[iam-TJ]

I've been using 6 x 1920x1200 displays for several years - 5 x 24" plus the laptop's own 15" panel [1] in a corner configuration with 3 in portrait orientation (perfect for reading documents and web pages).

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I'm so used to being able to distribute 'tasks' and workflow to specific monitors that I struggle terribly, to the point of giving up in frustration, when having to use a single display for anything other than casual or single application use.

I use a combination of head movement and rotating the chair depending on task.

The outstanding benefit is to have multiple applications and documents open and readable simultaneously, just as I would with multiple physical reference books.

An added benefit is having the same 'book' (document) open at different 'pages' on different monitors - and not need to flick back and forward between 'pages' or tabs.

This is using GNU/Linux Xorg server with 4 X sessions.

[1] Dell XPS with ExpressCard -> PCIe ViDock extender containing an Nvidia NVS420 driving 4 monitors, the laptop panel, and an HDMI connection, all 1920x1200.

[iam-TJ]

A couple of people asked for more details so here's a photo [1] and the Xorg config [2].

[1] http://iam.tj/projects/misc/workstation-6-monitor.jpg [2] http://iam.tj/projects/misc/xorg.XPS-NVS420-6monitor.conf

[savrajsingh]

Please write a blog post with photos! Sounds cool.

[abledon]

6 monitors? good god man lol, are you a sys admin?

[iam-TJ]

Mostly bug-hunting and coding in unfamiliar code bases so I need a lot of resources instantly available in front of me to compare and figure out relationships.

However, it does make remote sys-admin safer too in that I can assign remote hosts to specific monitors - avoids the risk of accidentally issuing commands to the wrong target!

[hhjinks]

This makes a lot of sense. Going from two monitors to ultrawide, I miss the easy context switch of swapping between monitors. Being able to compartmentalize different tasks to different monitors is practically ingrained in my DNA at this point.

[GordonS]

With 6 monitors I think I'd struggle to remember what was on each screen and have my head and eyes constantly scanning around! Kind of reminds me of those people that run Windows with no less than 42 shortcuts on their desktop!

[abacadaba]

I think this setup might just about do it for me.

[thatguy27]

Any chance of a photo of your setup?