Dual Monitors and a Laptop
on 01.09.05, 09:56am in windows • comments (11)
As I draw closer and closer to finally dumping my desktop and only using my T40 laptop when at home, the only thing holding me back is that I currently have dual 18" LCD monitors on my desk in my home office and I’d really miss that. I’d love to walk in, drop the laptop in a dock and still be able to use them.
Unfortunately, it looks like my only option is the overpriced Thinkpad Dock II ($350), which I can plug in a PCI video card. The cheaper Thinkpad Port Replicator ($85) doesn’t support simultaneous usage of the VGA and DVI ports.
I’m curious if anyone has solved this issue or am I just hoping for a setup that really isn’t doable yet at a decent price?
anonymous (January 9, 2005 @ 5:55 pm)
Should have gotten a powerbook?
Josh Bancroft (January 9, 2005 @ 10:00 pm)
We use T40s at work, with the basic port replicator, and just Friday a friend of mine was telling me (showed me, actually) how he got his dual 18″ LCDs working by using both the DVI and VGA outputs on the port replicator. It was pretty slick.
So, even though it may not officially be supported, here’s at least one anecdotal testimony that it works. Give it a try, maybe?
Josh Bancroft
Editor - http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com
Steve (January 10, 2005 @ 7:11 am)
Hm. OK, that’s really good to know - I was told the opposite. Perhaps i’ll give it a go.
Perry Harris (January 11, 2005 @ 10:43 am)
Well, it would cost you as much as another laptop, but there is also SideCare Express from Digital Tigers: http://www.digitaltigers.com/sidecar.shtml
I remembered it when I read your post but not the price, $1,299.
John (January 21, 2005 @ 6:10 pm)
I know that you are against having more computers, but you could solve this with software. (Don’t laugh). You could use a program called maxivista (www.maxivista.com) to create a ‘virtual’ second monitor hosted by another computer. You could then just leave one of your old machines hooked up to one of your monitors. It’s kind of like reverse remote desktop. I have used this program in the past to turn my laptop into a 3rd monitor at work.
Steve (January 22, 2005 @ 3:18 pm)
Nope, maxivista isn’t an option. I dont want another machine set up, that’s the point of moving to the laptop.
BDisOKE (April 14, 2005 @ 2:11 pm)
have you found a solution yet?
Kim (October 15, 2005 @ 9:42 am)
Hi. Very timely posts! I was told that OS beyond win98, 2000 and ME Won’t support two monitors (where a window may be dragged and droped to the second monitor)This idea has kept me from laptops and newer systems (xp,xp pro)because having used 2 21″ monitors since 2001 (p31G win98 matrox dbl vid card)for autocad I could NEVER get used to 1 screen again. I was even getting ready to buy Matrox 3 head card and add another 21″. Have I been misinformed? Kimbo
PLBarton (October 20, 2005 @ 2:27 pm)
Try this:
http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/usb-dock-vga.html
WinXP (February 1, 2006 @ 9:32 pm)
Windows XP definitely supports dual monitors, where you can drag windows from one to the other.
me (March 3, 2006 @ 8:17 pm)
XP has multi-monitor support! 98 was the first to include it, and every Windows since has it. Very easy to set up and use, im using dual monitors right now.