Tech Tip: Installing Dual Monitors

I've just installed a new monitor next to my laptop yesterday. I suggest you get yourself a second monitor if you don't have one. It is pretty handy to have rather than you having a large monitor with all of those items on the single task bar. You can organized and structure your work more easily.

Anyway, setting up is pretty simple. As long as your graphics card can support multiple monitors. So first up, check your graphics card.


For Desktop computers

Check your graphics card, see if they have 2 DVI connectors or 2 VGA connectors or one of each. If you only have one connector,

• buy yourself another graphics card with a single connector, so you'll have two graphics card or
• buy a new graphics card with 2 connectors to replace your current one
  

I recommend you buy a new graphics card with 2 connectors.


For Laptops

A VGA or DVI connector would have already been installed behind your laptop to support an external monitor. So not much of problem for you there. Just plug in your secondary monitor.


Setting up

1. Go to Start > Control Panel
2. Select Display
3. Click on the Settings Tab

4. Click Identify to identify your monitors (this point can be skipped if you know which monitor is for which number)



5. Here, you can drag the monitor icons according to how you have arranged your monitors. Selecting the monitor icons will also allow you to adjust the Screen Resolution and Color Quality. (you might need to do some trial and error here, click Apply instead to see what it looks like before proceeding to the next step)


6. Once you are satisfied with the result, Click Ok and you are done





Final result


This is how my laptop looks like with an external monitor installed. Now with an extra monitor, I can do both my work and play together. I can write my blog on the right, while having my research work on the left.










Software Recommendation

Although I am happy with my new dual-monitor feature, I realise that I can only have my taskbar on one monitor only.

This free software kinda solves that problem. They call it the MultiMonitor Taskbar. Although, you can't stretch your taskbar to your other monitor, this software allows a Second taskbar on your extended monitor. Items that are found in your extended monitor are shown on the Second taskbar while your primary task bar displays items from your primary window. Pretty straight forward.

There's some limitations though

• It works only on Windows XP, 2000 and Vista
• Works on Vista, but on Aero, the arrow buttons are not shown
• For the 3 monitor setup, expect to have your Primary monitor in the middle
  

Otherwise this is a pretty good free software. There is a new version but it is a shareware, so after trial use you need to pay to continue using it.

Click here for the download page.

MacBook Air

Something is definitely in the air, the MacBook Air. Although I am not too impressed with the name given to such a well-built hardware, I am happy to see that Apple has created a notebook less than an inch high, even as it lacks a built in SuperDrive.

My first look at the MacBook, I thought it looks like a big metal biscuit. Crispy and light. Maybe I was hungry when I saw it.

When I looked at it again, I wondered what it had. Well it has a built in iSight, Mac OS X, iLife, backlit keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, Micro-DVI, Audio Out. And as I read on it's technical specifications and features, I wondered how in the world did they cram the Hard Drive in between the thin sheets of aluminium.

The beauty of it for me is the weight and the slim size. Apple surely wants people to keep using their products, even as they are on a vacation or honeymoon. You keep yourself connected and with the iLife built in, you can upload your videos, start making movies and get it ready for your friends and family to see as you touchdown home from the Airport.

Another good usage is to use it as a presentation. You can upload your files, maybe that Flash presentation into your MacBook Air. Then you meet your client outside at Starbucks or somewhere, then you bring out the MacBook Air. One look, the client is sure to be impressed. Then you show the Flash presentation on that glossy LED screen. Your client will see a much more richer and colourful presentation. From there, your sales pitch comes into play but you know he is already impressed and you'd just need to convince him a little more to seal the deal. :)

I guess, Apple is trying to create a travel companion. The best advertisers are the users. Just imagine: As they move around everywhere around the world, the Apple logo stands out on the notebook; free advertising.

I do not know if it can shake the sales of Eee PC. As the price is more than double than the Asus Eee PC, but knowing that it is light and slim, and that it is running on an Intel Core 2 Duo chipset, people might just be curious to buy it.

I wonder if Fujitsu has got anything up it's sleeve to counter the MacBook Air.

