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rogersmj

macrumors 68020
Sep 10, 2006
2,169
36
Indianapolis, IN
No, and this has been discussed to death. Notebooks only support one external display. You can ghetto-ize it with the pricey Matrox Dual/TripleHead2Go, but that maxes out at 1024 vertical resolution (I think), it's analog only, and it works by making your computer think it's one giant display, not two separate ones -- which sucks for a number of reasons. Regardless, it certainly wouldn't work with 24" displays.

BTW, are you from Neowin?
 

Pressure

macrumors 603
May 30, 2006
5,182
1,546
Denmark
Not sure if it works but you can try a dual dvi splitter.

A single DVI signal can run a 1920 x 1200 display. A DVI split cable should just split the dual DVI signal into two single DVI signals.
 

Multimedia

macrumors 603
Jul 27, 2001
5,212
0
Santa Cruz CA, Silicon Beach
HOw About an ExpressCard/34 DVI Card?

Not sure if it works but you can try a dual dvi splitter.

A single DVI connection can run a 1920 x 1200 display.
Who makes a splitter like that? I was thinking maybe someone makes an ExpressCard/34 DVI card that could drive a second external screen. But I don't know if such a product exists yet does anyone?
 

Pressure

macrumors 603
May 30, 2006
5,182
1,546
Denmark
Who makes a splitter like that? I was thinking maybe someone makes an ExpressCard/34 DVI card that could drive a second external screen. But I don't know if such a product exists yet does anyone?

Ebay ;)

It will probably run you a massive $13 :D

Google for dual dvi splitter and check out the results.
 

rogersmj

macrumors 68020
Sep 10, 2006
2,169
36
Indianapolis, IN
Yeah I'm really interested to see if that's a real product too, because I've never heard anything about it. And given what I know about the DVI spec, it shouldn't work. A DVI signal is digital, it can't be "split" -- the original signal source (the MacBook) is still going to be transmitting data as if it's a single display. It can be duplicated with the right equipment, but I've never seen a DVI splitter.

Ebay ;)

It will probably run you a massive $13 :D

Google for dual dvi splitter and check out the results.

Oh geeze, THOSE things? Those aren't DVI splitters, they're high-density DVI pigtail expanders, necessary for some video cards that the OEMs (like Dell) sometimes use. We have tons of those things at work. You CANNOT use them to split a normal DVI connection.
 

Pressure

macrumors 603
May 30, 2006
5,182
1,546
Denmark
Oh geeze, THOSE things? Those aren't DVI splitters, they're high-density DVI pigtail expanders, necessary for some video cards that the OEMs (like Dell) sometimes use. We have tons of those things at work. You CANNOT use them to split a normal DVI connection.

Heh ok, that explains a lot :)

As I said, wasn't sure it worked.
 

Rod Rod

macrumors 68020
Sep 21, 2003
2,180
6
Las Vegas, NV
No, and this has been discussed to death. Notebooks only support one external display. You can ghetto-ize it with the pricey Matrox Dual/TripleHead2Go, but that maxes out at 1024 vertical resolution (I think), it's analog only, and it works by making your computer think it's one giant display, not two separate ones -- which sucks for a number of reasons. Regardless, it certainly wouldn't work with 24" displays.

Matrox press release said:
http://matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/news/pr/2007/th2go_digital.php

In addition, users of the TripleHead2Go Digital Edition can operate in DualHead® mode with a combined resolution of 3840x1200 (dual 1920x1200)1 by connecting their system to the dual-link digital input.

The answer is yes, saxondale. can run two 1920x1200 24" LCDs from his 15" MBP.

product information
 

rogersmj

macrumors 68020
Sep 10, 2006
2,169
36
Indianapolis, IN
The answer is yes, saxondale. can run two 1920x1200 24" LCDs from his 15" MBP.

product information

That's new apparently. I was talking about the ones you can actually buy now, and my statements were correct.

So first of all, that one you linked to is not even available for purchase yet. Second, there's no clear answer if 2x 24" will work on OS X. It says "system dependent." Then it also lists resolutions in a table that say for Windows only, but more resolutions in a table with no such disclaimer. It also says your display driver has to support that double-wide resolution because -- and this is the really important part -- your system sees anything connected to those Matrox boxes as one monitor. That, and I'm guessing, based on the prices of their other boxes, this thing is going to cost at least $350, probably $400.

So I still think the Matrox boxes are a bad idea, even though they apparently have some coming in DVI form. Rather than buying two 24" monitors (2x ~$650 on a good day = $1300), plus this stupid Matrox thing ($400+), which will total at least $1700, just buy a 30" display. Less hassle, larger screen. I know not quite as many pixels as 2x24", but I still wouldn't mess with these things. Imagine the issues you're going to have when OS X can't tell the two monitors are actually two separate monitors -- dialog boxes popping up across the two displays, you can't have your dock centered, you can't use notification systems that automatically pop up in the middle (like built-in volume, other Bezel notifiers, etc)...it's just going to be really annoying.
 

Rod Rod

macrumors 68020
Sep 21, 2003
2,180
6
Las Vegas, NV
. . . there's no clear answer if 2x 24" will work on OS X. It says "system dependent."

Here you go.

So I still think the Matrox boxes are a bad idea, even though they apparently have some coming in DVI form. Rather than buying two 24" monitors (2x ~$650 on a good day = $1300), plus this stupid Matrox thing ($400+), which will total at least $1700, just buy a 30" display.

I agree. One 30" is what I'd recommend. But it'd be nice to see someone try the Matrox box and see whether any of the potential problems you describe are actually present.

Scroll down that link and see that the 24" iMac is also supported. Imagine 3x24" 1920x1200 displays. That would be neat.
 

RojoLeo

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2007
380
26
Austin, TX
You are obviously not a consumer if you need 2 monitors.

Buy a Mac Pro.

Are you trying to give legitimate advice, or are you being facetious?

As a digital photographer, I need mobility constantly, and don't like to be tied to a desk. Yet when I'm editing my photos and doing graphic design, the dual monitors is a HUGE bonus. I've run 2 or 3 computers nearly my entire life and having just one that contains everything I need, and not having to transfer large amounts of data just to work, is priceless.

This is just my situation, but there are countless other scenarios that justify people using their MBP solely. Sorry to rant, but making suggestions without knowing the person's workflow demands is completely asinine.
 
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