Laptop as Second Monitor

[Tbone]

Well, this turned out to be more complicated than I was anticipating it to be. Basically, I've only been using my laptop occasionally when I go to work as a house manager to pass the time or write up my report easier. Most of the time, however, it stays unused in my backpack.

I thought to myself "hmm, maybe I can use it as a second monitor for my main rig...should be simple enough!". My computer has two video cards with dual heads, but the problem is with the laptop. Apparently DVI output doesn't equal DVI input, so while my laptop can send DVI out, it can't receive DVI, meaning I can't connect my two computers with a DVI cord and extend my desktop to my laptop.

So my next option was software. The best option I found was MaxiVista. I downloaded the demo, and while it works decently well, because I'm connected over wifi, there's enough of a lag to make it not so appealing. Also, after 14 days I'd need to shell out $40 to keep the software (might as well buy an inexpensive monitor at that rate). I tried connecting an ethernet cord between the two computers, but I can't seem to share data that a way either.

Another option is Synergy. Instead of extending my desktop, though, it just enables my laptop to be controlled by my mouse and keyboard. This doesn't help much, especially considering the audio on my laptop doesn't work. I'd have to have a USB headset for my laptop and a different headset for my desktop or deal with desktop always going through the speakers while trying to communicate on the laptop headset. I also wouldn't be getting the raw performance from my desktop with anything I did on my laptop.

So is there a solution here? I also checked out ZoneScreen, which was 10x slower than MaxiVista. I feel like there should be a way to get data flowing between the two computers and extend the monitor with no lag and with no cost, but maybe I should wait until 2020?

[likwidtek]

Sell laptop, get uber nice screen + netbook for your time kill </solution>

[Tbone]

It's beyond selling. I'd have to spend past the selling price to get it back up to snuff. Audio doesn't work, one of the main fans doesn't work, one of the hinges has completely come apart, making it a bitch to close and open, with exposed wires at the hinge.

[likwidtek]

Crap.  hrmmz.  

well ok to solve the can't connect with an ethernet cable issue you need a crossover ethernet cable.  Any computer store will sell them.  You then need to manually set each network cards adapters to an IP address that can "see" each other.

Do it this way:

Ethernet port one (Main PC):
IP: 10.0.0.1
Subnet: 255.0.0.0

Ethernet port two (Old and busted laptop):
IP: 10.0.0.2
Subnet: 255.0.0.0

Then connect them via the cross over cable and configure your monitor sharing software to connect to each other via that 10.0.0.X IP addresses.  You'll be connected at AT LEAST 100Mb which if it's still slow then you're borked.

[ArchNemesis]

Unless your lappy has some sort of video in, i think your stuck with Wifi solutions or none of the above =/

[Tbone]

This network wouldn't interfere with my wifi network? I could be connected to both at the same time? And, now I'm buying a crossover cord AND the MaxiVista software. Hrmm...

[likwidtek]

Correct.  Your computer will know to get internet over your routable wifi and as long as MaxiVista will allow you to set it up by IP address it will work fine.  

The cross over cable should be less than 5 bucks.  To KNOW maxivista is connecting via the cross over cable, disable the wifi in the laptop.

[Tbone]

Ok, I found a 5-port ethernet switch. Will that do the same thing? How do I get that network up and running?

Edit: Ok, the MaxiVista demo is running smooth now. I think the ethernet switch is working. I guess that network set itself up pretty easily. So I guess now my problem is the money. $40 is really expensive. Is there a way I can do what MaxiVista is doing, but for free? Hmm...

[likwidtek]

Yeah a switch will do the same thing.  Perfect.  but ONLY connect your two computers to it via ethernet and do the IP settings like I said.  Disable the wifi on the laptop and go go go.

[Tbone]

Seems to be working. Disabled wifi and still working! Now the MaxiVista problem...I need a free version 4...

[likwidtek]

No lag?  Everything is fast and good?

[Tbone]

Yeah. I just need to find software that lasts more than 14 days. The light version of Maxivista cost $40. For all the features, you have to shell out $100.

[Tbone]

Well, after all that, I discovered I was having a problem with my wireless internet. My speedtest was getting .6Mb/s. After tweaking some things (switching channels, stuff like that) I was able to get it up a bit, but it's extremely unstable. Running a speedtest multiple times with no changes, I was getting anywhere from 2 MB/s to 18 Mb/s. Plugging in directly, however, netted a pretty steady 20 Mb/s. With the new knowledge that my internet doesn't suck as much as I thought it did, I'm going to try to feed a lan line to my room and tape it to the floor (was able to convince my roommate, even if he was reluctant...lol).

This, however, negates connecting my laptop directly to my computer, though for some reason my laptop still gets decent speeds over the wifi even when my desktop suffers, so there's not as much lag through Maxivista when I'm going through that network anymore.

[likwidtek]

you can plug your PC laptop and router all into the switch... set all the IP addresses to AUTO and you can still use the laptop as a second monitor.