Ways to get 2 external monitors and the notebook screen to work?

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Have a person wanting to run 3 monitors on his Dell Inspiron 8600. It has a single VGA out. Right now he runs a 19" Samsung LCD and the notebook screen itself.

What's the best/most cost effective way to go around getting it to where he can use 2 external monitors AND the notebook screen. I know with the docking stations you can hook up 2 external monitors, but the laptop one is disabled.

There some sort of USB or PCMCIA card that allows this? Well rather anything other than the Sidecar? I mean the Sidecar is pretty cool, but $1300 is kinda stout just to add another $200 19" monitor.

 

[deathwalker]

you need a video port splitter..like these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107258
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107259

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: deathwalker
you need a video port splitter..like these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107258
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107259

Humm, those seem to more or less "trick" the computer into letting you use another monitor by stretching the image. Instead of 2 1280x1024 screens, you get one 2560x1024. Not good for maximizing on one screen, as it would just fill both.

Really need something that gives a "true" 3rd monitor.

 

[Rankor]

How about the Matrox DualHead2Go?

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: Rankor
How about the Matrox DualHead2Go?

Wow.. that thing is amazing

What wold someone do with 3 monitors .. just curious

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: deathwalker
you need a video port splitter..like these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107258
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107259

Humm, those seem to more or less "trick" the computer into letting you use another monitor by stretching the image. Instead of 2 1280x1024 screens, you get one 2560x1024. Not good for maximizing on one screen, as it would just fill both.

Really need something that gives a "true" 3rd monitor.

I believe you're pretty much SOL then. I don't think even the DualHead2Go can circumvent that.

- M4H

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: dahunan

Originally posted by: Rankor
How about the Matrox DualHead2Go?

Wow.. that thing is amazing

What wold someone do with 3 monitors .. just curious

Currently, I'm monitoring network traffic, two project management systems, have a few ssh/telnet/cmd windows open, full-screen RDP on another, and ATOT.

- M4H

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Well it seems the VTBook will do what I want. A true 3rd display on the PCMCIA. Runs about $230. Not too bad I don't guess. $1000 cheaper than the Sidecar.

And could still run the Matrox on top of that, or use their $60 cable and put 2 displays on it (though in spanned view I'm sure).

 

[WackyDan]

A full dock that has a PCI/PCI-e slot will do the job. Just need a dual head card that fits the wattage output of the dock.

If you have ATI graphics in the laptop, avoid an ATI driven card in the dock,,,, they fight.

EDIT: Nevermind.... It's an inspiron... no dock for that as it's a consumer machine.... Best bet is the Matrox setup.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: deathwalker
you need a video port splitter..like these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107258
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107259

Humm, those seem to more or less "trick" the computer into letting you use another monitor by stretching the image. Instead of 2 1280x1024 screens, you get one 2560x1024. Not good for maximizing on one screen, as it would just fill both.

Really need something that gives a "true" 3rd monitor.

There are some apps out there that allow you to specify your maximize zones. I forget what they are and who has them but I know I accidentally installed something like this at some point. I want to say it was something from Acer that did this after I reformatted the factory install and was trying to get all the drivers back on (I accidentally installed some of their crap software).

Good luck! If you can find this software, then one of those other solutions would do the trick for you.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: WackyDan
A full dock that has a PCI/PCI-e slot will do the job. Just need a dual head card that fits the wattage output of the dock.

If you have ATI graphics in the laptop, avoid an ATI driven card in the dock,,,, they fight.

EDIT: Nevermind.... It's an inspiron... no dock for that as it's a consumer machine.... Best bet is the Matrox setup.

Suprisingly the Inspiron 8600 does have a docking port. Users the same dock as our Latitude D820s/620s use. I was kinda schocked when I turned the 8600 over one day and saw it.

I didn't think of the docking station with media bay or whatever they call it. Much cheaper, can get them on eBay for like $50, plus a vid card. Much cheaper than the $230 VTBook.