant for you. The trick is to find the ones that are relevant to what you do. The best place to start is with someone you trust.

My blogging promise to you:

As a blogger here at Ergotron, I hope to earn your trust, by promising to provide you with the best content and communication possible.

Steve Olson – Technical Manager, Ergotron, Inc. Blogging about Technology, Social Media, Lifestreaming, Productivity, Lifehacks and anything else that’s interesting.

Jane Payfer, Chief Marketing Officer @ Ergotron

Can you predict your productivity gain from dual displays?

At Ergotron we think we can, with your help. We spend the time to distinguish between what’s PLAUSIBLE from what’s POSSIBLE for our customers.

We know, productivity gains are possible when you use dual displays at the optimum position, aligned to your personal preference.  One Fortune 500 in-house survey showed a 45% time savings when using dual, instead of single displays. So we know what’s PROBABLE.

But we need to hear from you, because when we know more, we can help make your productivity gains—PREDICTABLE.

What results are you seeing from dual displays? Leave your comments below.

Tim Hager, Sr. Channel Account Manager @ Ergotron

Approximately one month ago I installed the Neo-Flex Dual LCD Lift Stand on the desk of David Thorman, President of NetMicro.  David is 6’ 5″ tall and was accustomed to looking down at his displays.

David loved the NF dual desk stand and was most impressed by the ergonomic height adjustment. He had this to say:  “I became use to looking down on my displays and accepting the discomfort.  With the Ergotron stand I can now easily adjust the screens height and now feel more comfortable in my day to day computing.  My displays now adjust to me vs. me to my displays, what a concept!”

Don’t accept fatigue and undo discomfort at your workstation.  Feel the difference!