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mrurmil · Feb 17, 2006, 08:20 PM

Hi,

I know a couple people on this forum run dual displays with their powerbook and another external monitor. I currently have my powerbook sitting on top of an iCurve, and I am considering getting an external LCD display to run dual displays with. My main concern is this: I take my laptop to work every day and I'm thinking that with the dual displays hooked up it's going to be a real pain to unhook everything every morning and put it back in the evening. I'm wondering if anyone has a similar problem and how they manage it? Might seem like a stupid thread but I just want to see if other people share the same problem.

Thanks

Rumz · Feb 17, 2006, 10:37 PM

I watch people at work do it all the time with their 17" PowerBooks. They have wireless mice/keyboards though so it's not as bad. they're just hooking up the monitor for the most part. (they use iCurves with 20" cinema displays).

CrazedVW · Feb 17, 2006, 10:47 PM

Meh. I do the same thing and its really not that big a deal to plug in three wires - keyboard (which has my mouse and printer plugged into the USB ports on it), power cable, and DVI cable. I have an extra power adaptor at work so that saves a little extra effort.

Andy8 · Feb 17, 2006, 10:49 PM

Hooking up an external monitor is as simple as connecting the DVI cable to the side of the Powerbook. I have an iCurve as well, so its really not an issue. If you have bluetooth mouse and keyboard it could not be simpler:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12269692@N00/

Its my setup, 17" PB and Dell 2405

porieux · 05:43 AM

...

rparke1 · Feb 18, 2006, 12:31 AM

after i got used to doing it and figured where all the ports where, it takes me no longer than a few seconds. i have a tipb so the ports are on the back, so the icurve is super nice allowing me to twist the pb to the side and i just plug in. oh, and im running a 23'' cinema. enjoy your monitor if you get one

ginoledesma · Feb 18, 2006, 01:34 AM

I do this at work all the time. I have a 12" PB which I hook up to a 17" LCD monitor. Every morning when I come in, I plug the monitor to the PB's mini-DVI port and that's that. Takes me about 5 seconds tops. :-)

I still use the PB's keyboard and trackpad as I already have another keyboard and mouse driving my 2-display Linux workstation. The Mac is there as my sidekick (as always).

dn15 · Feb 18, 2006, 03:23 AM

I use my PowerBook G4 12" with an external LCD at my desk. I have a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and connect to the Internet via AirPort. Unless I need to use some other peripheral, all I need to do is plug in the power adapter and mini-DVI cable. It's not at all inconvenient or difficult.

harrisjamieh · Feb 18, 2006, 03:28 AM

I guess the 12" PB would be easiest as you dont need to tighten any screws on the plug as it has a mini DVI plug.

Drakino · Feb 18, 2006, 06:28 AM

I never bother tightening the screws on the DVI cable. The cables I use are held in place well enough by the connector along at both work and home.

mrurmil · Feb 18, 2006, 05:33 PM

Another question - can you choose which screen is the "main" one? In other words, can you choose which screen will have the dock. I would much rather have the big LCD as the main screen and use the PB screen as the sidekick.

rparke1 · Feb 18, 2006, 06:03 PM

yes you can do this, go to apple, system prefrences than to displays than arrangement and it should show both displays. you can move the displays all over the place in endless arrangements, prefably the way your setup is. to make the bigger display the primary click on and drag the white bar to the bigger box and all should be set. youll be able to see the display change instantly. nice and handy when you think about it. also, the instructions should be present in the window too. in this window you can also choose to mirror the displays.

have fun with your new monitor if you get one