STACK #191 Sep 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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There’s no need to be restricted by multitasking on a single computer monitor when you can spread the productivity (and procrastination) perks across two or more screens. Words Nathan Lawrence O wning multiple monitors is kind of like getting faster internet. At first you feel

connect more monitors. Now all you need is the correct cable and a spare monitor. LAPTOP DISPLAYS Connecting laptops to multiple monitors is sometimes less straightforward. Treat your laptop screen as one of your monitors, then connect to a second via HDMI, DisplayPort or even USB-C (or Thunderbolt), or add multiple

second (or third) screen can change to suit tastes. On diligent days, it could be Outlook. During peak procrastination, it can be your most frequently visited websites that have nothing to do with work. All you need to do, initially, to see if your computer is ready for multiple monitors is take a closer look at its ports. For a desktop PC, track the cable that’s not the power lead from your monitor to the back of the case. You should see more ports flanking the connected one that allow you to

SCREEN RECYCLING If you don’t want to fork out for a new monitor and have a compatible tablet sitting around, you can use apps to cool your PC or Mac into treating the tablet as a second screen. Whether you’ve got an iPad or Android tablet, check out apps like Air Display, iDisplay, TwomonUSB or Splashtop to turn tablet into monitor. All of those apps can be found on both the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

more is excess to requirements, then you immediately see the perks once you take the tech leap. In the case of monitors, seeing those perks is a literal experience. Recent versions of Windows are great for splitting active applications on a single screen, but you’d be surprised at how much more efficient work and play is with a second screen. For instance, pull up a report on your main screen and delegate your emails on another. Or watch your favourite YouTube creators on one screen, and stay connected with friends and family on Facebook on another. It’s a full-screen affair for both, so it’s easier to just flick your head between whatever you’d like to do. ONE VS MANY Confession time. This article was written on a three-screen desktop PC setup. Three? That’s gluttonous! Except when you realise you can be banging out the words in a Word document on the main screen, glancing at notes on a second, and researching relevant titbits on a third display. That’s one use case that can easily apply to any line of work or study that requires a computer. And what you have on that

LAYING CABLES For newer monitors connecting to newer computers, you’ll be working with

external monitors and ignore the lappy display. Sometimes the ports for these cable types may be of the mini variety, so match cables accordingly. The above is assuming your laptop has a compatible port that can be used for an external display. If not, your other option is to use an external dock like the Alogic ThunderBolt 3 Dual Display Docking Station. Designed to work with compatible Windows and Mac computers,

one of two cables: HDMI or DisplayPort. HDMI cables are the same ones that connect your TV to all manner of media devices, including set-top boxes like a Blaupunkt Android TV Box or Fetch Mighty, and

game consoles like the Xbox One S or PlayStation 4. If

you’re in a position where you need an older DVI connection on

one end and HDMI on the other, pick up the XCD Essentials HDMI to DVI Adapter Cable. Otherwise, opt for HDMI to HDMI, DisplayPort to DisplayPort, or whatever cable port on one end matches what’s on your computer, and the other that pairs with what’s insertable for the screen.

this dock lets you connect up to two external

Windows on windows There’s a stack of handy shortcuts that you can use in Windows 10 to make your life easier. Hold down the Windows button, then use the cursor arrows to shift around active windows. The left or right arrows will snap the active window to the left or right half of the screen. When it’s there, use up or down to turn a half into a quarter. With two monitors, you can have two full-screen active windows across two screens, or you can split those in two for one screen, then add two more to another. If the screen size means you don’t have to squint, have up to eight active windows spread across two displays.

54 SEPTEMBER 2020

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