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A while back, I wrote about Synergy, a neat free tool that allows you to control multiple computers across multiple monitors with a single keyboard and mouse. I’ve been extremely happy with that setup, working almost seamlessly among 3 different machines and dual monitors using a single keyboard.
Now I say almost because I occasionally found myself wishing I could simply drag a window from one monitor to another, which synergy doesn’t allow me to do. The screens remain isolated spaces unto themselves. While it is nice to have the flexibility of multiple machines to work with (especially if one is churning away doing something processor intensive), sometimes you just wish all that screen real estate was somehow physically connected too.
Now of course, if you have the ability to stick another video card into your PC, no problem. But since I swore off bulky desktops several years ago, my Apple laptop and mini don’t have that option. There are hardware breakouts that might work, like dualhead2go, but those are less than ideal for a variety of reasons.
Well, yesterday I stumbled across a software product called Screen Recycler, which has finally let me have my cake and eat it too. It’s a driver for macs that basically creates a virtual external display which is then accessible using any vnc client. Too cool! So, fire up screen recycler on the host mac, connect using a fast vnc client on the second computer in full screen mode, and voila, it’s basically a seamless dual head setup. It even works pretty well with Synergy. And, since it shows up as its own display on the host’s displays preference pane, you can position it, change its resolution, wallpaper, etc., just as you would a normally connected display.
The only caveat is that for nice response times on the vnc side you do need decent bandwidth between the two – terrific on GigE, probably fine on fast ethernet, but 802.11g was definitely not cutting it.
Granted, this probably isn’t generally useful technology, but for those of you with multiple computers and monitors on your desk, hey, it might do the trick.
Um, nothing to do with your post. But you are my connection to Arlo. Can you please tell him that he is the (2nd) cutest thing ever? And can you smoosh some kisses on him for me? And nibble on a toe? And tell him to turn on comments on his website so I don’t have to go through you?
Thanks so much. Kiss his momma too. She looks fabulous.
xoxox J