what are we using for external monitors?

[khergert]

I've got a few L191p's, and even Matrox dual head to go. Reasonably trouble free yet there has to be a better way. I think I'd rather have a single 27" or larger rather than Matrox triple head to go dp. Or do I? I like the portability and I like docking to multi displays.

I believe there is an option on the Matrox th2g dp to drive one of those 30 inch displays that need 2 inputs.

Recommend please

Kevin

[dr_st]

Well, what it is that you are trying to accomplish, and which Thinkpad is it that you are trying to use with your external monitors? What is more important to you - physical screen size or resolution?

Most Thinkpads with a docking station will drive 2 monitors without any third party solutions like Matrox.

[khergert]

How about both, resolution and screen size? Let me see the options and then I'll decide.

My dual head 2 go analog (dh2g) supports 2560x1024 (2x 1280x1024). So my L191p or equiv was my only option when I got them. If I got the newer dh2g dp (display port), it supports 3840x1200 (2x 1920x1200). The L2440p just happens to be 1920 by 1200. That's a lot of money for an aging monitor(s) with average reviews. OTOH, all 5 of my L191p's have high hours and are all working fine. So I lean towards thinkvision.

For now I'm looking for (3x 1680x1050) or (2x 1920x1200).

Setting up and maintaining the dh2g analog in 2006 was not as easy as the docs imply. It took more than a few weeks, and a few patches to get the dh2g analog to work well with the L191p's. I really don't want to be the Matrox tech support test application again.

Only the t500 below has display port, and I see a new t520 in my future. Not a problem since the Matrox digitals can be driven with analog or digital.

[Tekreck]

I have used a lot of laptops with a lot of external monitors through the years, and the rig I have now has proven to be the most stable and usable so far. ThinkPad T410s - Windows 7 - Only 2 cables: USB + AC - USB 7-port hub (Belkin) attaches mouse receiver, external drive, USB headset (Lenovo / Sennheiser), label printer, and Qty 3 Lenovo USB-to-DVI Video Adapters (software from Windows Update only). Monitors are Lenovo 19" wide which run at same native resolution as T410s. Mounted on Ergotron DS100 Triple wide stand. Height adjusted so that center monitor us just above open laptop display. Awesome. Video always comes back the way it should after disconnects.

I have historically found that with larger monitors, I spend all of my time arranging windows. With 3 19" Wides, I avoid the overhead of windowing arrangement and windows / desktop managers.

[dr_st]

In some ways, L191p, being VA, is a better monitor than the L2440p, which is TN.

DELL has a line of fairly inexpensive, good quality 24" WUXGA (1920x1200) monitors - 2405FPW, 2407WFP, 2408WFP - which are S-PVA, and U2410, which is H-IPS.

For a pair of WUXGA monitors, I'd advise a Mini-dock, which can drive both of them at the same time. Older systems would require you to use one digital (DVI) and one analog (VGA). With the newer Thinkpads (Mini-Dock Series 3) you can have dual digital (DVI/DisplayPort). Or you can have digital+analog without a dock using the VGA and DisplayPort outputs on the laptop itself.

This solution is fairly straightforward and should require less hassle than with Matrox.

[pianowizard]

In some ways, L191p, being VA, is a better monitor than the L2440p, which is TN.

For a setup involving multiple large monitors, it is particularly important to avoid TN because it's narrow viewing angles would become a bigger problem than for smaller monitors.

[khergert]

Monitors are Lenovo 19" wide which run at same native resolution as T410s. Mounted on Ergotron DS100 Triple wide stand. Height adjusted so that center monitor us just above open laptop display. Awesome. Video always comes back the way it should after disconnects.

I have historically found that with larger monitors, I spend all of my time arranging windows. With 3 19" Wides, I avoid the overhead of windowing arrangement and windows / desktop managers.

Your using the L1900p, L1951p or something else?