Extending laptop display

rmg1

Hi all

I've been looking at ways to extend my laptop display (that needs to be portable) and I spotted something on FaceAche.
For those about to have apoplexy I didn't touch the ad, just thought it was an interesting idea so did some Googling.

I found this and thought it looked reasonable (if expensive).

Now for the questions:-

• Will this do what I want it to do (i.e. expand my display to give me more screen real-estate)?
• It's a bit pricey, so are there cheaper options?
• Are there a.n.other options I haven't thought of to do the same thing?

TIA

Richard

Emmia

It looks heavy and expensive, I just use a second monitor to extend my screen on my desk but I appreciate that's not portable.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Teamgee-Portable-Monitor-Display-Windows/dp/B08Z772BPL/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=second+screen+for+laptop&qid=1664774629&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjQwIiwicXNhIjoiNS41NiIsInFzcCI6IjUuMTEifQ==&sr=8-6

You'd pesumably need either an extra plug for the power supply, or it would run off your laptop's battery, draining it more quickly.


EDIT: I notice some of the QA with the product referencing the fact the weight and clamps caused the laptop screen to crack or become damaged.

400ixl

What laptop do you have that you want to expand to a portable screen? Does it have USB-C out for display or is it HDMI only for example.

rmg1

@Emmia - I saw those in the Q&A but it looks like the same person (possibly two) saying it broke their screen.  Everyone else seems to say it works fine and there's a little stand to take some of the weight (didn't see that on the pics unless it was folded up).

@400ixl - it's a Dell Latitude 7480.  Its a works machine but my boss has given me the go-ahead to get something to extend the display (work won't pay for it).  For ports, I have:-

• USB-C
• HDMI
• USB x 3

If I'm in the office (rarely), I can use the USB-C to power a monitor if that helps.

Andy_L

Cheaper option, assuming you have a tablet,  is to use software like spacedesk to extend your PC screen onto the tablet

wwq.spacedesk.net

flaneurs_lobster

@rmg1 If you need an extra piece of kit to help you be more productive in your work then your employer should be paying for it. Doesn't matter if you work for a tiny charity or a hedge fund. 

If it's for improving your score in LEGO: Star Wars then fair enough.

rmg1

@Andy_L - Don't have a tablet but hadn't thought of that.  Another thing it look into.

@flaneurs_lobster Work are trying to give me a "better" laptop which I've explained is pointless.  I'm only using the current one as a jump-box to RDP onto my desktop which is somewhere in the office.  The new laptop will be a replacement for the desktop but will actually slow things down (as I've proved to my boss but the higher-ups aren't having it).  It's also part of a cost-cutting measure to reduce the overall number of devices. They'll quite happily pay for a new laptop but won't pay for this cheaper (and, IMO, better option).

outtatune

The images in the ad are obviously Photoshopped. So they don't want you to see what it looks like in action?

The screen will be abysmal.

I expect they've got a batch of otherwise unsaleable screens that were originally intended to be in bottom of the range tablets and have been sitting in a warehouse for 10 years.

Doshwaster

Something like this might be better

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Monitor-ARZOPA-1920×1080-Speaker/dp/B091KBNVHK/

rmg1

@outtatune - As long as the screen is readable, I'm not too worried (I write code not do fine drawing). To be honest, the screen on the Dell isn't particularly fantastic but it works for what I need to do.
@Doshwaster - I wanted the one I linked to as, as far as I could see, it hangs off the laptop screen and doesn't need any extra desk room.

Emmia

rmg1 said:

@outtatune - As long as the screen is readable, I'm not too worried (I write code not do fine drawing). To be honest, the screen on the Dell isn't particularly fantastic but it works for what I need to do.
@Doshwaster - I wanted the one I linked to as, as far as I could see, it hangs off the laptop screen and doesn't need any extra desk room.

But, your laptop screen probably isn't designed to have other screen's hanging off it...