What's a good PROGRAMMING (not gaming) laptop that supports at least two external monitors through digital connections

Question

Many laptops will allow you to work with two external monitors, but few offer dual digital output. Generally you have to use one hdmi connection and one vga connection. This is ok for gaming, light usage, etc., but when it comes to longer programming days, the digital output is much much easier on your eyes.

So far I've found some laptops that support both hdmi and displayport, but I'm not sure if it's possible to connect two monitors digitally through these connections like with hdmi/vga. For example the Alienware m17x offers these two ports but can you connect both of them to each their own monitor?

Any suggestions on how to connect two monitors digitally for a poor programmer that doesn't want to ruin whatever's left of his eyesight reading blurry text.

Bonus: High resolutions of 1920x1200 per external monitor would be great!!

Answer 1

I develop with a Dell Studio XPS 16 with built-in HDMI and DisplayPort outputs (no docking station required). I convert both to DVI--one to a 20" 1600x1200 LCD and the other to a 24" 1920x1200 LCD.

The 256GB SSD upgrade for $350 is icing on the cake. Best development machine I've ever had.

Answer 2

Not exactly what you asked for but it might be better.

GScreen's Dual-Screen Spacebook Coming Soon(ish)

Answer 3

Just saw this... http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/27/dual-screen-gscreen-laptop-gets-pictured-hopefully-launching-th/

Not sure it's a good gaming laptop or not but looks pretty sweet.

Answer 4

Dell Precision Mobile WorkStation M6400 (supports this Dell E-Port Replicator -> Dell's Product Page for this specific E-Port Replicator)

Answer 5

IBM W700 has dual screens in the lid.

As for docking, the Dell Precision series with the E-Port Plus port replicator gives 2 DVI outs.

Counts on the programming you're doing. The lower end Precisions are good all around, but for graphics intensive programming and rendering, the m6400 is a monster.

Answer 6

Matrox's DualHead2Go looks like it'll split one DisplayPort into two. Then you can use any laptop that has a DisplayPort output.

Answer 7

Dispite the "not gamming" bit in the title, I believe that the features you are looking for (ability to push 2 external 1920 x 1200 displays, and be responsive while programming) falls squarely in the SLi/Crossfire notebook range, which are entirely geared at gamers.

For example Toshiba Qosimo line, Alienware M17

Answer 8

You can use either:

1. A laptop with multiple direct connections (assuming the drivers support multiple monitors)
2. A laptop with a docking station that offers multiple connections
3. Matrox DualHead2Go or TripleHead2Go as long as the resolutions aren't too high
4. USB to DVI assuming you want resolutions of 1600x1200 or lower.

Thank you everyone for all the great answers!

Answer 9

Instead of worrying about finding a peculiar laptop that has it built in, why not just add the functionality onto an existing laptop?

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en%5FUS/catalog.workflow%3Aitem.detail?GroupID=38&Code=45K5296&current-category-id=F518DEACD67248538629B17343AFFB25

Most usb to dvi adapters don't go to the resolution you're looking for, so if you're willing to scale that back you'd have more options. The one I linked above lists that it will go to your requested specs.

Edit: Just saw a mention of a similar device in a different post - don't know the refresh on this one in particular. Tried looking up the refresh but haven't found it yet. Hope this helps anyhow!

Answer 10

I would make sure you get:

• 8Gb memory
• Win 7 64 bit
• 7.2k RPM disk
• Fasted FSB you can get (1066Mhz)
• A decent 8-cell battery
• dedicated video memory - avoid the Intel GMA cr*p

As for the dual monitor thang... We use HP laptops and the docking stations have DVI and VGA outputs of which you can have 2 of 3 (the laptop screen itself being 1 of the 3) working at any one time. Which is OK for 2 x regular square monitors (1280 x 1024).

You'll be lucky to go past 1680 x 1050 resolutions on both screens though - the DVI might do it... Good luck - and post back what you do...

Mike

Answer 11

It's going to be tough to find a laptop that support dual montitors built in. I'm using a dell E6400 laptop with the EDock and 2 x 22" screens at 1650 x 1050 resolution. (native for these screens.

Not even the high end MacBook Pros support dual monitor output.

Answer 12

This is a question that I have thought a lot about, and search for an answer on. My HP 8730w has HDMI and VGA ports (built in) or DVI and VGA when docked to a HP docking station.

For a dual monitor setup (either with or without the docking station), one of the monitors will always run analog, which I would hate. I haven't even really got a clear answer if it's possible to run 2 x 1900x1200 (which is my goal) when one of the monitors is VGA. (Although the nVidia FX2700 would probably handle it)

I have however found a solution (which I haven't yet tried in practice). By using an external graphics card connected using the ExpressCard connector such as ViDock2. Putting a lower-power fan-less dual DVI ATI card would certainly be more than enough for my programming needs, and I would have dual DVI digital goodness.

Answer 13

Dell Latitude D620 is what my company gave me. It doesn't to twin external monitors, but with the dock you have the laptop's screen and one external DVI port. It's got enough power to run my development VMs (running Linux) and the dual displays are really nice.