The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Software to use another laptop’s display as a second monitor?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by kylera, Jul 12, 2020.

  1. kylera

    kylera Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    81
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Anyone know of a piece of software that will let me use my MacBook’s display as a second screen?

    I’m well aware that it won’t be the most responsive solution, but I figure static content shouldn’t be an issue.
     
    etern4l likes this.
  2. etern4l

    etern4l Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,931
    Messages:
    3,533
    Likes Received:
    3,499
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Interesting idea, but I'd be quite surprised if such software existed.
     
  3. kylera

    kylera Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    81
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    56
    There are a handful of apps that make it possible to use an iPad or Android tablet as a second screen, but I find it hard to find something that uses a MacBook screen when connected to a Windows system. The free solution is apparently built in Windows 7 and beyond, but I would rather get a Mac/Windows compatible app.

    The closest thing that I’ve found is Synergy so far, but this doesn’t necessarily extend the Windows display. I can’t really articulate what it does instead, so here’s the link: https://symless.com/synergy

    I suppose this could work at least in theory (can’t test until I actually get my laptop).
     
  4. etern4l

    etern4l Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,931
    Messages:
    3,533
    Likes Received:
    3,499
    Trophy Points:
    331
    I'm familiar with Synergy. It just allows one to control multiple devices with one set of mouse and kb.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing would be another near miss.
     
  5. kylera

    kylera Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    81
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Yeah, the only thing I don’t know about Synergy is whether it would be more intensive or less intensive than a theoretical monitor extending app since the second system isn’t Windows.

    My ideal dual monitor use case is to keep all messaging on the secondary, and when gaming, a FAQ when needed. For work, it’s nice to keep up an article or two on the other screen to refer to when clobbering a document.

    So in theory, it shouldn’t be too taxing. In theory.
     
  6. etern4l

    etern4l Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,931
    Messages:
    3,533
    Likes Received:
    3,499
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Not sure what you mean by more or less intensive? Synergy would be less convenient because you obviously couldn't move apps across. You would have more computing resources though.
     
  7. kylera

    kylera Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    81
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    56
    For my use case, I don’t need special software- just a browser and multi platform chat apps. Sure, it’s not as convenient since the keyboard shortcuts don’t always translate.

    In the meantime, the search continues.
     
  8. etern4l

    etern4l Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,931
    Messages:
    3,533
    Likes Received:
    3,499
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Good luck, but I doubt this exists given the price of monitors these days.
     
    kylera likes this.
  9. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

    Reputations:
    826
    Messages:
    3,230
    Likes Received:
    1,643
    Trophy Points:
    231
    @kylera you can try SpaceDesk. It will run in a browser on MacOS.

    If your Macbook can act as a Miracast receiver/sink, you can use Windows Connect feature, which is built into Windows 10. It should provide better experience than any third-party solution, at least that was the case when I last checked.

    FWIW any reasonably modern Windows 10 machine with a Wi-Fi adapter that isn't complete thrash supports Windows Connect as both host and client.
     
    kylera likes this.
  10. kylera

    kylera Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    81
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    56
    It seems I didn’t read the system requirements closely enough the first time around when I dismissed it; I didn’t realize the secondary machine could support it with a web browser!

    Thanks! I’m going to set a reminder to install it some time after my laptop finally lands!
     
    Starlight5 likes this.