Multi-Monitor Setups Debate

I am a long term multi-screen user (last 16 years or so), including portrait monitors for document reading (reminds me that some CRTs used to do funny things in portrait as their cooling was not made for this). I often have multiple datasheets, PCB layout, schematics and some code open at the same time. Lately I only use a single screen on the desk and think a good single 32" 4k monitor is quite close do ideal right now. With that resolution and screen space I really do not need any extra.

I have two 32" external monitors connected to my 17" laptop, so I use 3 screens: the laptop screen is usually for browser/slack/email, first external monitor is for Vscode code editor, second monitor is for tmux (watching a bunch of ML experiments on GPU servers).I don't want to use different spaces on the same screen, to me it's like context switching, and I don't like that. I prefer to have everything open in front of me, so I just turn my head slightly to

I don't understand the need for more than one monitor. Just setup your desktop so you can switch virtual workspaces with a key combination. It's faster than turning your head.

I wish I could do single monitor, but I need at least two - one with editor, one with browser for the app/site I'm building. Then preferably one for database admin/documentation/email/chat. Context switching between all that tends to slow me down I feel.

That's great, but the whole reason I like multiple monitors (instead of one big one) is to segregate tasks. For example having full-screen terminal on one monitor and a browser on the other.

Currently I'm on a single 24" monitor and it's inadequate as I do coding, read documentation, manage Trello, FTP, have a dozen of so Chrome tabs opened, etc. Windows 10's side by side feature can be erratic but even when it works a 24" monitor doesn't have enough real estate for efficient work.Two 24" would be great. maybe even 3 monitors but they wouldn't even fit on my desk and would probably require a lot of micro head movement.

Recently I switched to a single 27" 2560x1440 monitor as well.Before that, I was using two old matching 20" 4:3 monitors, one in 1600x1200 configuration, and the secondary one in portrait 1200x1600.Sometimes I miss being able to easily throw something over onto the second monitor, and the total screen real estate is a little less overall, but generally windows-key + arrow snapping gets the job done pretty well when I need to see two things at once.Talking to some other devs wh

Yes, I used to do two big monitors, and now prefer just the laptop screen. I always hated how things changed around between the monitors and the laptop screen. Virtual desktops/spaces are enough for me to organize windows effectively. I would say Mac’s trackpad gestures are pretty key to my working this way.

How do you work with a single laptop monitor? I find I can't be productive without a couple of large monitors.

currently have 3 screens, and i thought about adding a 30" (for the continous document, then vertical stack two of the 22" screens next to it), but at the moment i have to turn my head to see the left monitor. i mostly work on the two right monitors, and use the left for ongoing IM conversations/etc. Beyond this, minimizing windows and just having many open seems just as productive as having to look around physically (instead of using switcher). anything im missing?