Optimizing the computer layout
As someone who dabbles with technology, I really love when I can share a tip which can help them work more efficiently. In checking out the FriendFeed site and discussing with a blogger his setup, I thought that it might be helpful if bloggers could briefly share what they are using to keep on top of the massive flood of information.
Here’s what my setup at work looks like:
Here’s a brief rundown of what I use
- 2 or 3 monitors can help a lot - I use my laptop monitor for the 2nd screen. Typically I have Outlook on 1 screen and work in the other, but when I work on a presentation or paper, it is great to use both screens.
- Firefox is my browser - I love that I can start typing the name of a website in the address line (that is in the browser history) rather than having to remember the url and it’s faster than going through bookmarks. I know plenty of people trying Chrome, but haven’t heard a compelling reason for me to try it.
- Add-ons for Firefox (under Tools > Add-ons) - I use IE Tab (allows all of the corporate applications that only work in IE to run in a FF tab), Ad Block Plus (gets rid of a lot of ads on websites) and Meebo.
- As for my active tabs: Meebo (which now supports Facebook Chat - I have that plus AIM, YHOO and MSN all in the same window) and Google Reader (which I sort into Blogs, News and Non-Work folders) are always open.
- For Twitter, I use Tweetdeck - I have a couple of columns that breaks up the people I follow, plus a column on search terms that I monitor
- I still love the Google Toolbar - it’s customizable and I have it with 2 stock tickers (it shows arrows up or down and you float over for the stock), plus a button for Google Desktop, Wikipedia and Google Maps. Another nice little feature on the toolbar is a highlight button which will highlight the term(s) that you searched for on the website
- I’m still figuring out FriendFeed; looks like that will be another active tab in my browser
Any questions or suggestions? If you’ve got a good setup or tips, link to your blog with a comment below or on FriendFeed.
Responses to this post are also at:
Scott Lowe blog
Steve Todd’s Information Playground
