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Powerbook - can it run two external displays?

D

deep square leg

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 30, 2003
12
0
Tasmania
My PC has been on its last legs for years. However, I do run two flat 21" CRTs off it, which is very nice.

I'm still trying to decide whether to order a G5 in a few days or get a powerbook. The portability would be really handy, and of course when I get home I could just plug it in to one of the external displays.

One advantage that the G5 would have is that I can easily use both monitors (I'd have to get a vga-adc or a sun-adc adapter for the second one, the first could use the included vga-dvi adapter).

However, the powerbooks only have the one MiniDVI or DVI port. Is there any way to add a secondary external display? Any expansion card? I could use s-video, I suppose, but the quality would not be the best. Can anyone tell me what the s-video is like in the powerbooks?

Thanks!
 
don't know of any laptops that can run 2 different displays
you could probably get a connector that would allow you to connect 2 monitors but both would display the same image
 
something i've been wondering: can you use a second display and use the s-video out at the same time? I want to try this for colour correction with Final Cut. any one have experience with this on a alubook, or do I just have to try?
 
I can't see any possible way for one video card to do this - the ones with dual output are essentially two cards on one board.

You'll probably also want to check that the G5's video drivers can handle two video cards. That's not a given either.
 
There are PCMCIA cards that run monitors for the Mac, can't remember the site/company but I'll look around for it in a bit...

cpjakes
 
dualies

Laptops can't do more than one external display at a time (maybe two if they are the same image) because it HAS to run the laptop monitor itself. Very intriguing idea about the s-video and the display idea with FCP, though. I want to try that.
 
So you want to have 2 21 inch monitors and the monitor on the laptop? totally 3 monitors?

And i thought i was greedy ... LOL
 
Originally posted by revenuee
So you want to have 2 21 inch monitors and the monitor on the laptop? totally 3 monitors?

And i thought i was greedy ... LOL
Click to expand...
Haha no, I'd just have the notebook shut on the desk when at home... I've got a thing for symmetry ;)

appleretailguy: so, is that VT product mentioned in this thread bogus?
 
Originally posted by deep square leg
Haha no, I'd just have the notebook shut on the desk when at home... I've got a thing for symmetry ;)

appleretailguy: so, is that VT product mentioned in this thread bogus?
Click to expand...

Actually ... when my baby goes under, and it's time to upgrade i think i'll go portable... and that VT thing looks awesome ... so i'll probably end up running 3 monitors

there is no such thing as to much screen realestate ... i want a multi screen set up like in SwordFish or Tomb Raider :)
 
VTbook Idea

Well, first off...http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=319774

In theory, looks like a great buy. However, there is no info about units in stock or ship date....

I am a bit wary of a product like this, but I see no real reason why it won't work. The DVI out port and the cardbus work independently of each other. I would be VERY interested in demoing something like this first, HOWEVER.
 
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