I find the idea of optimizing for only two applications - browser and IDE somewhat limiting.
Right now I have two browser windows open side by side on the same 30" monitor - one with the stackexchange posting, and one with the HN page where I'm replying to you.
Often I'll have more than one XCode window open on the 30" display, but sometimes I need the whole display to have all the panels open and a reasonable view of Interface Builder. At that point, I'll use the 27" display of my iMac to display documentation.
It's also very helpful to be able to have my task list open on the other screen and not have to keep opening and closing it.
Summary: Multiple screens are good because you can use the whole of one of them to focus on something while still having something else available in the periphery. Giant screens are good because you can put more things on them together.
Cost and desk space are real reasons not to have more and larger screens, but I find it hard to understand how less display can possibly be better in absolute terms.
Right now I have two browser windows open side by side on the same 30" monitor - one with the stackexchange posting, and one with the HN page where I'm replying to you.
Often I'll have more than one XCode window open on the 30" display, but sometimes I need the whole display to have all the panels open and a reasonable view of Interface Builder. At that point, I'll use the 27" display of my iMac to display documentation.
It's also very helpful to be able to have my task list open on the other screen and not have to keep opening and closing it.
Summary: Multiple screens are good because you can use the whole of one of them to focus on something while still having something else available in the periphery. Giant screens are good because you can put more things on them together.
Cost and desk space are real reasons not to have more and larger screens, but I find it hard to understand how less display can possibly be better in absolute terms.