Many of my colleagues use multiple monitors when they work. I’ve always used one, as big as possible. However, there’s an application called MaxiVista that makes it possible to use an extra computer as a second monitor. Or third or fourth and so on.

This is how it works. You install MaxiVista on your main PC and starts it’s Server application. There’s a tiny Viewer application that you run on the PC you want to use as a second monitor. When the Server app starts it will find the Viewer app on the network, and Viola! you now have two monitors.

MaxiVista installs a Virtual Display Adapter so this is to be compared with adding extra graphics adapters and monitors to your computer, so let’s think about that for a second. It took me 5 minutes to install and get it to work. My option would be to buy an extra monitor and plug it into my main PC. I also need an extra graphics adapter if I don’t have the possibility for two monitors already. Time and money? MaxiVista costs $49.95. Compare that with a monitor and graphics adapter and the time it takes to plug it all in. Not to mention all the extra cables needed.

There are also some other advantages. Since MaxiVista connects through the network you don’t need any monitor cables lying around. So I started to think about some uses for this, other than working with multiple monitors. Beside using the extra PCs as multiple monitors MaxiVista let you clone the primary monitor onto the others. Then, let’s take a store or demonstration for example. Plug in two computers on the network. Start MaxiVista Server on the main PC and the Viewer program on the other. Now you can do your demonstration on the main PC and let other people look at the other PC to see what you’re doing. And since MaxiVista runs over the network you don’t have to add cables across the room.

I’m using MaxiVista like this:
1. I have a laptop that I’m using when I’m out of the office. When I’m at the office I don’t have any use for it. Now I use MaxiVista and my laptop becomes my second monitor.
2. I’m setting up a meeting room with a screen and a projector. Instead of having cables lying around to plug a laptop into the projector I have a cheap PC connected to the projector and the network. Then I simply plug the laptop into the network and show my presentations on the screen using MaxiVista.
3. This is not something I have yet, but IF I had a store, I would have 2-3 computers out in the store, one in the back-office and then run advertising, demonstrations and presentations throughout the store over the network. If I want to add a computer somewhere else in the store I just plug it into the network and it’s done.

So, if you have an extra laptop or desktop PC lying around, get MaxiVista, plug them into your network and start using multiple monitors today. And if you don’t have an extra laptop, buy a used one. It’s cheaper than buying a monitor and graphics adapter, it’s easy to use, and it’s awesome! :)

MaxiVista can be purchased for $49.95 at www.maxivista.com.
You can find som demonstration videos here, and here.