Options for dual monitor output?

Hi folks.

I have a Dell Latitude E6410 and I'm wondering: what are my options for dual monitor output (as in two monitors, not including the laptop screen)?

The obvious solution is the docking station, but I haven't been able to find it at a reasonable price anywhere (I'm fine buying it used for refurbished, but I'd rather not spend $90-120 if there are other options).

Are there other, cheaper options? Are there good resellers of used/refurbished docks? They run $120 even on ebay!

Thanks in advance!

 

Forgot to add that ideally, it would support dual DisplayPorts. I'm currently using the analog VGA and the second monitor is blurry as heck.

 

Try calibrate your VGA monitor to the following:
Single-page version (be careful if you are sensitive to flicker)

 

Thanks for that, but the sharpness controls on my Dell ST2410 don't seem to have much range at all. I couldn't get it much better than the auto-adjust, unfortunately. It's usable, but definitely not for prolonged periods (thank goodness it's only my second monitor).

 

You should be able to find a docking station on eBay for a pretty reasonable price.

Have you tried DVI with the monitor?

 

Well, thanks for the replies here, but I bit the bullet and bought a dock. The cheapest price I could find was $95 shipped.

The Latitude E64## only comes with a DisplayPort and VGA video output. So there's no option for dual digital outputs. Only digital and analog. I'm surprised that Dell Outlet doesn't carry the docks (called them up and asked).

 

^Thats what you needed to do. I've got an e6410 on a dock firing 2 U2410's with DisplayPort and it looks great!

 

Are you not in the US? I picked up a PR03X many months ago for around $50. I found $55 just now easily. The PR03X doesn't have dual DVI or DP, but you can still get two digital signals out of it (one DVI and one DP), which is what my dad is currently running with an E6400.

 

Have you thought about using a single 28 or 30" monitor rather than 2 smaller ones? I used dual monitors on my D610 and E6400 for years at the office and a single 30 at home. Finally had it with the split screens so got a 28 for the office. MUCH nicer having the entire desktop on one piece of glass.

 

It depends upon what you're looking for, I guess. At least for my purposes, I'm looking for the largest amount of "screen real estate" - something measured in available pixels rather than inches.

2 screens with 1280x1024 resolution (regardless of size) provides just over 2.6 million pixels. Using 2 1920x1080 screens instead provides just over 4 million pixels. Even a single 30" screen is most likely only 1920x1080 pixels, providing just over 2 million pixels - unless you spend >$1,000 on a screen with resolution beyond 1920x1080.