Somebody posted that there were surveys that proved dual monitors increased productivity
No, see .. you are mistaken once again ...
Somebody posted
According to most surveys, dual monitors improve productivity
Here is the link, just in case you wish to retract the several times you have erroniously made this assertion.
Regardless of the quality of the surveys, regardless of the quality of the data or lack thereof, my statement was 100% true and correct. The surveys STILL state there is an increase in productivity. I cannot attest to the veracity of their statements, only that they have been made.
To that end, I could care less if duals increase productivity or if it gives employees a better chance to screw around. I never claimed they increased productivity. You have failed numerous times to accept that assertion. Had I made the claim that dual monitors did in fact improve productivity, then I would expect that I would be asked to provide data and specifics about how the data was gathered and how it was analyzed, but I did none of that and I made no claims. As always your issue is with the purveyors of the surveys, not me.
Well, previously you said you had 500 users ... are we to presume these guys do it all by hand now? I doubt that ... so if they do it now already using computers, you already have 500 monitors, thus you don't need to buy 2 each, just 1 each. Your excuses are beginning to get so convoluted and intertwined that you are making less and less sense as this discussion continues.
The bulk of those monitors are over three years old. We replace between ten and fifteen machines a month, updating our entire inventory every forty-six to fifty months, give or take. Our average use-life for monitors is right at four years (LCDs are doing a lot better than that), so the rotation is just about right. We don't/won't add second monitors to existing stations, (especially if there is no benefit in the effort), we replace the older systems with new hardware including monitors.
Here again, you are changing your statements ... before you had issues with buying 2 monitors and a video card ... then it was shown that a special video splitter cable will allow 2 monitors on the same cable ... fine .. you still have to buy 2 monitors ... ok ... but you have 1 monitor already .. no .. you buy new equipment all at once .. fine, then if that is the case, you have killed several of your own points with regard to the opposition of having 2 monitors,
a) Manufacturers such as HP and Dell already include dual head video cards as a default on workstations (kills argument for having to buy a video card and have it installed)
b) You are already buying the hardware (kills argument on having to buy 2 monitors, as 1 will come with the system, unless you buy computers without monitors)
c) You already have to pay someone to setup and install the hardware (kills the high labor cost associated with installing a new monitor and video card or splitter on an older system and having to make it work)
d) The equipment is a depreciable asset that will cost the company about 51% of the sticker price. (Projected cost for a second 20" flat panel after tangible savings from tax writeoffs is about $98)
e) Projected improvement in productivity (by your own numbers) 0.02%
Lets see ...
500 users
Assuming a $100 billable rate 20 hours weekly per user (you can plug in your own numbers) assuming 2 weeks vacation per year per user
20X100X500X50 = $52,000,000 revenue generated
Lets assume an employee cost of $30 per hour
30x40x500x52 = $31,200,000 employee cost
Add a 0.02% productivity improvement
Billable time increases from 500,000 hours to 500,100 hours. An increase of $10,000 per year of billable time.
The average monitor will have a life span of 4 years
$10000X4 = $40k
Net cost of purchase $49k
Final expense = $2250 per year ($4.50 per employee per year)
Furthermore, you will likely attain a much more favorable number of billable hours, likely in the 30 to 35 hour range, meaning that even a small improvement as little as 0.02% can reap positives on the bottom line beginning in the first year. Then lets add another discount on the cost of the equipment (I figured at retail) because you will be buying in large quanities and will be able to command a much lower price .. perhaps as much as 10% ... then given the above scenario, you will be making about $5 per user per year over the life of the monitor. (not to mention the income generated from the secondary market for the monitors after you take them out of service).
If you have anything that shows a productivity improvement, even as little as 0.02%, you would be stupid to throw away the opportunity to get it.