Same setup we have here... each one of us has a laptop and a separate monitor on the desk to act as the main screen.
Even if the resolution don't match, it's not really a problem, and on occasion it's even preferable for me (the laptop screen, having a lower resolution, gets me bigger text when i need it without messing with the font settings).
There's really no match for a second screen when you are messing around all the time with Visual Studio/Office/database stuff and, most of all, virtual machines and remote desktops

For my gaming PC at home i often toy with the idea of getting a second one, but i don't really like how most games behave when in full screen with a dual setup, so i always change my mind.

Dual-screen setups are awesome for doing work and quite a few games that support it properly. Even handy for doing livestreaming work or anything that benefit more from having another screen. In terms of games that actually support it, only game I own that works with such a configuration is Supreme Commander (which is used to great effect).

Well for all those who say it's not needed, here's what I use my second screen for:

- watching TV / DVDs / Youtube clips while I chat, surf or do whatever

- for keeping a chat window open while I play games so I can see what is being said without having to ALT TAB (and don't tell me you don't have to do that a lot while gaming ;) )

- for loads of other stuff I need to keep an eye on. The GOG sale right now is a perfect example. Beats having to swap windows every minute

- for dragging and dropping. For example: if I'm collecting images from a website (work related or private use), it's a LOT easier being able to just drop stuff from the website straight into the right folder

- for keeping an eye on my system by adding Rainmeter widgets on my right screen. CPU/GPU temperature, weather report, memory usage, etc.

- work related - you can run two programs side by side

- for comparing stuff like different websites

I'm sure there's a lot more I'm forgetting but as you can see, there's a ton of stuff you can do with it AND this is stuff that goes for almost everybody who plays games.

Assuming Win 7 and later, Win+<- or Win+-> will move the active window to that half of the screen. I think in dual monitor setups it goes current monitor, then other monitor, though haven't had the chance to test it.
On the other hand, using only half the screen for a website may not be the best option.

I can't imagine not having dual monitors now. Although I used to have dual screens attached to one machine, now I've changed setups a bit where I have two machines networked, each with their own screen but control both with one keyboard/mouse. I love the ability to play a game on one and cruise the internet, have the game manual up, or look up a walkthrough if needed while I'm playing.

Convenient, but once again, unnecessary. I'm not that crazy about multitasking anyway and besides, since most computers have only one screen, getting used to two screens can make you complacent/difficult to adapt.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but i rarely alt tab anymore while gaming. :P

I did do that a few years back while still playing on a couple nwn persistent worlds, but then i just switched to play in windowed mode. Much easier and less expensive than buying a second monitor. ;) (not to mention fills less space on the desk)

The space issue is honestly the reason why i don't use dual monitors. My desk has barely room for one 19" monitor.

The reasons I don't do it now:

- laptop, so there isn't a good side-by-side solution
- both available screens can't match the laptop's 1920x1080: a 21" 4:3 CRT and a 19" 1280x720 (IIRC) LCD.

I might take another stab at it with the LCD one of these days, though I suspect this setup would benefit greatly from an external keyboard. A 17" 1920x1080 LCD would help, too, so the screen sizes match, both in resolution and actual size.

Pfft all you people with fancy high resolution monitors.

I just got a 19" 1600x1200 resolution monitor which works just fine for gaming. :P

I'm just extremely conservative, non-demanding and quite the minimalist with hardware.

I didn't have an MP3 player until my mother got me one for a birthday and now I couldn't imagine running without it, though my current one is a Zune that I got 5 years ago. No temptation whatsoever to upgrade it until it breaks down.

I didn't get a laptop until I got a gf and had to spend many evenings at her place without a computer. Now, I'd take a good laptop over a desktop for the mobility alone on most days.

I still have a 20something inches screen in my room and postpone buying a bigger screen until my current one hits the bucket.

My cellphone is over 5 years old and was already old-fashioned when I got it. Only considering updating it for a smartphone now, because it's starting to break down.

Bailed on the console market right after the SNES/Genesis boom when the market fragmented into 3 major consoles as it was one console too many to get all the games I want. It was also around the times my parents got a PC and I realized I could play and work on the same machine.

So to answer your question, sure, if someone gave me a spare screen they no longer wanted, I'd give the dual-screen setup a try. Otherwise, I won't get a new screen just to do that.

Pffffttttt... speak for yourself and your high resolution. I'm gaming fine on my 18.5" 1360x768. :P

Only have it because i got it with ny previous PC a few years ago. I still have my old IBM monitor (forgot the resolution, think it's a 14"ish or something? can't remember.) though.

I actually own two monitors but stopped using dual due to issues during gaming. As others have said, they are bloody awesome for work. I would also say congrats to have such a non-conservative manager that was forward thinking. I would go nuts if a manager said they wouldn't do it even if I or someone else could prove production would increase.

It does, though I actually bought a piece of software to more quickly and accurately manage my windows.

Also, "half the screen" can be anything from much too small to much too wide, depending on the screen and content. I usually split my 27" (2560px wide) monitor to thirds, especially when coding.

Oh, and I used 3 monitors up to recently (when I dedicated one to a virtual machine), the aforementioned 27" 16:9 one and two identical 20" 4:3 monitors off to the sides in portrait mode.