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.

    Laptop as desktop monitor

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by ltviper, Dec 6, 2008.

  1. ltviper

    ltviper Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have a question and I had no idea where to ask. Since I have a dell, I decided to ask here. My laptop is my primary unit that I use. But there are a few things that I would like to use my desktop for, but I do not want to take up all the space that the entire desktop unit would use. Therefore, I was wondering if it is possible to run my desktop using my laptop as the display. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
     
    ltviper, Dec 6, 2008
    #1
  2. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,557
    Messages:
    6,682
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Well, you could always setup remote desktop and control the desktop from there.
     
    nizzy1115, Dec 7, 2008
    #2
  3. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,868
    Messages:
    5,889
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    206
    No the laptop monitor is locked down for only the laptop's use. I used to have a Macbook and use Remote Desktop to access my desktop from time to time but it ended up being a pain. I find it easier to just turn on my monitor if I need to use my desktop.
     
    atbnet, Dec 7, 2008
    #3
  4. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,557
    Messages:
    6,682
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Actually its not totally locked down for laptop use. There is a program that will let you use your laptop's screen as a 2nd screen for a desktop using a network connection. I have used it before. However, you can not for the main screen.
     
    nizzy1115, Dec 7, 2008
    #4
  5. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,868
    Messages:
    5,889
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I guess to clarify I meant you can't take a video cable from your desktop to your notebook to use as a screen.
     
    atbnet, Dec 7, 2008
    #5
  6. Mandrake

    Mandrake Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,976
    Messages:
    12,675
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The laptop would require a "video in" port.
     
    Mandrake, Dec 8, 2008
    #6
  7. Erokitsune

    Erokitsune Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    225
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    why not just get a big monitor and a kvm switch?
     
    Erokitsune, Dec 8, 2008
    #7
  8. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,557
    Messages:
    6,682
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I hate to do this but again your wrong :) Ever hear of intel vivo? They had two ports on the laptops, one for in and one for out.
     
    nizzy1115, Dec 8, 2008
    #8
  9. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,868
    Messages:
    5,889
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Ok, that's an obscure technology available on exactly how many notebooks? My point is valid, notebooks video ports are a one way operation.
     
    atbnet, Dec 8, 2008
    #9
  10. kingstu

    kingstu Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    181
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    31
    You can use the IOGEAR laptop USB KVM cable and do just that. I have used it on several different pcs and different laptops.
     
    kingstu, Dec 12, 2008
    #10