With screen real estate, as with the dirt
version, more is generally better.
Like earlier incarnations of the OS, Windows 8
has external monitor functionality that lets you spread out. However, there are
Windows 8-specific features -- like the snapping of apps that lets you use apps
side-by-side to do two tasks at once; and communications like Skype video calls
-- that especially benefit from having more screens.
You may find it convenient to have an email box
always open on one desk-based monitor, with another displaying apps. That way
you're not repeatedly minimizing proper work to see who's pinging -- just
glance over.
I use a dedicated Dell Inspiron Mini laptop with
a 10.1-inch screen for television services like Slingbox and Hulu. Piping
directly into a television's HDMI port, the laptop acts as a remote
control.
Following is a guide to
using multiple monitors in Windows 8.
Step 1
Identify the available ports on the PC and
monitor or TV. Look for HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) ports, and
use them if available.
HDMI technology carries audio and video in the
same cable, and it is smart enough to know when the cable is connected and when
it isn't. Most recent laptops, monitors and televisions feature HDMI.
Older alternatives are VGA and DVI technologies.
You can buy a DVI to HDMI adapter. Desktop PCs sometimes have a combination of
serial ports -- DVI and HDMI -- as do some monitors and TVs. In that case, just
match the cables.
Tip: Avoid docking stations that use USB. There
can be graphics-rendering issues, because you're adding a layer of complexity
that can limit the ability of the video card and monitor to work responsively
together. You can get them to work, but it can be a lot of trouble.
Step 2
Plug the
HDMI or other cable into the PC and secondary television or monitor. Then turn
the devices on.
Windows 8
will automatically detect the second screen.
Step 3
Point to
the upper-right or bottom-right corner of the first screen and select the
Devices charm. Then click the Second Screen link.
Select Duplicate to replicate the same image on
both screens; Extend to spread out; or Second Screen Only to blank the primary
screen and use only the secondary screen.
Tip: Duplicate works well for multimedia when
you want to source video with a laptop and stream the results on a television.
Extend works well in a desk environment when you want to spread out across
screen real-estate.
Step 4
Press the Windows keyboard button in conjunction
with Page Up to toggle screens when in the Extend screen mode.
The Windows button plus Page Up moves the
current app to the left monitor. The Windows button plus Page Down moves the
current app to the right monitor.
Tip: The Start page appears on one screen only.
If you want to use an app obtained from the Windows Store, first open it, and
then flip it to the screen you want it on using the Windows keyboard button
along with the Page Up or Down procedure.
Classic desktop-based apps -- those that used to
be called "programs" -- don't have this anomaly. They can appear on
both screens.
Step 5
Tweak the screen resolution if prompted when
running apps. Windows 8 should automatically figure out the correct resolution
for both screens. However, sometimes you may get error messages telling you
resolution isn't correct when you run certain apps -- particularly with
televisions.
Place the mouse in the bottom-right corner and
choose Search. Enter the term Control Panel and click on the result.
Select Adjust Screen resolution from within the
Appearance and Personalization subhead.
You'll see the two screens represented
graphically as icons in a likely more familiar Windows 7 or earlier type
interface. Make resolution drop-down changes, choose Apply, and try the app
again.
source: technewsworld.net
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