I need a new computer setup with dual monitors

I’m certainly not an IT expert and I’ve retired now. But when I was working, I was in management and often needed 2 or more programs open and available at the same time. I used a laptop on a dock with 2 additional large monitors attached. Thus I had 3 screens open at once. The additional monitors plugged right into my laptop. Easy peasey. I used this system in my office and then took my laptop out of the dock and took it home at night.

I use a work assigned laptop at home and have it set up with dual monitors. I have the monitors connected to my laptop with a USB C Docking Station and can actually use the laptop monitor plus the 2 other monitors while working (so in a sense, I have 3 monitors available)

I was going to suggest getting separate monitors like the peas above have suggested. That is what most of us used at my last job and it worked very nicely. I don’t work full time any longer, but do occasionally accept a job from an old private client that I met through my past boss. Since I was doing work for him, I decided I needed at least one large monitor to view the actual work page and then figured I could use my laptop screen to show my task menu choices that I create for each job. It has worked out great so far. I would benefit from another small monitor for referencing related work sections, but since I work so infrequently, I’m trying to just use what I have.

No sense buying a new computer when all you need is two monitors and a docking station. My advice would be to get a docking station that is the same brand as your laptop, and don't even bother with any of the cheap ones on Amazon. I've tried several different kinds, and they all seem to have some what of a lag.
I work in FP&A, so I have multiple spreadsheets + SAP open at the same time and my set up works great.

At the start of the pandemic, I bought this dual monitor desk mount: monitor desk mount and I bought these monitors: monitors

I work from home 90% of the time. I have a work issued laptop that is connected to a docking station at home. I go to the office for a couple hours once a week and I either use my laptop for in person meetings or sign into a desktop I still have on site. I am pretty happy with the set up even 3 years later.

My husband bought 2 27" monitors for $100 each from Amazon to use with the docking station. The monitors are 5 years and still work fine. Just be sure your docking station is a USB C.

I would definitely do a laptop over a desktop so that you can pic up the laptop and go with it in a flash if necessary.
I agree, pic out the monitors you like and its pretty easy to just plug in to the laptop. I do need a USB Hub for the laptop as it doesn't have enough USB ports to hook everything up to just the laptop.

this is what I was going to suggest as well. I love having one large monitor.

Early in the pandemic shutdown I had my mac laptop set up between 2 monitors. My son took one look at it and said it looked like I had an evil empire set up in the dining room. It's not that hard to set up so I'd say invest in a couple of good monitors or just to throw you a curveball look at curved monitors. DH has basically a ginormous curved monitor and a smaller traditional monitor set up and loves it.

Also a CPA working from home, but went the audit then industry route. Before I get to what I like about my setup - do your eyes get really dry after multiple long days at the computer? I'm 49 now, and swear that when I was younger I didn't have this problem.

I have dual monitors mounted on stands with "arms" that move in multiple directions. The stands are attached (clamped I think) to the desk surface. I can pull them closer to me, further from me, and raise them so I can work while standing (more on this below). They will also rotate to "portrait" orientation - if you turned them in this direction you would be able to review one of those really long tax forms with less scrolling. I've seen computer programmers do their setup this way, and I think that might be great for a tax CPA. Each monitor moves independently of the other. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X262MRK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have this monitor stand on the desk surface. I originally purchased it for the monitors, but couldn't adjust the monitor height and that created a lot of tension in my neck - which led to ordering the arms linked above. I've kept it for a bit of extra storage on my desk surface, and when I decide to work from a standing position, I pull it forward and put my keyboard and mouse on it. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09R4DND15/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have these 24" monitors. I don't love this model, but do love the dimensions - it'll display lots of Excel columns If I were to purchase today, I'd spend a little more and get something with a higher resolution. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0773ZY26F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Last - I have my laptop on a stand like the one linked below - that way I have a third monitor if I want one. If you go with one of these, you'll definitely need a separate keyboard. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JS9PJD7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good luck with your setup - you will LOVE LOVE LOVE having two monitors.

This reddit thread has an image of one monitor in "portrait" orientation www.reddit.com/r/Workspaces/comments/13qtixc/my_cozy_work_play_setup/.

I use a laptop and have a large external monitor connected to it via HMDI cable. So essentially, two monitors. The laptop and the large one. Best wishes!