How to use laptop as an external monitor?

[Scruffy90]

Is there any software available that would allow me to use my laptop as an external monitor?

 

I have two monitors and cant justify buying a third. All I want to do is put monitors on it while I edit photos and video; occassionally when I play games.

[WinNut]

You really can't unless there's a video input (which I highly doubt).

[flibberdipper]

I don't really think you can with software. And I highly doubt it has a video input.

[Chillstice]

Maybe someday with USB when type-c comes out, but until then you can only get this kind of effect with hardware that supports video input from HDMI or something like that. I too wondered if I could run my xbox 360 to my laptop screen, but alas, I did not have video input. Now I have video input, but no longer have an xbox account. #PCMR

[zlolslavez]

You can stream (use a program to stream an external display) but you can't without taking it apart

[Scruffy90]

I don't really think you can with software. And I highly doubt it has a video input.

There was software that allowed for it to be done a long time ago, but it required access to a lot of low level functions and it hasnt been updated since the XP days. I gave it a whirl, but it did not play nice with Windows 7.

[Scruffy90]

You can stream (use a program to stream an external display) but you can't without taking it apart

Elaborate.

[zlolslavez]

Let me first state my post is very misleading. I have no idea what the program is called but it's sort of like steam games team where the stuff runs off your computer and it streams video to your laptop this can be done without taking your laptop apart. If you physically want to use it as a 2nd monitor rather than stream you need to take it apart and get proper adapter in which ends up being unethical.

[Thebman712]

external capture card maybe but at that point it is just $200 and get a monitor

[Scruffy90]

Let me first state my post is very misleading. I have no idea what the program is called but it's sort of like steam games team where the stuff runs off your computer and it streams video to your laptop this can be done without taking your laptop apart. If you physically want to use it as a 2nd monitor rather than stream you need to take it apart and get proper adapter in which ends up being unethical.

I would perfer a software solution over a hardware solution for a few reasons.

 

I'm also curious, what would make taking apart a screen and building said solution?

[Scruffy90]

external capture card maybe but at that point it is just $200 and get a monitor

Seems like I may be at the point where getting another monitor may be the solution, only problem is I dont have the space for it.

[LogicalDrm]

 

 

I'm also curious, what would make taking apart a screen and building said solution?

 

Not that much actually. But you might not get it back together. I have friend who uses laptops 15'' screen as secondary display. You will need adapter for getting internal connector to be VGA (maybe DVI) but even I can locate those in eBay (like this http://www.ebay.com/bhp/laptop-lcd-converter )

 

E: I should also say that your laptop needs to have video input in order to use it as external display. Some older laptops have S-Video with that capability. But current VGA/HDMI laptops can't do it.

[Scruffy90]

Not that much actually. But you might not get it back together. I have friend who uses laptops 15'' screen as secondary display. You will need adapter for getting internal connector to be VGA (maybe DVI) but even I can locate those in eBay (like this http://www.ebay.com/bhp/laptop-lcd-converter )

 

E: I should also say that your laptop needs to have video input in order to use it as external display. Some older laptops have S-Video with that capability. But current VGA/HDMI laptops can't do it.

Interesting. I was looking for a software solution of sorts. Something similar to Maxi-vista or ZoneScreen (which isnt compatible with newer OS'). I do see a bunch of options for OSX which is kind of disappointing.

[ZEJ]

Air Display is a software solution, it depends on your network connection so you could very well have a good amount of input lag. It has a $20 price tag (at least for the windows version), but if it works you could easily be saving yourself some money. 

 

I also know of software called iDisplay, however I don't know if that one supports another PC as the secondary display, i think it only works with phones/tablets.

[Scruffy90]

Air Display is a software solution, it depends on your network connection so you could very well have a good amount of input lag. It has a $20 price tag (at least for the windows version), but if it works you could easily be saving yourself some money. 

 

I also know of software called iDisplay, however I don't know if that one supports another PC as the secondary display, i think it only works with phones/tablets.

I gave Air Display a whirl yesterday. It worked surprisingly well. I didnt consider it before because i tried it a few months ago and it was plagued with performance issues. This may be the solution seeing how MaxiVista didnt get a proper update in a few years and ZoneScreen has been abandonded.

[vembutech]

May be this similar discussion Using a laptop as 2nd display and also connect an external monitor to my laptop which may help you with some guidance on converting the laptop to external monitor.

[Mojo-Jojo]

Not necessarily the same, but Synergy does allow you to share mouse and keyboard between two computers (or more.)

So it can work for if you have to have multiple screens up when working on a document or other stuff.

http://synergy-project.org/

[Scruffy90]

May be this similar discussion Using a laptop as 2nd display and also connect an external monitor to my laptop which may help you with some guidance on converting the laptop to external monitor.

This might be useful soon. I have a laptop on its last limbs. Air Display may be my solution now that they fixed up all of their bugs and most of their performance issues.

[Scruffy90]

Not necessarily the same, but Synergy does allow you to share mouse and keyboard between two computers (or more.)

So it can work for if you have to have multiple screens up when working on a document or other stuff.

http://synergy-project.org/

I used synergy for a long time and its probably the best virtual KMV i've used, but I was looking for a software solution that would allow my existing laptop to give my desktop more screen real estate without the need of another monitor.