Dual monitors and laptop

[taz157]

I want to hookup 2 monitors to my laptop, in which each monitor and laptop screen will have a different items shown (e.g., outlook on laptop screen, Excel file on monitor #1, and tax program on monitor #3). FWIW, I have used another monitor and my laptop screen without problems, but wasn't sure about a 2nd monitor. Beside purchasing 2 monitors, the HDMI cords for the monitor to the cord splitter, and the cord splitter from the laptop, do I need to purchase another type of card for the laptop to support both monitors? Is there anything else that I haven't thought of?

[Deleted]

A bottle of wine or 3 while you try to hook them all up?

Let me know how it works out. I want to do that too. I miss my multiple monitors and feel so limited using just the laptop.

[taz157]

I'm starting a new position on Tuesday working from home.  At home, I did have my 17" laptop and 19" or 20" monitor.  I'm used to using 24" monitors and I need dual monitors (regardless of size) to do my job effectively.  I'd rather use monitors that are the same size to complete the main part of the job.  

[justme]

I think the only thing is your computer has to support that many screens? But don't ask me how to tell.

[taz157]

Aug 12, 2016 15:37:14 GMT -5 justme said:

I think the only thing is your computer has to support that many screens? But don't ask me how to tell.

That's what I'm thinking. I don't know how to tell either! Help from someone that knows please!

[justme]

Aug 12, 2016 15:42:20 GMT -5 taz157 said:

Aug 12, 2016 15:37:14 GMT -5 justme said:

I think the only thing is your computer has to support that many screens? But don't ask me how to tell.

That's what I'm thinking. I don't know how to tell either! Help from someone that knows please!

My googling is basically like either it will or won't. Lol! Looks like older computers or new ones that are more like tablets won't let you.

One mentioned a displayport or a usb to whatever your monitor uses cable to circumvent.

Sounds like if it's a relatively new computer you shouldn't have an issue.

[hoops902]

As long as you've got the splitter you should be fine assuming your laptop is relatively new (and really a standard laptop not like the tablet as justme mentioned. I've got this setup at work and we have a splitter that has a specific driver for the hardware, but whatever you have to do the splitting should have everything you need for it.

[taz157]

My laptop is 1.5 years old and now has Windows 10. I got it when it was heavily advertising the end of supporting Windows 7.

[yogiii]

Aug 12, 2016 16:18:40 GMT -5 taz157 said:

My laptop is 1.5 years old and now has Windows 10. I got it when it was heavily advertising the end of supporting Windows 7.

I'd be surprised if it didn't support it.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 12, 2016 15:18:18 GMT -5 taz157 said:

I want to hookup 2 monitors to my laptop, in which each monitor and laptop screen will have a different items shown (e.g., outlook on laptop screen, Excel file on monitor #1, and tax program on monitor #3). FWIW, I have used another monitor and my laptop screen without problems, but wasn't sure about a 2nd monitor. Beside purchasing 2 monitors, the HDMI cords for the monitor to the cord splitter, and the cord splitter from the laptop, do I need to purchase another type of card for the laptop to support both monitors? Is there anything else that I haven't thought of?

No advice, sorry. But years ago, I had an IBM monitor thay displayed four different operations at the same time on the screen monitor. The monitor was probably had a 42 inch display area. I only had to toggle to move from program to program. Great monitor.

[tcu2003]

Hmmmm. I got a new laptop at work a few months ago, but I'm pretty sure it won't let me display on three different monitors. I have two monitors hooked up to it that each display different things, but my laptop sits next to them closed on a docking station. If I do open the laptop lid, then it either mirrors the first monitor or goes dark.

[MarleyKeezy78]

My husband has a tv, computer screen and a projector hooked up in his man cave so he can play video games, watch tv and surf the internet at the same time, lol! He had upgraded something in his computer and had to make sure he had the cables, but it works. Don't ask me what he did though because that shit is foreign to me  

[tractor]

I have this set up at work, my laptop snaps into a base that have the to monitor cords plugged to the back. Maybe you can find something like that at Staples/Office Depot?

[Anne_in_VA]

Tractor, that's called a docking station.  I don't know if you can connect a laptop to more than one monitor, but Best Buy or some other store that also does repairs should be able to tell you.

[Deleted]

Aug 12, 2016 21:37:28 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Hmmmm. I got a new laptop at work a few months ago, but I'm pretty sure it won't let me display on three different monitors. I have two monitors hooked up to it that each display different things, but my laptop sits next to them closed on a docking station. If I do open the laptop lid, then it either mirrors the first monitor or goes dark.

Don't ask me how it is done because i have no clue but there is a way to use your laptop as a 3rd monitor with this set up.

[Deleted]

You shouldn't need anything special on your laptop (other than the proper cables). I have a 15 year old laptop that can do this it is just a setting.

[taz157]

Thank you everyone for your comments! 

I ended up getting this: HP 24" LED backlit monitor.  It came today and I was able to hook up everything without any problems!    Each monitor came with a VGA cable that I could hook into my laptop.  Instead, I did purchase a HDMI cable and used 1 of the VGA cables it came with.  I changed the Display on my laptop to Extend (for a second display), and it was separate images on each monitor/laptop monitor!

Once I work on a bigger desk (currently staying with friends temporary), I will definitely use my laptop screen as a 3rd monitor.