Probably, if they make good sales from this hardware, we'd see more improvements and additions to the MacBook Air. Currently I feel that, it should have more hard drive space. 80GB is too little but with the intel Core 2 Duo inside, I guess it is pretty much worth the buy. Right now, I can't wait for it to come to Singapore and test it out.

Specifications link

ASUS Unveils World's First Terabyte Notebook

Well, it has come into eventuality. 2008 is goona be a year of Terabytes (in notebooks), with Asus unveiling a world's first Terabyte Notebook, who knows who else is following suite. Are they out to do some benchmarking or just to 'spoil' the market. They already are spoiling the market with their Asus Eepc, now the Terabyte notebook is just another addition to get a piece of the consumer IT market.

The first time I touched and used an Asus was from an Army mate of mine. A leftenant actually, he had this compact laptop with the brand Asus on the cover. I didn't hear much of it before but I remember when I first tried it out, I had a liking for it. The look and feel of it just makes me feel comfortable using it. Eventhough it had only a 14 inch screen, I still love the look and feel of it. Although I can't say it replaces the feel of using a Mac, but that was as close a feel as I can get from a non-Mac laptop.

Anyway, here's the specs of the Asus Terabyte Notebook:

17" notebook
1,440x900 or 1,920x1,200 pixel displays (non-HD though)
one of a range of Intel Core2Duo processors
ATI 3650 graphics card
1GB RAM
2 x 500GB Travelstar drives

Webcam
Finger print reader


Still awaiting for more info on the elusive Notebook though.

Till then, here's the link to the Press Release of the Asus Terabyte Notebook.

My Birthday Presents!!

Oh gosh, how time flies by so fast. I don't usually bother much abt my birthdays, but this year has been a different year for me. I learned a lot of new things, eg: being a leader, a teacher, a good brother and son, managing my time and money, self-discipline and endurance, etc... It has been a pretty good year.

I recapped my past year on what I have achieved. And most of it have achieved, mostly on my own and I am pretty proud of myself. But all that is not attainable without the support of my family and friends. No doubt I have achieved things but there is still lots for me to accomplish. I am setting goals mentally as I write this blog, and as I recall what the past year has taught me, I think it has to be about growing up.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I lack maturity but more like learning from the lessons throughout this year, from making mistakes to making important decisions.

This year, I finally passed my driving license.
I found a fulfilling job. (or maybe i should say, 'refound'; not too sure if that is a word itself)
I passed my IPPT on my own without a training buddy.
Made painful decisions in my past relationship.
Set up a new blog.

Although it seems little that I have done, but only I myself know the pain and sacrifices I had to go through to achieve all that. Weeks of staying home jobless when everyone seems to have a job. The countless driving lessons which almost drove me penniless. The late nights at work to finish up projects and weekend work to earn more to buy a laptop so that my sis can use my pc for her school work next year. The pain and fatigue from training almost everyday in the middle of the night running around parks and housing estates and still waking up the next morning for work. Having to face a painful break up and seeing her face tear in my hands......

What a year it has been.

Oh well, you live and learn. Life's would be boring without facing challenges. And I face it each day in stride, knowing I have learned how to deal with it.

Anyway, here are my presents!
















It's a candle, made by one of my colleagues at work. Nice isn't it! She is so sweet to make me a candle out of sand and tiny seashells. It looks too nice to light up. I be putting it in my desk room next to my laptop!

















My sis bought me a T-shirt. Yes it is light blue. So striking, I like the design on it. Looks pretty.

















Yes! Food! Glorious food! My parents bought me pizza!


















Yes I bought meself a laptop! With help from a dear friend of course. Got it from Sitex. It is an Asus A8Jseries. Pretty good specs, it has a 160gb HDD, 2ghz Core Duo, 2Gb of Memory, 802.11a wireless, ATi Radeon X2300 graphics card, plus, I got free Altec Lansing Speakers, free optical mouse, free laptop bag (the bag is pretty rugged and tough), free portable wireless access point, some free softwares, and all of that for $1515. My friend helped me pull it from almost $1600 to $1538. The girl was sweet enough to bring it down further to $1515 all because it was my birthday :)

I feel so gratified!
Now I Goota go customize my laptop!