> One study commissioned by NEC and conducted by researchers at the University of Utah showed that people using a dual-display machine to do a text-editing task were 44 percent more productive than those who used a single monitor.

I think it's fair to say that any research from 2014 isn't the most relevant now. Both screen size and (importantly) software has changed to better support both multiple screen usage as well as large screens.

The argument for single screens in the NYT is mostly that it reduces distractions:

> But for most people, the time spent juggling two windows or scrolling across large documents isn’t the biggest bottleneck in getting work done. Instead, there’s a more basic, pernicious reason you feel constantly behind — you’re getting distracted.

This seems to indicate they were comparing a maximized window on a single screen vs non-maximized windows on multiple screens, and probably in the days before modern notifications on desktop OSs.

Based on this it is fair to say more research is needed, but it is inaccurate to claim that studies support the idea that one monitor is better.

The NYTimes article is actually explicit about that:

> Unlike monitor makers with their multidisplay studies, I have no research proving you’ll find as much benefit from a single monitor as I did.

In other words “there are actual studies proving multimonitor setups enhance productivity, but Big Screen(tm) paid for them so they must be wrong” which has no basis in science at all.

Also:

> “Two monitors are a double-edged sword,” said Gloria Mark, a professor who studies workplace distractions at the University of California, Irvine. Ms. Mark hasn’t specifically researched how second monitors might affect focus, and when she recently had a chance to work at a two-monitor machine, she felt that it did make some of her tasks easier. “But most people have their email up on the second screen, and of course, when anything comes in, it’s a great source of distraction,” she said.

So the only actual scientist in all of this actually said “hey, this is making me more productive, unless I fill the screens with distractions”

The tl;dr is that people need to set up their workspace to enhance their flow and focus, and reduce distraction to be productive. The amount of screens is about as relevant to that as the weather outside. (“Hey, the sun is shining and the birds are singing, it is a beautiful day outside, let’s go out!”). As per your own conclusion (“the studies don’t indicate it’s universal” - setting aside the fact that there _are_ no studies) It is not universal.

Trying to whitewash Apple’s lack of DP Daisychaining support as “You don’t need this anyway, Apple simply cares about your productivity!” Is silly.