(+) One Monitor, One Keyboard, One Mouse, Multiple Computers

Computer prices keep dropping and dropping. You can now find desktop computers selling for less than $300 and occasionally even find refurbished ones for under $200. In just a few minutes of online shopping, you might find several low-priced examples. Brand-new Chromebox computers can be purchased for $160 and one version, called a Chromestick, sells for $85!

The lowest-priced systems may have modest power by today's standards but would have been considered top-end screamers just a few years ago. It is now reasonable to own two or even more computers for different purposes. You might have a Windows computer and a second one for running Macintosh or Linux or the chrome operating system. In fact, both Linux and Chromeboxes run well on low-price machines, usually faster than Windows does on the same hardware. At these prices, monitors are usually not included. In my opinion, that's a good thing.

Another scenario to consider is when you upgrade to the latest, greatest whiz-bang computer. Moving all your data and programs off the old computer and copying all that to the new system can be problematic. In fact, not all the old programs running on older computers will operate properly on today's Windows 10 systems. You may be limited to running the old software on the old computer and new software on the new computer. Obviously, that means you need two computers on your desk.

While computer prices drop and processing power increases, one thing remains constant: the amount of space on your computer desk. Usually you can find room for the second computer box: the mini-towers that are so common today will usually sit on the floor, just to one side of your feet.

Of course, computer geeks like myself do not stop at two computers.