Using 2 monitors at the same time - what do I need?

Ok, I just ordered a Dell D820 laptop with WUXGA (1900x1200) resolution and have been thinking about getting a 20" Samsung lcd monitor to use as an external monitor for my laptop and to sometimes use both monitors at the same time to give me a large amount of screen real estate . However, the max resolution on the Samsung is WSXGA+ (1680x1050).

My question is can I hook the laptop up to the Samsung and use both monitors at the same time even if they are in different resolutions? I want to hook them up at the same time to give me a huge amount of room on my desktop. Is this possible? If so what do I need to accomplish this? Thanks in advance

 

I think the configuration options with the DualHead2Go may enable you to set up a dual desktop like this...

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/dh2go/home.php

 

Absolutely, just go to screen properties, settings, check extend my desktop to this monitor. And control the resolution from there too, independently. Of course, once you had connected the second monitor to your VGA out.

 

conejeitor is right. you don't need the dual head shtik. i have a 4 year old asus, vga out, and i just connect an external monitor to it and i'm fine. i really love it cause i do a lot of docs and photo work. one screen for docs, one for pics - laptop heaven.

good luck.

 

So I should be able to use my laptop monitor and external lcd monitor at the same time without any special hardware or software apart from the VGA cable?

Also, will I be able to use two different resolutions for each monitor? My laptop has a native resolution of 1900x1200 and the lcd will have max of 1680x1050. I don't want to scale down the resolution on my laptop, so can I have my laptop screen one resolution and the lcd monitor another both at the same time?

 

bump........

 

Yes, you will be able to use both monitors at separate resolutions with just a cable. You'll even be able to choose how the second monitor orients itself against the first.

 

Just last night I confirmed that even my lowly Lenovo does this. rather well. The LCD actually looked better than it does with my desktop! (maybe thats the KVM getting in the way?)
It will do 1280x1024 on the external while its native resolution 1024x768. I am very stoked about the idea of using a 2nd monitor on performances with my lapotop. Sonar 6pe in one window, Space Theremin in the other.

 

Unless it's a CRT, the native resolution of the screen is the highest available. Unless you mean that the native resolution of you laptop screen is 1024x768, because that does not affect anything external. What affects that is your gpu and the connection, and both will be able to do better than 1280x1024.

On another note: my laptop (Asus A8js) has a VGA- and a DVI-port. Can I use three screens (2 external + laptop screen)? I only have one extra screen available right now, so i can't test it.

 

ouch!

You do have return rights for the external monitor? As others have said, go for it. It should be all covered in your laptop manual.