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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 20, 2024 6:52:07 GMT -5
Can I run another monitor side by side with the built-in monitor on my laptop?
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Post by themaestro on Mar 20, 2024 7:04:29 GMT -5
On most laptops, yes. Most have a VGA (older), HDMI, or a proprietary video port that usually needs a dongle to convert to HDMI. The external monitor can either duplicate your laptop screen or it can be an additional screen. You can also plug into most TV's, although the resolution is usually not that good for actual computer work.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 20, 2024 7:11:05 GMT -5
How do I go about it? For reference, the laptop is an HP I just bought a couple of months ago. The monitor is from my old desktop (probably 10 years old). It too is a HP.
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Post by HenryJ on Mar 20, 2024 7:17:01 GMT -5
We did it when I was in the workforce. I can't remember how we set it up, but it worked well and was very useful. I can't remember how it was set up; I've been retired for over 6 years now. I would certainly say to go for it.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 20, 2024 7:37:46 GMT -5
Yeah, I had two in my corporate world days too. My laptop monitor was not used, however. It went into a docking station, and I used a separate keyboard, mouse and had two monitors. I don’t have a docking station now, however, so planning to use laptop monitor and another monitor
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 20, 2024 8:31:31 GMT -5
My wife's desk looks like an air traffic control station. A laptop flanked with 2 big monitors. She's got a hub driven by one of the laptop's USB ports. For my room I have a smaller wall mounted monitor that's driven my laptop's HDMI ports. For my old HP that I use exclusively as a DAW I use the full sized HDMI out, for my newer laptop I have a mini HDMI port. My wife is proficient at splitting screens for her work related stuff, I just use my wall mounted one so I can see better, especially on the DAW.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 20, 2024 8:42:37 GMT -5
I was just looking at the laptop. It has two USB ports, one of which I’m using for a wireless mouse. It also has one HDMI port (I think it’s the mini kind), and another port that looks kinda like a phone charging port.
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michael
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Post by michael on Mar 20, 2024 9:03:57 GMT -5
I was just looking at the laptop. It has two USB ports, one of which I’m using for a wireless mouse. It also has one HDMI port (I think it’s the mini kind), and another port that looks kinda like a phone charging port. what type of connections does your monitor have? u may need to buy an adapter to fit. i like to use my laptops as desktops, the one i'm on now is setup that way. |
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Davywhizz
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Post by Davywhizz on Mar 20, 2024 11:53:52 GMT -5
Setting up (at least in Windows) is the same as for using a computer with a projector. Connect the monitor to the laptop (generally using HDMI nowadays) and press the Windows logo key and P. That command may vary depending on the Windows version you have. You should get the options (duplicate screen, one screen blank...) to select. Most monitors are now plug and play, you may need to do some research for setting up an older model, though I think they've always been simpler than projectors.
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Post by rickyguitar on Mar 20, 2024 12:03:54 GMT -5
One for each eye?
JK.
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Post by markfromhawaii on Mar 20, 2024 14:57:36 GMT -5
I was just looking at the laptop. It has two USB ports, one of which I’m using for a wireless mouse. It also has one HDMI port (I think it’s the mini kind), and another port that looks kinda like a phone charging port. Most monitors today have an HDMI input. If your monitor takes standard HDMI, there are cables and adapters to go from mini to standard size. If there’s a Best Buy near you, that’s where I’d look. |
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Post by LTB on Mar 21, 2024 2:04:26 GMT -5
I use a 24” Hi Def 4K monitor in conjunction with the laptop’s monitor. It is connected via an HDMI port on the Laptop.
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Post by ninworks on Mar 21, 2024 5:39:40 GMT -5
I have 2 monitors set up on my desktop machine. I don't use both all the time. About the only time I use both are when I am recording. I can have my mixer app up on one screen and my editor map up on the other. The rest of the time the extra monitor is off. I have never used an extra monitor with my laptop but I know it is possible.
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Post by oldnjplayer on Mar 21, 2024 7:08:05 GMT -5
Setting up (at least in Windows) is the same as for using a computer with a projector. Connect the monitor to the laptop (generally using HDMI nowadays) and press the Windows logo key and P. That command may vary depending on the Windows version you have. You should get the options (duplicate screen, one screen blank...) to select. Most monitors are now plug and play, you may need to do some research for setting up an older model, though I think they've always been simpler than projectors. Thanks. I have no use for second screen but I tried your suggestion and up popped the screen with screen choices. This is one reason I love this site, lots of knowledgeable members. |
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Post by dadzmad on Mar 21, 2024 15:54:15 GMT -5
To expand a laptop for desktop use look at products at "Plugable Technologies" I use these both at home and at our office. This lets me plug my laptop into a pair of full size monitors, use a real keyboard and mouse with one connection to the laptop. These run from about $80 to $140 depending on how many plugs you need. I have the same make and models of Plugable docks, monitors, keyboards, and monitors in my home office and at our business office and so can use the same laptop in both locations seamlessly.
