Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Peripherals, Video, Cool tools, Odds and ends, First Look
First Look: USB-powered Mimo 710-S display (which you could win)
Whenever I'm traveling on business, I rely on my lightweight and compact MacBook Air. There's only one problem with my MBA as far as I'm concerned -- the screen can sometimes seem too small when I have a lot of applications running simultaneously. What I need is a portable monitor that I can just hook up to display a frequently updated window off to the side of my primary display.That's where the Mimo 710-S USB-powered monitor (US$149) could help out. It's a tiny, foldable 800 x 480 pixel monitor that weighs less than a pound.While this is predominantly a Windows-oriented product, the company provides a place to download a Mac driver. The driver install does require a reboot, which is a bit annoying but to be expected with a proprietary display driver. There's a swivel built into the monitor so that it can be rotated into a portrait configuration. While the monitor doesn't automatically rotate what is being displayed on the screen, it's a simple matter to go into the Display system preference pane for the monitor and choose "Rotate 90°."
What I found the Mimo 710-S to be useful for is running one application in a small window. For example, I always have TweetDeck up and running on my Mac, and I thought it would be cool to have the Mimo display off to one side showing nothing but TweetDeck. It worked so well that now I'm seriously considering buying one of these monitors to display nothing but my tweetstream!
This would also be a perfect little monitor to hook to a Mac mini. If you're tired of lugging a monitor over to your headless Mac mini server when you need to do troubleshooting and Screen Sharing isn't working properly, or if you just want an unobtrusive display for a kitchen Mac, the Mimo 710-S should work well for you.
What I like about this diminutive monitor is the lack of an external power supply and how small it really is. I can easily see throwing one of these in my computer bag to give me an extra window into one app when I'm set up and doing work with a client. Here's one other thing to like -- Mimo also has a touchscreen version of this monitor called the 720-S. The Mac drivers for the touchscreen need to be purchased for US$30, but if you have plans for touchscreen control of a Mac (a tiny kiosk, for example, hiding a Mac mini), the 720-S might be perfect for you. There is also a third model, the Mimo 740, that is not only touchscreen but includes a webcam and audio input/output as well.
Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
- To enter leave a comment with an idea for how to use a Mimo 710-S USB-powered monitor.
- The comment must be left before Monday, August 31, 2009, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
- You may enter only once.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
- Prize: Mimo 710-S USB-powered monitor (Value: US$149)
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 46)
Paul said 11:45AM on 8-26-2009
Main monitor for a word document, Mimo for illustrations related to what I am typing.
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Felix H said 11:36AM on 8-26-2009
Wow! It is a perfect screen to use in a car.
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Stacy Lockler said 3:09PM on 8-26-2009
The touch screen version would be a great addition to an TV/PC set up. Like a wired remote, but with a lot more functionality of the PC than offered by a standard remote.
sodapop said 5:29PM on 8-26-2009
Definitely would want something like this in a touch screen
cowfodder said 4:27PM on 8-26-2009
Full time system performance monitor.
Phillip said 11:38AM on 8-26-2009
I would use this monitor with touch screen to make yet another fake itablet video.
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Worth Baker said 11:40AM on 8-26-2009
that thing sounds awesome! i love the tweetdeck idea, and i'd probably also use it as a mini-display for things like itunes, or maybe mail.app (depending on how readable it is on the tiny screen!).
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Chris Funk said 11:37AM on 8-26-2009
Cool gear!
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Macmuchmore said 11:41AM on 8-26-2009
I would use it to install a mac mini and touchscreen in my car... Would really simplify installation.
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cyrix said 4:53PM on 8-29-2009
I'd use this to keep iChat and my rss in full view rather than having to interrupt my main display with expose every few minutes.
Jared said 11:40AM on 8-26-2009
Sweet! Would love to use this for consistent task data and time tracking.
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sebas_rojas said 11:40AM on 8-26-2009
On my desktop running istat and twitter
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howiegroove said 11:41AM on 8-26-2009
I would use the monitor as a video monitor to help keep my newborn occupied while I work on my own projects.
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David Addison said 12:00PM on 8-26-2009
That would be a cool to use the monitor to display photoshop tool pallets or to use it as an iTunes controller.
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Charlie said 11:42AM on 8-26-2009
Looks like a perfect coaster for me to set my beer.
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nalabella said 2:33PM on 8-26-2009
I could use this strapped to the side of my monitor
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Skidz said 11:43AM on 8-26-2009
I would use it on my desktop as a digital picture frame / Twitter monitor / Scheduler!
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Val Lapidus said 11:43AM on 8-26-2009
This would be a great tool in my arsenal when I build my hackintoshes and can't get onboard display to work.
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conor said 11:43AM on 8-26-2009
This would be perfect to run something like iTunes, e-mail or chat off to the side so you don't crowd your main workspace.
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BeyondtheTech said 11:43AM on 8-26-2009
Ya, I would find a way to mount this in my car and hide a Mac mini or other desktop under the seat. From there, the possibilities are endless!
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