UPDATE, 7/13: OOPS. One correction on the external card is that it does support resolutions up to 1280×1024, which technically is high-definition video. Thanks to reader Jeff, an HD nut, who pointed this out. D’oh!
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IOGear in Irvine is best known for its KVM switches, or gadgets that let two computers share one keyboard (the “K”), one monitor (the “V” as in video) and one mouse (the “M”).
Now, it’s offering a video card — the USB 2.0 External VGA Video Card (GUC2015V) – for one computer to share two monitors. The cool thing about this gadget is that it’s an external card, so no need to pry open your PC and figure out where to insert it. Install the PC-only software and then just plug one side in to a monitor (using a video cable, which you’ll have to buy) and the other side to a computer (using the provided USB 2.0 cable).
Configure Windows display settings to utilize two monitors and you’ll get your computer’s image on two screens! Bad news: This is for Windows users only. A Mac edition isn’t in the works yet, says the company. For the nuts and bolts review, read the review HERE.
I should mention that IOGear isn’t the only one out there — it’s just one that I recently got my hands on, tried it and tested it to work. Some others:
* XG Station from ASUS has a 3G graphics card, USB 2.0 ports and Dolby headphone jack.
* The not-very-cheap SideCar from Digital Tigers. You can add up to 4 more monitors with the $1,909 SideCar Quad MMS.
* The Tritton See2, which seems on par with the IOGear card in EverythingUSB’s review.
* ArsTechnica story on new PCI Express technology and ability to handle higher-powered graphic chips.
**This just in*** EverythingUSB‘s managing editor Ian Chiu just told me his group of reviewers have also tackled the Samsung 940UX, the first USB monitor, which is basically powered by Displaylink – the same core as the IOGear. Read its review HERE.