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Post by LTB on Mar 21, 2024 17:02:50 GMT -5
I do not typically use the laptop’s screen as I replace my older Desktop Tower PC with this faster laptop that has better graphics and utilize the external 24” Monitor solely as I got tired of charging the battery all the time and just leave it plugged into power now.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 21, 2024 17:49:17 GMT -5
To expand a laptop for desktop use look at products at "Plugable Technologies" I use these both at home and at our office. This lets me plug my laptop into a pair of full size monitors, use a real keyboard and mouse with one connection to the laptop. These run from about $80 to $140 depending on how many plugs you need. I have the same make and models of Plugable docks, monitors, keyboards, and monitors in my home office and at our business office and so can use the same laptop in both locations seamlessly. You’re talking about a docking station? I’ve thought about that. The monitor that I have is older and has the old style 9 pin (or whatever the count is) connector. |
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Post by themaestro on Mar 21, 2024 18:58:49 GMT -5
Sounds like your monitor probably has a 15-pin VGA connector. You would need a HDMI (or maybe mini HDMI) to VGA adapter or pigtail. They are inexpensive. We use one at church to go from our HDMI computer output to the VGA cable that runs to our projector.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 22, 2024 20:25:12 GMT -5
Sounds like your monitor probably has a 15-pin VGA connector. You would need a HDMI (or maybe mini HDMI) to VGA adapter or pigtail. They are inexpensive. We use one at church to go from our HDMI computer output to the VGA cable that runs to our projector. I ordered one off Amazon today. |
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Davywhizz
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Post by Davywhizz on Mar 23, 2024 2:14:39 GMT -5
Just to note VGA transfers the picture only but HDMI has the audio feed as well.
For VGA, whatever you do now for sound should stay the same. If you have any problem you may need to change the sound options settings on the laptop.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 23, 2024 5:36:28 GMT -5
Just to note VGA transfers the picture only but HDMI has the audio feed as well. For VGA, whatever you do now for sound should stay the same. If you have any problem you may need to change the sound options settings on the laptop. My laptop is new and doesn't have VGA. The monitor is older and doesn't have HDMI. Thus, the adapter. The monitor has built in speakers and a 1/8" input which connected to my old desktop via the 1/8" port on it. I'm not planning to use the monitor speakers, only the laptop, so I think I'll be fine (I hope, lol). |
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Davywhizz
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Post by Davywhizz on Mar 23, 2024 6:01:58 GMT -5
Yes, it should be ok. My monitor is HDMI so the laptop recognises it as an audio option, though it only has audio out, no speakers. So I need to select the laptop speakers...or another option.
I'm guessing your laptop will ignore a VGA monitor, if not it's easy to adjust.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 25, 2024 20:52:19 GMT -5
Thank you guys! Got the adaptor today and it took this computer midget about 5 minutes to figure out how to get it to do what I wanted, which is see two different things on the two monitors. Now, if I can just figure out how to adjust the color tint on my old monitor. My new laptop (HP) has this nice, bright white look about it. My old HP desktop monitor has a yellow tint about it. If I can figure out how to do it, I'd like to get it to the brighter white like the laptop.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 25, 2024 21:08:42 GMT -5
I figured it out. I wasn't able to get a perfect match, but close enough for my purposes.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 25, 2024 21:21:40 GMT -5
Okay, run into my first snag. The audio defaulted to the monitor. I worked around it by connecting an 1/8" cable from the headphone out on the laptop to the 1/8" audio input on the monitor. However, I'd like the audio to stay on the laptop. How do I do that?
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 25, 2024 23:31:30 GMT -5
Ok, I figured out the audio. Just had to go to settings and change the default back to the laptop.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 26, 2024 7:08:28 GMT -5
These days you just buy stuff until you get the desired result.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Mar 26, 2024 7:51:37 GMT -5
These days you just buy stuff until you get the desired result. I have to admit, I was expecting this to be a PITA. But, to my surprise, it was quite easy. |
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