Using multiple screens on one computer is nothing unusual these days. All you need is a graphics adapter that supports two screens and a operating system that supports it. Setup is really simple and many professionals that do web design or work with image editing software use it to increase their work flow.
I came upon ZoneOS ZoneScreen at the donation coder blog which always has some great tips about new freeware. ZoneScreen supports multiple screens over network which means that you do not need an adapter that supports dual monitors, all you need are two devices that can be connected over a network.
As you can see on the picture to the left a notebook and a desktop computer display part of the same application. It is possible to use this on PDAs as well which makes it a great tool for system administrators for example who can carry the PDA with them that displays the most important information.
ZoneScreen consists of two parts: kernel-mode (running with privileges of Windows kernel) driver for virtual display (which is visible to Windows just as normal video card with monitor attached to it), and user-mode (running as usual user application like Notepad) wizard which is responsible for capturing image, transmitting it over the network, and drawing it at another computer.
Machine, whose desktop is extended, called server. Server machine have display driver installed and ZoneScreen wizard running in server mode. Another machine which acts only as external display called client. Client machine have only ZoneScreen wizard running in client mode.
Both parts of ZoneScreen (driver and wizard) are completely independent and can be used separately. This mean that in case we are interested only in mirroring desktop image, we do not need to install virtual display driver, and if we are extending desktop with ZoneScreen display driver we could use any other software, for example RealVNC, for transmitting desktop image over the network (in this case we need transfer only space of virtual display).
Related posts:
ZoneScreen Finally Gets 64-bit UpdateInstant Desktop Sharing with Teamviewer
Network Management Software KontrolPack
Windows Backup Software DeltaCopy
Fing Network Discovery Software
Control Computer Hardware And Workstations In A Computer Network
The Network Clipboard
Use one mouse and keyboard on multiple computers
11 Responses to “Use Multiple Screens over Network”
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Seems to be a copy of http://www.maxivista.com
Well ZoneScreen is free, maxivista is not. A big difference for many users.
Maybe. But you always get what you are paying for. And both products compare as such. I have not regret having paid $30 for a significantley better performance.
Are you by chance working for Maxivista ?
The free ZoneScreen would be fantastic if the virtual desktop’s frame rate was higher. Right now it’s limited to 41 interlaced frames per second, and the mouse cursor often stutters (not sure if this is just my setup).
Oh and it’s obvious that “Michael” is affiliated with Maxivista.
Why the link for ZoneOs is not anymore available?
Use this Softpedia download link http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Shell-Replacements/ZoneOS-ZoneScreen.shtml
Well I have bought maxivista and its OK but soon after buying it I got dual screens anyways so it feals like a waste now..