OS X Multi-Monitor Setup

It’s been exactly that easy to configure multiple monitors on the Mac since the days of OS 7 (15 years ago). Macs were truly plug&play long before Microsoft trademarked the term in an apparent attempt to see just how far “irony” would stretch.

So the Macbook Pro does have a dual link DVI interface? Nice to see, I can’t believe how many new laptops still come with D-SUB interfaces. Synergy is an awesome application btw.

Same thing happened to me, took me ages to work it out and after doing a lot of searching on Google and I finally found out how to do it. I was so surprised at how easy it was to do. The answer was right in front of me the whole time.

Haha!
It took me a day to figure this menubar thing out in OS X!

Think Occam’s razor, Chris. “Click and drag” are built into the Mac’s DNA so there’s almost always a simple graphic solution for the basic functions. Too many years with “Alt-F4″ can lead one to overcomplicate things. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there…

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Macintosh Computers had the capability to support Multiple Monitors since the days of Macintosh II. Any Mac that has slots for Video Cards can drive the Monitor attached to that Monitor. For example one can have more than two monitors with the Mac Desktops (Towers) depending on the number of slots that are free to plug the video cards.

Yes, it’s odd that you ran around the Web looking everywhere but the Mac’s built in Help to figure out how to move the menu bar. I am by no means a power user, and I figured this out without consulting anything outside of the display setup system preference and it’s associated Help files. Everything I need to know about normal functionality on the Mac is usually already explained in-process or in Help. Too much time on Windows…?

Yes I was using multiple monitors as an student developer at Claris Ireland, Dublin in 1992. It worked just the same. As Splashman says it’s quite funny to see people express how cool this is 15 years later. In fact I believe it worked like this originally in 1987, when the first Mac II’scame out. Windows multiple monitor support is truely really bad in comparison, no matter how much fudging and excuses people produce for it.

Claris was one of the best jobs I ever had. Trying to do Windows 3 development back in college after 10 mths of coding the AppleTalk protocols, the Mac Toolbox and MacApp was horrible and sometimes depressing, but I did have a huge head start over everyone coming from DOS!

Chris,

I use my macbook pro with a 23 inch screen. I vary between 2 configurations: 1 dual monitor (like yours) and single monitor with the macbook closed.

To use single-monitor with the macbook closed:
1. put the macbook to sleep.
2. plug in the DVI connector and keyboard and mouse connectors to the usb port.
3. the mac must be plugged into power. I usually do this last.
4. hit a key or move the mouse. the mac wakes up with one, large monitor.

I use an apple 23 inch monitor that has a space below where I slip the powerbook. This also has a convenient multi-cable cable for usb, dvi and firewire. All 3 plug in near each other in one side of the powerbook and keeps the cabling a bit neater. The other end of the usb and firewire is the back of the monitor.

That’s cool, ive been looking for something like that.

about 2 weeks ago i was trying to figure out how to get my brothers mac on multi screen. thanks for the info but we finally figured it out. cool blog. :)

Yeah, that too. :D

you shut up how is uploading over 700 videos to youtube goin´to be a work?

you can drag the start menu to different screens on windows

Its easy, just shut the lid of the macbook pro, then plug in the other display. Job Done.

i have two monitors on my win 98 laptop right now lol, its pretty cool. i cant wait to get my new macbook :)

Synergy is so great. One mouse and keyboard between my XP desktop and my Mackbook Pro running side by side. Absolutely amazing and FREE!

lol love what he said “it was so simple it was difficult” w000t

amm y are u even running windows 98 are u poor or somfin

Poor? He’s surrounded by two macbook pros and 30 inch hd dell monitors…

He was talking to the above. Hence the reply… >_>

no, its because i’m 15 and i just got it from my uncle when he got a new one. my moms laptop has windows xp my dads desktop has vista and he just bought a new macbook air which got here 3 days ago. i’m not poor. i also have a desktop running windows 2000.

Ok Ive got my PC hooked up with 2 Mice, 2 Keyboards, and 2 Monitors. I want to play World of Warcraft on my left monitor(Mine). She wants to play Sims 2 on right with her mouse and keyboard (hooked to my PC). If I Install Ubuntu is this possible?. I heard about Desktop Multiplier lets me do this. Problem is I cant seem to get it working. Any help I can get?

I use synergy between my Mac os 10.5 powermac and my windows xp laptop. I have been using it for about 3/4 a year now and it has been great!

um… i have the same monitor you have chris. and on windows, you don’t have to reboot, you don’t have to calibrate colours (dell 30″ is designed to work with windows), windows recognise the model number, it detects it right away too. and, you can configure a wallpaper seperately on windows too, if you have an nVidia graphics card. and, you can arrange the displays the same, move the task bar the exact same too. turn the brightness down on the dell monitor. thats the only physical buttons on it.

Is he using DVI to DHMI?

Most likely DVI

I hate him

geek

there is nothing up with beying a geek im a geek ind i love it :D

i hate that he has awesome computers

Oh wow, that is a big insult to Chris Pirillo. LOL

how many mbp do you have

being a geek is cool

?????

u mean hdmi

this guy is a retarded , is the typical retarded who spend hours changing the colour of his ******* background DEATH TO FALSE NERDS!