The WSJ recently noted something that developers have known for a long time, that bigger monitors increase productivity:
Researchers at the University of Utah tested how quickly
people performed tasks such as editing a document and copying numbers
between spreadsheets while using different computer configurations: one
with an 18-inch monitor, one with a 24-inch monitor and one with two
20-inch monitors. Their finding: People using the 24-inch screen
completed the tasks 52% faster than people who used the 18-inch
monitor; people who used the two 20-inch monitors were 44% faster than
those with the 18-inch screens.
This got me thinking about other areas where buying “cheap” can be a false economy:
1. Large monitors. As noted above.
2. Comfortable ergonomic chairs. Your team spends
most of their working time sitting in these chairs. If they are not
comfortable, they won’t be in those chairs, and thus they won’t be
working!
3. High Quality Speaker Phones. Conference calls
are a part of doing business. If the people on the other end of the
line can’t hear all the speakers in the room, you risk losing the
nuances of the communication.
4. Experienced Law Firms The big silicon valley law
firms are constantly involved with negotiating financings, venture
debt, acquisitions and other legal matters on behalf of startups. They
know which terms are “market” and not worth fighting over, and which
are out of the ordinary. Firms that don’t have the same volume of deal
flow often want to fight every point. While their zeal on your behalf
is commendable, in the end they usually end up with “market” terms but
take longer to get there. That results in higher legal bills for all
parties, and greater conflict between partners where it wasn’t
necessary.
5. Administrative Assistance. At some point making
entries into Quickbooks, figuring out which insurance plan to sign up
for and finding the cheapest airfare to LA for that conference become a
poor use of founder’s time.
What are some other areas that readers think startups should not skimp on?
Editor’s note: To read more from Jeremy Liew, visit his blog at lsvp.wordpress.com
To see previous Vator.tv interviews with Jeremy, click here and here.
