Filed under: Hardware, Peripherals, Video, Cool tools, Productivity, iMac, Mac mini, Macbook Pro, MacBook, Mac Pro
Matrox finally adds Mac compatibility to DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go
Although a few determined Mac users got the Matrox DualHead2Go functioning with their Mac mini already, despite the lack of official support from the manufacturer, it's nice to finally see some real Mac-love from Matrox.
The Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go allow you to connect two or three VGA monitors to select Mac desktops and portables. That's screen real estate nirvana for some of us and it's about freakin' time. Sure, DVI would be better, but I'll take what I can get at this point.
Mac OS X v10.4.x is needed and support is limited to a specific list of Mac models. Supported systems include:
MacBook (DualHead)
MacBook Pro (Dual and Triple)
Mac Pro (Dual and Triple)
Mac mini (DualHead)
iMac 17-inch (DualHead)
iMac 20-inch (Dual and Triple)
iMac 24-inch (Dual and Triple)
Be sure to check the compatibility table for a list of supported resolutions on each system. The DualHead will set you back about $169 and the TripleHead is just under $300, so start saving your pennies now or ask Santa nicely to hook you up this year!
[via krunker.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian Peat said 3:17PM on 11-30-2006
My guess is though, UNLIKE the screen shot, your machine will still think it's running one big screen. Your Dock will likely stretch across both screens, as will the menu bar. Matrox makes Windows drivers for that thing that fool Windows into thinking it's got 2 screens attached and you can actually take advantage of dual screen apps. Since there are no drivers for OS X, you basically get one big screen that happens to be in 2 parts.
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grimfandango said 4:03PM on 11-30-2006
i'd really like to know how this works with a powerbook g4 aluminum, if someone has already had the change to test it out
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Mike Rose said 4:11PM on 11-30-2006
from matrox' site -- brian may be right:
How does DualHead2Go work?
DualHead2Go appears to your system as an ultra-widescreen monitor. Using standard EDID reporting mechanisms, the DualHead2Go will cause the graphics device already present in your system to generate the ultra-widescreen image, which is sent to DualHead2Go. DualHead2Go then splits this ultra-wide screen image into a left half and a right half and sends the normal size images to regular monitors.
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SubGenius said 5:42PM on 11-30-2006
Thanks for that research Mike.
This means apps like keynote will still think you have only a single display attached.
Not an ideal solution for most but this may be an advantage to some.
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John said 6:53PM on 11-30-2006
Bummer, I'd love to have dual monitor support, but not one mega desktop.
Also I could be 100% is it only VGA? No DVI?
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Finn said 7:12PM on 11-30-2006
These are great, I have a triple head.
Distributor is MMT (syd@mmt.com.au) apparently.
I bought one recently from Campus Computers at Sydney university (9351 5411) and really pleased with it
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bob said 7:22PM on 11-30-2006
I have been running 2 monitors off my powerbook for years, plus my powerbook screen - total 3.
Each monitor is its own.
I use the VT Book pcia card in my laptop www.villagetronic.com
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om. said 8:40PM on 11-30-2006
just checked the resolutions... darn thing still isn't enough for a 30" cinema display to work with mac mini. :(
om.
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spil said 9:49PM on 11-30-2006
Just a quick question: if you are running it on a MB(P), will does it recognize that as one more screen, or do you connect two or three monitors to their respective ___head2go?
Thanks.
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JaToAc said 8:14AM on 12-01-2006
only 2x 1024x786 on the MacBook? are they kidding?
http://voice.firefallpro.com/2006/02/mac-mini-dual-monitors-using.html
is running 2x 1280x1024 with his MacMini and the DualHead2Go
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dispodip said 10:38AM on 12-01-2006
will it support the G4 towers? or other older hardware? (yes, some of us still use them!)
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Elproducto said 9:04PM on 1-03-2007
My cousin just gave me his old DaulHead2go setup he had on his Macbook pro since he just got the Cinema Display. I have an old Powerbook G4 14" with the lcd not funtioning so this setup looked promising. The dual monitors are just mirroring. I have been searching for a solution to change this to dual independet monitors.
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Mrad said 2:25PM on 1-10-2007
It works great, with the exception that it is just one big desktop split into two displays. It's kinda frustrating how everything opens in the middle of my screens.
I can only hope they'll come up with some kind of driver to fix the issue.
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