Multiple panels may be better for the way you work than one large panel. In general I don't think any programmer should have less than two monitors, ever. Ideally three (for the "center"), and if you're crazy, four.
I'm used to multiple desktops (gnome 3, gnome before that), and multiple panels turn out to be useless to me. I just can't spread my attention across two monitors, whereas I switch desktops without thinking about it.
I've been thinking of going the 19/30/19 route, but I've had a hard time finding an affordable mount that converts that scheme into something I can mount on a single monitor arm.
I'm signed up for a metalworking class in the near future, so maybe I can solve that problem myself :)
