Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#71

Post by mixmastamyk » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:01 PM UTC

zackmorris wrote: post #37

cracauer wrote: post #26

Tablets should have a HDMI/Displayport in so that you can directly use them as displays.

I'd even go one step further: we should have had a standard communications protocol like TCP for all devices. So a display would show up as just another device that we could use to read/write bytes. All devices would have a standard queryable HTTP/HATEOAS self-documenting interface. And HDMI/DisplayPort or USB A/B/C/.../Z would all use the same protocol as gigabit ethernet or Thunderbolt or anything else, so the band…

Agreed in general. However, I wouldn't stop anyone but having my monitor traffic go over the network would lead to a lot of congestion, especially wireless. Prefer a separate cable as the grandparent alluded.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#72

Post by tetraca » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:03 PM UTC

nunez wrote: post #33

I don't know how folks can use a ton of screens like this. I had four 32" monitors at one place and it was incredibly overwhelming. I've been rocking a single 27" screen for years. Even that's too big. I prefer 24" screens but it's difficult to get a good one. I can hold context in multiple virtual spaces, and key bindings make switching between them super quick. I guess this is in the same camp as "I don't understan…

You categorize your screens. One screen for dev work, one for communication, and one for documentation/browsing. That way you can alt+tab between your primary work tasks with a tiny eye movement.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#73

Post by dheera » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC

A long time ago I used to use Synergy and someone had written a Synergy client or Cyanogenmod variant of Android. I don't know where all that is now after Synergy imploded and Cyanogenmod imploded.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#74

Post by dheera » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC

tetraca wrote: post #72

nunez wrote: post #33

I don't know how folks can use a ton of screens like this. I had four 32" monitors at one place and it was incredibly overwhelming. I've been rocking a single 27" screen for years. Even that's too big. I prefer 24" screens but it's difficult to get a good one. I can hold context in multiple virtual spaces, and key bindings make switching between them super quick. I guess this is in the same camp as "I don't understan…

You categorize your screens. One screen for dev work, one for communication, and one for documentation/browsing. That way you can alt+tab between your primary work tasks with a tiny eye movement.

I used 2 screens for a while but I went back to 1. I would do 3 or 1 but not 2. 2 was bad for my neck. And I can't fit 3 screens on my desk.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#75

Post by bogdart » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:07 PM UTC

butz wrote: post #40

elkos wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

does this work in KDE too or is there a similar solution?

Here's what I found for KDE, but did not test it myself: https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=454645#c5

It works for me, but quite unstable.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#76

Post by NikolaNovak » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:09 PM UTC

nunez wrote: post #33

I don't know how folks can use a ton of screens like this. I had four 32" monitors at one place and it was incredibly overwhelming. I've been rocking a single 27" screen for years. Even that's too big. I prefer 24" screens but it's difficult to get a good one. I can hold context in multiple virtual spaces, and key bindings make switching between them super quick. I guess this is in the same camp as "I don't understan…

It depends somewhat on your job.

When I was a techie I tried to be focused on one thing at a time as much as possible. Still liked two screens though!

In many other roles though, having your email and your working document open, or having excel and PowerPoint open, or help docs and your code, or the operational plan and the server terminals, et cetera, are massive efficiency multipliers.

Basically I'm at a place where one monitor feels claustrophobic, especially if it's just the teeny laptop monitor. 2 are enough. 3 is nice. I wouldn't know what to do with 4 32" ones either!!

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#77

Post by bogdart » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:09 PM UTC

butz wrote: post #24

Got to mention that you can use your tablet on Linux GNOME DE not only for terminal: https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/06/use-ipad-as-second-monit... . Still waiting for even better solution, like streaming games to such second tablet "monitor".

It doesn’t work on X11, and the cursor is not showing. But if don’t need it, works pretty well.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#78

Post by gourneau » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:10 PM UTC

If you are on Windows and have extra laptops of devices hanging around SpaceDesk https://www.spacedesk.net/ to a great free app (not open source). I use it with on my Windows Dev machine (WSL2 FTW) and use old laptops as external displays. It works well even on WiFI.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#79

Post by c-hendricks » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:14 PM UTC

nunez wrote: post #33

I don't know how folks can use a ton of screens like this. I had four 32" monitors at one place and it was incredibly overwhelming. I've been rocking a single 27" screen for years. Even that's too big. I prefer 24" screens but it's difficult to get a good one. I can hold context in multiple virtual spaces, and key bindings make switching between them super quick. I guess this is in the same camp as "I don't understan…

I'm similar. The idea of dedicating desk space, two extra cables, the compute to power the displays, and electricity, to show something like email seems incredibly wasteful to me. Not to mention, do people that do this not feel cramped when they don't have their full setup?

I've also never been a "maximize the window" type of person. Buying an ultra-wide was a huge help tho I will admit.

Re: Show HN: Use an old tablet as an extra monitor

#80

Post by lexlash » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 6:15 PM UTC

zackmorris wrote: post #37

cracauer wrote: post #26

Tablets should have a HDMI/Displayport in so that you can directly use them as displays.

I'd even go one step further: we should have had a standard communications protocol like TCP for all devices. So a display would show up as just another device that we could use to read/write bytes. All devices would have a standard queryable HTTP/HATEOAS self-documenting interface. And HDMI/DisplayPort or USB A/B/C/.../Z would all use the same protocol as gigabit ethernet or Thunderbolt or anything else, so the band…

Extending your simile, some devices need the equivalent of UDP in order to function within the size/power envelopes that make them useful. Bluetooth vs the nRF24L01+.

There are standards like this in highly interoperable systems, but there’s a cost paid. USB-C power delivery negotiation (beyond the very basic 5V3A resistor that people omit) is roughly as complicated as gigabit ethernet. That compute has to come from somewhere and it turns out customers won’t even pay for that 5V3A resistor - they’ll just use A to C cables and replace it when it “won’t charge” from a compliant charger. :) Average person probably only cares that USB-C can be flipped and that the connector feels less brittle than microUSB.

UPnP exists. Lots of what you describe exists. Between bugs in implementations becoming canon and a lack of consumer interest, no real conspiracy required. At least smartphones and tablets are trending in a good direction - Apple’s latest supports basic off the shelf USB-C Ethernet, displays, hubs, and so on.