Given below paragraphs talks briefly about Computer Monitors as they used to exist in the past, the progresses made, current screnario and future enhancements. The document also talks about the operating system support and application support for Multiple Monitors.
In early days, Computer Monitors depended on proprietary video drivers and multidisplay supporting GUI (graphic user interface) that were made for a company that sold the computer. Not any video driver could be used for any Monitor.
Computer Monitors as a standalone unit used to cost more, as compared to when purchased as part of a whole system sold by a company, and the concept of Multiple Monitors was therefore not so popular in the past.
As time passed and movement progressed from a standard office of files and notes to the digital ones, there was felt a need for Multiple Monitors in collating information available from different sources, in various fields, simultaneously.
Now a days electronics has improved really well. The cost of electronics equipment(s) may not have decreased drastically but the technology has improved really well allowing you to buy really sophisticated electronic equipments, computers , monitors, etc , which iun early days used to be a really expensive buy. You can buy complete Computer(s), specify which equipments you want in your new computer, or you can buy parts of computer system as well. The Cost of a computer Monitor may depend on the technical or physical attributes of the Computer Monitor.
In case you are looking forward for setting up a computer system with multiple monitors, Hardware Requirements section of Multiple Monitors might be of help. Latest Windows Operating Systems such as Windows Vista, Windows 7, etc do have support for Multiple Monitors and hence the software / driver part of setting up multiple monitors on a computer does gets help.
As with any other electronic equipment, the computer monitors have improved as well and future promises better computer monitors, displaying better quality display.
IDT announced the first VESA(Video Electronic Standard Association) DisplayPort based controller chip providing complete high-definition Multi-Monitor capability without the need for an additional graphics card or drivers. The IDT VMM1300 MultiMonitor controller IC is compliant with Displayport v1.1a and the VESA Direct Drive Monitor (DDM) standards. The device integrates a DisplayPort receiver and multiple transmitters into a single chip, providing a high bandwidth, superior performance and cost effective solution for multiple PC monitor and display panel products.
IDT PanelPort™ ViewXpand™ solution can be placed within a notebook, on a docking station, in a stand-alone dongle or on DisplayPort compatible Monitors, allowing original design manufacturers the flexibility to customize the Multi Monitor experience for their customers.
LG will produce new LCDs(liquid crystal displays) with embedded "virtualisation"(allowing one computer to perform the work of many computers) technology from NComputing Inc. where users will connect directly to the Monitor with a keyboard and mouse which in turn will connect to a PC. The monitors would serve as virtual computers allowing multiple users to run programs off a single computer.
SPARKLE X-Link is the revolutionary USB to DVI external connector which offers virtually perfect video quality and turns your USB port into a true Video port. Adapters supplied with the hardware connect to Monitors with VGA,HDMI or DVI interfaces. It is compatible with Windows XP, Vista,200 and the Mac OS.
Multiple Monitors section presents more information about Hardware , Software and other things to look for when setting up or using multiple monitors.
Download Dual Display Software for Windows and control your Dual Monitors with Shortcut, System tray and have different wallpaper for each of the dual monitors.