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mpancha · Mar 23, 2006, 07:14 PM

I just formatted my laptop (specs in sig), and had a second display connected to it. I always thought you needed to install the Span Doctor hack to get dual display (non mirrored), but right after I installed 10.4 off my DVD that came with my laptop, I had dual display working.

Has it been like this since the intro to 10.4?

Not really a help request, but I never noticed this before.

jamil5454 · Mar 23, 2006, 07:24 PM

It's a firmware hack, which means it has nothing to do with what's on the hard drive.

mpancha · Mar 24, 2006, 11:25 AM

that solves that mystery.... somewhat

i've always used the hack since I got my ibook g4. I've formatted at least 4 times since I first got it, and this is the only time the dual display "feature" stuck after a format, and did not require my reapplying the hack.

frdmfghtr · Mar 29, 2006, 08:45 AM

This sounds like an interesting hack. If it is applied, can it be reversed of for some reason it doesn't work?

And being a firmware hack...I wonder why Apple wouldn't support such a feature. My 3 year old HP laptop supports dual displays, I would think that this would be more standard.

TheoCryst · Mar 29, 2006, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by frdmfghtr

And being a firmware hack...I wonder why Apple wouldn't support such a feature. My 3 year old HP laptop supports dual displays, I would think that this would be more standard.

It's unsupported in the iBook line because Apple feels (and rightly so) that there needs to be more of a distinction between the iBook and PB lines, especially with the 12" Powerbook. The hardware supports it, but Apple disallows it to ensure that people will continue buying Powerbooks.

frdmfghtr · Mar 31, 2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by TheoCryst

It's unsupported in the iBook line because Apple feels (and rightly so) that there needs to be more of a distinction between the iBook and PB lines, especially with the 12" Powerbook. The hardware supports it, but Apple disallows it to ensure that people will continue buying Powerbooks.

I've never understood why companies (not just Apple) do that sort of thing; implement hardware in a design, but cripple it so it can't be fully used. Why not use less-capable hardware that's less expensive? Maybe the volume discounts on the same hardware purchased twice over is more than the saving of buying separate units (half expensive, half less so), or maybe there's savings in stock parts for repairs or support.

Anyway, I installed the Spanning Doctor and tried it out last night. One word: SWEET. I was especially taken by the way PowerPoint uses two screens; the external for the main slide show, and the main display for the slide, a timer, notes in large print, forward/back buttons, plus a preview of the next slide.

I wonder what else does nifty things with two displays.

mpancha · Mar 31, 2006, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by frdmfghtr

I was especially taken by the way PowerPoint uses two screens; the external for the main slide show, and the main display for the slide, a timer, notes in large print, forward/back buttons, plus a preview of the next slide.

I wonder what else does nifty things with two displays.

Agreed! I've been using span dr for years, and I only noticed the dual screen use from powerpoint this past month when I got a PPT presentation to proofread from a friend.

It would be nice if more software used dual screens..... even the basics like iPhoto. I would love to create photo books in iPhoto, but I feel so cramped on just the one screen for example

eeeaa · Apr 9, 2006, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by frdmfghtr

I've never understood why companies (not just Apple) do that sort of thing; implement hardware in a design, but cripple it so it can't be fully used. Why not use less-capable hardware that's less expensive? Maybe the volume discounts on the same hardware purchased twice over is more than the saving of buying separate units (half expensive, half less so), or maybe there's savings in stock parts for repairs or support.

It's the video card that has the support for screen spanning. Apple does not manufacture the video card, but they do turn off the feature before you ever see your iBook.

lilford · Apr 12, 2006, 04:29 PM

Just to get more sales from the powerbook? Thats ironic. Wouldn't they want sales from all of their products?

eeeaa · Apr 12, 2006, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Krjat

Just to get more sales from the powerbook? Thats ironic. Wouldn't they want sales from all of their products?

Well, they'd much rather sell you a PowerBook than an iBook. If you walk into their store, and are going to buy something anyway...they'd be happy never selling an iBook if everyone walked in and bought the PowerBook for its additional features. The iBook could just sit there and hook people. The thing this, this is never going to be the case, because people like the iBook, and some people can't afford the PowerBook, or don't want to spend that kind of money on a portable.

lilford · Apr 12, 2006, 11:42 PM

But the powerbook is being replaced with the MacBook Pro. I bet a lot of people won't buy the MacBook Pro because in my opinion it costs way to much just because its intel. I would get the ibook over the powerbook and MacBook Pro anyday.