MacBook Air with Multiple Monitors?

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Diego443, Jan 26, 2016.

  1. Diego443

    Diego443

    Hi all,

    I have a MacBook Air 13'' and only one thunderbolt connection. I am planning to have 2 additional monitors and the laptop screen just for order entry.

    However I need to make sure that I actually have 3 separate windows where I can simply just scroll to the very left and am on my laptop screen and if I scroll to the very right I will be with my pointer in monitor 3.

    First question is if this is even possible and secondly what kind of thunderbolt hub I need as I want to have 2 outgoing hdmi cables to the monitors.

    Thanks in advance!

    Diego
     
  2. Baron

    Baron ET Founder

    Yeah, it's possible but somewhat expensive. You need to daisy chain two of these docks:



    The basic setup is this:

    two-dock-setup.gif

    Here's a video showing the overall setup:

     
    Diego443 likes this.
  3. Diego443

    Diego443

    Thx for putting in the effort to help me. There is absolutely no way I could afford this.

    Is there no other option? Or cheaper hdmi splitter.
     
  4. Baron

    Baron ET Founder

    No, if you bought a thunderbolt to HDMI adapter and then plugged an HDMI cable from that adapter into an HDMI splitter, and then connected the two monitors, all you would end up with is two monitors displaying the exact same thing.
     
    Diego443 likes this.
  5. Daal

    Daal

    use a USB to VGA/HDMI adapter
     
  6. Diego443

    Diego443

    Daal based on Barons statement this would unfortunately not work
     
  7. Daal

    Daal

    He didnt say that. I have a macbook pro with 3 external monitors. shouldn't be too hard to do this on an air. check out display link adapters
     
  8. Diego443

    Diego443

    Sorry misformulated. You are right but how much does one of those display link adopters cost. Barons solution is just too expensive
     
  9. NoBias

    NoBias

    Right tool for the right job:

    Desktop - Video Card(s) - Multi monitors
    (no driver conflicts)

    Laptop / Mac air - remote - traveling - perhaps one external monitor without adapters.
    (OK)

    Lap top / Mac air - multiple adapters
    (potential driver conflicts)

    KISS - Why complicate things
     
    debitspread likes this.
  10. Daal

    Daal

    $50, maybe less if you buy used on ebay
     
    #10     Jan 27, 2016