Why Would I Do This?

Screen resolution is a big deal for me. My last Windows laptop (Asus Z71V) had a fanastic resolution of 1680x1050. These days, such high resolution screens are becoming rarer on a 15" screen. Apple's 15" screen provides a measly 1440x900 resolution. Given the price of the 15" Macbook Pro, I'd rather settle with the 1280x800 of a Macbook if I'm always going to be frustrated with the screen res. And that's what I did.

Until a week ago, I was going to ease the pain by grabbing a Mimo USB monitor, but it's a unitasker, and the currently available devices only have a cheapish screen with 800x480 resolution. That was until I discovered ScreenRecycler and turned my old ASUS Z71V laptop into a second display for my Macbook. Of course, I don't want to be carrying 2 laptops with me when doing on-site client work, so the iPad does make things interesting.

The iPad has been eviscerated by pundits for being a solution without a problem. For me, it's a different scenario. The iPad has an LED backlit XGA IPS LCD screen in a 1.5 pound form factor. This makes it a highly portable display with excellent viewing angles. In portrait mode, it becomes handy for report developers and web designers for previewing their work. So now, for the weight of, um, a fat Windows laptop, you can carry a Macbook and an iPad in your briefcase.

Vaporware?

Yes, I do know that the iPad isn't released yet, but I'm pretty confident it will work since there are plenty of VNC clients out there for the iPhone. For these VNC clients to support XGA portrait and landscape resolutions should not be a huge deal.

Worth noting is that the author of ScreenRecycler, the software used in this trick, is also the author of JollysFastVNC, which I would argue is the best/fastest VNC client for the Mac. I can only hope that we'll see a version of JollysFastVNC for the iPad in the near future.

Caveat Emptor

This solution is not without costs. The iPad itself starts at $500 (but unlike a $150 MIMO monitor, the iPad is not a unitasker). Your software costs could easily hit $40. For me, that's not a big deal, because I already own the software to convert my old Z71V into a second monitor for my Macbook, and I'm going to be getting an iPad anyways. I want to get the most out of software and hardware I will already own. As such, your mileage will definitely vary.

Requirements

• Mac laptop
• iPad with a stand
• ScreenRecycler
• iPad Friendly VNC client
• Network connection between your iPad and Macbook, preferably N. I have tested XGA resolution over G with my Z71V, and it is more than usable for previews and dashboards.

Setup

1. Purchase and install the ScreenRecycler software on your Mac.
2. Purchase and install a VNC client for the iPad.

3. Run the ScreenRecycler app on your Mac.

   

4. Run the VNC client on your iPad. Connect to the IP address of your Mac. Make sure you set the port to 6900. You may need to mess with the connection settings to get optimal performance.

5. The ScreenRecycler app will recognize that there is a connection, and start broadcasting the second screen.

6. Open your system preferences and set your display settings. First, set the resolution to match the orientation of your ipad.

   

7. Second, go into the arrangement segment of your Display settings and pick the arrangement of the monitors you'd like.

   

8. You're done! Enjoy the extra real estate!

Final Notes

Depending on the quality of your connection, and the quality of your VNC client, you may experience some shearing on the second window when performing certain activities. As such, the second screen is better suited for proofing, dashboards and tool palettes.

While the iPad is generally seen as a great media device for consumers, I'm going to put forth the argument that it's a fantastic business device.

First and foremost, any IT manager who has had to deal with, um, salespeople, should have some appreciation for the iPad to replace laptops issued to salespeople. Why? Many salespeople only need a few applications - e-mail, word processor and presentation software. Well, those are all available in the iPad, and you get the added benefit that some sales guy won't be responsible for spreading the latest virus at the office because his beer buddy sent him a naughty attachment.

My understanding is that the iPad supports XGA out, so presentations can be easily output to a projector. Moreover, any "application" demos can be simply recorded in XGA resolution using Camtasia. Well, I probably don't need to go further, but there are tons of reasons why removing full-blown laptops from sales types (and executives, for that matter) would result in fewer headaches for IT departments.

As mentioned in a prior post, I also see opportunities in the business intelligence realm. The iPad would be a great mobile dashboard. This area is fertile ground for some innovative developers.