\"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Ok guys, this is a question that we see here quite a bit.

"Can I use my laptop as an additional monitor on my desktop?" - The answer is Yes, as previously noted in other threads. This thread is meant more to actually show you how to do it.

There is a neat little program that allows you to do this, it's called MaxiVista. You can try it out for free here. This program allows you to use the laptop as a monitor across a network. You could also connect the computers via crossover cable, usb, firewire, etc.

Then, all you need to do is install the program on your main computer first, then the "client" application on the laptop.

In my configuration, I am running 3 monitors with the primary monitor being in the middle. I have it setup so my laptop (using MaxiVista) is on the left if I move my mouse there, and the CRT monitor on the right if I move my mouse there. You can see below.

http://goldtoes.is-a-geek.com/images/monitorssetup.jpg

And here is a picture of the setup. Definitely not balla-worthy, but it does what I need it to do with what I have.

http://goldtoes.is-a-geek.com/images/monitors.gif

If you have any questions or run into any problems, post them here!

/gold

edit: tagged images wrong [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Am I incorrect in thinking that to post an image the UBB tag is [img]? I put [image] first, but when I edit it [img] doesn't keep. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[image]

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Alright, got it. For some reason it doesn't like working through my domain name. Odd...

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Also worth a try is Synergy

Does a similar job I think, but also with Mac OSX and Linux machines if need be. Also it is Free.

Maybe it is missing some features tho, didn't check the maxivista site too much.

dave.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
Also worth a try is Synergy

Does a similar job I think, but also with Mac OSX and Linux machines if need be. Also it is Free.

Maybe it is missing some features tho, didn't check the maxivista site too much.

dave.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome man, I don't have time to check it out right now...

but thanks for the link! Open Source is always sweet [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

I really want to do this but I have a couple questions.

1) My laptop is running OSX while my desktop runs XP, I noticed the program Dave posted should work like this, but will Maxivista as well?

2) how are your monitors connected? is there a cable connecting them directly or are they plugged in to the same router? something else maybe? I don't have any more space on my router to plug in my laptop, but it does have wireless. what do I need to do to make this work?

thanks a lot, great thread btw.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
I really want to do this but I have a couple questions.

1) My laptop is running OSX while my desktop runs XP, I noticed the program Dave posted should work like this, but will Maxivista as well?

2) how are your monitors connected? is there a cable connecting them directly or are they plugged in to the same router? something else maybe? I don't have any more space on my router to plug in my laptop, but it does have wireless. what do I need to do to make this work?

thanks a lot, great thread btw.

[/ QUOTE ]

1. MaxiVista will not work for Mac, yet they only support Microsoft Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista x86 or XP/2003 x64

2. It just has to be connected to your LAN. My laptop is wireless. Then you install the client on it and mine auto connected.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
I really want to do this but I have a couple questions.

1) My laptop is running OSX while my desktop runs XP, I noticed the program Dave posted should work like this, but will Maxivista as well?

2) how are your monitors connected? is there a cable connecting them directly or are they plugged in to the same router? something else maybe? I don't have any more space on my router to plug in my laptop, but it does have wireless. what do I need to do to make this work?

thanks a lot, great thread btw.

[/ QUOTE ]


thank you. I guess I will try out synergy since that does work on my Mac. I will probably be back with more questions later, thank again.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
thank you. I guess I will try out synergy since that does work on my Mac. I will probably be back with more questions later, thank again.

[/ QUOTE ]

yea, I'll have to try to get Synergy fired up so I can test it out just in case people have problems.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
thank you. I guess I will try out synergy since that does work on my Mac. I will probably be back with more questions later, thank again.

[/ QUOTE ]

yea, I'll have to try to get Synergy fired up so I can test it out just in case people have problems.

[/ QUOTE ]


Synergy is for a different purpose. It lets you control multiple computers and monitors with one keyboard and mouse.

So if you had one computer with two screens, plus a laptop, you could control them all with your main keyboard and mouse. It acts like it is an extended desktop, but it is an entirely separate OS and you cannot drag windows between the screen.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
Synergy is for a different purpose. It lets you control multiple computers and monitors with one keyboard and mouse.

So if you had one computer with two screens, plus a laptop, you could control them all with your main keyboard and mouse. It acts like it is an extended desktop, but it is an entirely separate OS and you cannot drag windows between the screen.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks for the info freakin...I hadn't had time to look into the program at all so I just was taking their word for it.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Synergy is for a different purpose. It lets you control multiple computers and monitors with one keyboard and mouse.

