Dual Monitors

Hello,

I just ordered a HP nc8430 that has an ATI Mobility x1600 which supports dual monitors.

I've read a great discussion on the topic at http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/faq.asp#Laptops

My question is what folks used to get dual monitors. Do you use the laptop screen as one of your monitors, or do you have 2 external monitors? If 2 external, do you use a pcmcia graphics card, a vga splitter, etc?

Thanks,
Bob

 

I use the laptop screen as one of the monitor. I have never heard of a pcmcia graphic card.

A vga splitter could do the trick, but I think with those you can only get clones of the desktop and not extended. Don't quote me on this because I have never used a splitter.

 

I actually had never heard of a splitter before yesterday - when I read an article on CNN ( http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/18/technology/two.monitors.fsb/index.htm?postversion=2007011812)

It mentions the DualHead2Go ($170) which makes your system think that your two 1280 x 1024 monitors are really one big 2560 x 1024 beast, allowing your desktop to flow across two screens.

Bob

 

I use dual monitors all the time, and I use the laptop screen as one of the monitors. For starters its significantly cheaper. You can take the $170 and do something useful with it instead. Second, its easier. Just plug your monitor into the side of your laptop, and you are good to go (well, turn on the second screen and enable the video card, but you get the idea). Also, it takes less desk space. The laptop has to be there somewhere, so you might as well make it useful, rather than more space you are using, but desperately need. Further, if you are buying a laptop with an x1600 it is at least an OK laptop, so the screen should be worthwhile, and you are already making an investment in the laptop.

Also, I suppose the worst thing that could happen is you could try using the laptop screen, decide you don't like it, then buy something else. If thats the case, you aren't spending the money until you know you want to. If you buy other monitors (more than one) and a DualHead2Go, then you run the risk of deciding you don't like that system or don't need to spend that much money, and you have to try to return it and get your money back...all of that headache.

 

Agree regarding the $170. There's no way I would spend that much money on the splitter considering all the other options. My first step is to just use the laptop lcd and an external monitor, which is supported out of the box.

One of my considerations for the laptop was portability, but still being able to do some work while away from home/office - so I got a 15.4" screen rather than a 17" or <15. However, when I'm in the office, having 2 matching external monitors would be ideal. So I'm just interested in the options, and seeing what other people have used. I don't expect I'll be getting dual external monitors anytime soon. I spent my "slush" fund on the laptop. Heck, could also use the laptop as a third screen.

Bob