Finally, the ability to add another monitor to your desktop computer or laptop without having to add an internal or PCMCIA card! The USB to DVI external video card comes in two varieties: a 1280×1024 version and a higher-res version that supports 1600×1200. I’m currently testing the normal-res version on my desktop at work.
Installing it is so easy. Just plug in the device (about the size of a deck of cards) to a USB port, let Windows prompt you to install the driver (you might need the CD, included), then plug in your extra monitor to the DVI port on the adapter. Suddenly, you have an extended desktop!
The adapter comes with 128 MB of built-in RAM which allows the device itself to drive the picture on the extra monitor, leaving your computer to focus on what it should be doing. One drawback exists with Vista though (although an updated driver should be forthcoming)–the mind-blowing Aero graphics (sarcasm, anyone?) in Vista are automatically disabled when this device is plugged in. On balance, this is a small price to pay to get a quick and easy extra monitor. Here is picture of my desktop. The monitor on the far right is the one I added using the USB to DVI adapter.