So if you had one computer with two screens, plus a laptop, you could control them all with your main keyboard and mouse. It acts like it is an extended desktop, but it is an entirely separate OS and you cannot drag windows between the screen.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks for the info freakin...I hadn't had time to look into the program at all so I just was taking their word for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops, my confused mistake [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Probably still worth a mention in this context, however useful for a different purpose in a similar context.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Synergy is for a different purpose. It lets you control multiple computers and monitors with one keyboard and mouse.

So if you had one computer with two screens, plus a laptop, you could control them all with your main keyboard and mouse. It acts like it is an extended desktop, but it is an entirely separate OS and you cannot drag windows between the screen.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks for the info freakin...I hadn't had time to look into the program at all so I just was taking their word for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops, my confused mistake [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Probably still worth a mention in this context, however useful for a different purpose in a similar context.

[/ QUOTE ]

synergy is freaking awesome. I used it to control 3 comps right on my desk across 3 monitors + laptop screen

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

This thread is awesome!!!!!!!!
I wanna hear more like this, any chance of you doing more on similar asked questions?

Thanks

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
This thread is awesome!!!!!!!!
I wanna hear more like this, any chance of you doing more on similar asked questions?

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

If there is a question that I feel get's asked A LOT besides the questions like...

"What computer should I get?" or "Is this video card good?"

This was the first one that came to mind because we get asked it a couple times a week and I had always wondered myself, so I decided to try it and then report back so we can always reference this thread.

Let me know if you have any ideas.

/gold

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

So how do you actually do it?

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
So how do you actually do it?

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to get the program mentioned in my OP.

Install it first on your main computer then after that completes, install the client on your laptop. At this point, both of my computers were on the same network and just auto-synced to each other, your's should do the same.

Then just go into your display settings (right click on desktop, properties, advanced tab) and change the arrangement of the monitors. You should now see a second monitor named something with MaxiVista in it. Either drag it to the right or left or up or down to your desired arrangement and you should be all set.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

for macs (as primary machine) you can also try Screenrecycler

as secondary displays you can use any machine which can run a VNC client (for more info check out the site)

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
for macs (as primary machine) you can also try Screenrecycler

as secondary displays you can use any machine which can run a VNC client (for more info check out the site)

[/ QUOTE ]

this looks more like what we are looking for, for Macs ... nice link.

someone with a Mac try it out and let me know how it goes!

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Can I use my laptop as a secondary monitor while it is running other stuff like datamining (without showing it on the screen)?

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
Can I use my laptop as a secondary monitor while it is running other stuff like datamining (without showing it on the screen)?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you should be able to. All the program does is open a "window" of sorts that take up the whole screen. So you can run stuff in the background on the laptop. Then when you want to see the normal laptop programs, just disable the monitor using MaxiVista on your main PC.

/gold

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

This will be very useful. Thanks!

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
This will be very useful. Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem!

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

I have Win 2000 on my primary laptop, and Win XP on my secondary. Can I connect them with MaxiVista anyway? I\ve tried but I havent succeded. They are both in the same network.

Thanks! And thanks for the great recommendation in the first place.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
I\ve tried but I havent succeded.

[/ QUOTE ]
You gotta include more than that. What happens when you try? Can you run the server and the client successfully?

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Thanks Sam! Awesome help :-) I'm pretty new to MaxiVista. I forgot to open the client application. It works now.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

thanks sammy

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Hi, I've got a bit longer on the way with my VMWare mashine now, but the MaxiVista still doesn't work.

The computers (virtual and real) are on the same network. When I turn on the server and the client, the client (real) does get it's background changed, so MaxiVista is in the works. If I identify the screens then numbers pop up on both of them so they are both detected. I put them next to each other... but the problem is that I still can't move my mouse to the client (real). Everything looks like it's working, but I can't move my mouse over there. Help would be very nice.

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hi, I've got a bit longer on the way with my VMWare mashine now, but the MaxiVista still doesn't work.

The computers (virtual and real) are on the same network. When I turn on the server and the client, the client (real) does get it's background changed, so MaxiVista is in the works. If I identify the screens then numbers pop up on both of them so they are both detected. I put them next to each other... but the problem is that I still can't move my mouse to the client (real). Everything looks like it's working, but I can't move my mouse over there. Help would be very nice.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.vmware.com/community/thre...6&tstart=0

Re: \"How to Use Your Laptop as a Secondary Monitor\" thread
 

Very cool, thanks for posting this. Might save me from buying a new monitor. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]