A dream setup: THREE monitors on a Macbook!

OS X Dream SetupSo you’ve always dreamed of connecting more than 1 external monitor to your Macbook (or any Mac) huh? Guess what, I just did it!

The process is not quite as straightforward as it should be, but it works pretty well.

The secret lies in a nifty application called ScreenRecycler.  In a nutshell, it allows you to use a monitor connected to a second computer as an additional monitor to your main computer.  So yes, you DO need 2 computers.  The good news is that the second computer can be either Mac, Windows or Linux. The bad news is that it’s slightly slower if the second computer is not a Mac. My second box is running Windows and it’s very usable for e-mail and calendaring. 

My setup consists of:

  • 1 Dell 24″ 2405FPW (awesome monitor btw)
  • 1 Samsung 22″ 2243BWX (vertical)
  • 1 Unibody Macbook
  • 1 custom-built PC

Screen configuration:

  • Main screen: Pretty much everything happens on this screen
  • Vertical screen (left): Mail.app (top), iCal (bottom)
  • Macbook screen: Twhirl, Corporate MSN Messenger, Adium

The -really- cool thing about my setup is that, if I ever need to use Windows, I can just stop ScreenRecycler and my Windows desktop appears on my left screen.  Because I use SynergyKM (and this), I simply have to move my mouse to the left and my keyboard and mouse automatically start controlling Windows. 

For your information, clicking the image will let you see my setup it its full glory!

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18 Comments on "A dream setup: THREE monitors on a Macbook!"

  1. heri
    16/02/2009 at 3:23 pm Permalink

    interesting, since I need now a third monitor for iTunes and tweetdeck

    by the way, I also use a mbp + a dell, but I use a kvm switch whenever I need to check something on windows. been happy with the setup for 2 years
    http://www.belkin.com/flip/

  2. jeremy
    16/02/2009 at 3:50 pm Permalink

    you should look at the matroxdualhead2go (or triple). no 2nd machine required. works great on my mac.

  3. Bryan
    16/02/2009 at 5:36 pm Permalink

    Great post, thanks! How is your Dell 2405FPW connected to your MacBook? Has Apple sorted out the problems with the Mini-DisplayPort-to-DVI or -VGA adapters yet?

  4. Carl Mercier
    16/02/2009 at 10:32 pm Permalink

    Bryan: there was a Mini-DP to DVI adapter from day 1. That’s what I’ve been using since the beginning and it works great.

  5. Jay Liew
    18/02/2009 at 7:34 am Permalink

    Carl, I think there is a manufacturing defect on the Samsung monitor. I don’t know if you noticed, but it blurs out your emails and your calendar events.

    I recommend looking up that issue on GetSatisfaction.com

    :D

  6. Angellaa
    24/02/2009 at 4:35 am Permalink

    Hmm, very cognitive post.
    Is this theme good unough for the Digg?

  7. Martin Dufort
    01/04/2009 at 7:00 pm Permalink

    Nice setup. Thanks for the screen recycler links. I will try that right away.
    Martin

  8. Pat
    24/09/2009 at 1:49 pm Permalink

    Hi, you say it’s slower because your other machine is windows… would it be faster under linux? or only on another mac?

  9. Carl Mercier
    08/10/2009 at 4:36 pm Permalink

    Pat: The problem is the speed of VNC, network, etc, not really the machine. Apparently it’s much much faster with another Mac using JollysFastVNC but I haven’t tried it.

  10. Pat
    14/10/2009 at 6:20 pm Permalink

    Je me demande si avec un hackintosh ca ferait la job? je vais probablement essayer lorsque mon nouveau bureau sera terminé.

  11. Breck
    18/12/2009 at 3:06 pm Permalink

    Thanks for sharing, Do you know any similar programs to work with Windows?

  12. dsi xl
    23/02/2010 at 7:00 am Permalink

    Extended desktop on the Apple laptops is only currently supported with one monitor. It’s possible that at some point in the future, when a video card is released to fit the Mac Book Pro’s ExpressCard/34, one will be able to further extend the desktop, from two to three monitors.
    For multi-monitor use, a great option to consider is a G5 tower, into which you can install many video cards, the only material limiting factor to how far you can extend your desktop (anyone for 5 monitors??).

  13. Dustin
    29/03/2010 at 1:09 pm Permalink

    Hi guys,

    It has been a while since a post here, but I want to give a once and for all solution that costs a 3rd of the Matrox setup, doesn’t need a second computer, is simpler and works a lot better. I wish I had known this before going through hell and back with Matrox who didn’t want to accept a return of their junk box, that just stretches your screen over two monitors, because it wasn’t defective and because they have some fine print on their website stating that there are problems with the newest 2010/2011 MacBooks and their display port using the dualhead2go digital. I still can’t believe they didn’t accept a return but that attitude towards customers always gets back to you.

    Here the solution for an awesome triple or more monitor setup with your pretty little MacBook (Pro):

    3 great advantages:
    1 it allows for totally independent screens at full resolution, it is not just a stretch.
    2 it is much less expensive than the Matrox, only around $80
    3 Very easy install, mac users must download the displaylink driver from displaylink dot com, then plug and play.

    This is the device:
    DIMOND USB HD Video Adaptor Plus 3 Port Hi-Speed USB Hub.
    Model: BVUMD3

    Bought it from Amazon and they get it through Buy dot com

    Cheers,

    Dustin

  14. Pat
    05/04/2010 at 3:30 pm Permalink

    Hey Dustin

    Thanks for the info.. do you know if the resolution is good with rotating screen as well with that device?

    Thanks

    Pat

  15. Jacques
    17/05/2010 at 1:10 pm Permalink

    Hi Pat any news on the Diamond USB adaptor?

    I cant see how you are going to run 3 monitors of that unit?

    Let me know if you find something.

  16. Dustin
    18/05/2010 at 12:38 pm Permalink

    Hi Pat,

    Excuse the late reply. Help me out and tell me what you mean with rotating screen…

    Jaques,
    3 displays: Your MacBook Pro screen, then in my case 2 x 24″ Samsung flat screens. Number 1 is connected via the Display Port (Mini display port to DVI adaptor needed). Number 2 is connected to the DIAMOND adaptor via DVI cable, the DIAMOND it self connects to your MacBook via USB.
    Thats 3 screens and it works just great.

    Hope that helps!

    Dustin

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