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    Laptop Monitor as Second Monitor?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by theoak, Dec 21, 2006.

  1. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    Is there an application out there that would allow me to use my laptop monitor as a second monitor for another computer?
     
    theoak, Dec 21, 2006
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  2. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

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    I was looking for a software like that too - didn't fine any though. I think you can only output video from a laptop, but I'm not 100% sure.
     
    hehe299792458, Dec 21, 2006
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  3. otakuoverlord

    otakuoverlord Notebook Evangelist

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    Technically yes, one way is to....

    Use a TV tuner card on the laptop, run a TV-out (S-video or Yellow RCA Composite) cable to the tuner card from your other computer, set your other computer to output something like 640x480/800x600 through the TV-out port, set the other computer's monitor settings to output the extended desktop to the TV-out port, and set the laptop's tuner card software to run in fullscreen mode.

    Maybe you should just get another monitor? =)
     
    otakuoverlord, Dec 21, 2006
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  4. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    Had a little chuckle at that ... :)

    I know for my PDA I had a little application where when my PDA was docked, I could use the PDA screen as a second monitor. Needless to say it was very tiny and not very usable. I think the author did it just because he could. But it was still cool.

    I never thought of the TV card approach though ...

    Thanks for the replies ...
     
    theoak, Dec 21, 2006
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  5. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

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    Won't be easier to just get an external monitor?
     
    hehe299792458, Dec 21, 2006
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  6. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    Well, only very high end laptops such as some high end Alienware laptops have video inputs to utislise the monitor on the external device.

    But I suppose the suggested methord with the TV Tuner will work, but the image quality would be atrocious.. :p
     
    Lil Mayz, Dec 21, 2006
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  7. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    Found a software application that does it!

    It is really cool and only needs a network connection.

    Gave it a quick try here at work ... seems to work great!

    For $30 bucks ... it lets me use my $1500 laptop as a glorified monitor.

    Go here: http://www.maxivista.com
     
    theoak, Dec 21, 2006
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  8. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    Okay, I was mistaken. The full version is $70. Still not too bad considering it is like having a second monitor ...
     
    theoak, Dec 21, 2006
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  9. mattireland

    mattireland It used to be the iLand..

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    Put shortly - NO. Put longly - YES. (There's one extra letter in yes)!

    If you're a geek like me, then you can attempt it but like Mayur said, the image quality would be absolutely attrocious.

    Why can't you just use the external as your secondary???
     
    mattireland, Jun 20, 2007
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