Two laptops or one?
One large-screen laptop and a Microsoft Surface?
One laptop and Chromebook, or one laptop and an iPad with a keyboard, or just two laptops?
Those are the choices I make every month when packing a bag to attend a tech industry event, but – and if recent evidence this year looking at other road warriors is anything to go by – one laptop and a good second screen might be a better option than any of the above.
TheCevaton 15.6” Laptop Screen Extender is the latest solution I’ve gone for and its all about. Priced at£333.32 on Amazon UK marketplace (a£70 coupon was on offer to bring it down to£263.32 at the time of writing), it is of course a cheaper option than going for a second machine and Windows is – again, of course – very easy to set up for multi-screen use under System > Display options.
This product is described as a 1080P full HD ultra-narrow bezel IPS display with “300 nits” brightness and an 85% NTSC colour gamut.
While the connections to get this unit (I actually went for the double screen option) are a little complex, the device itself is nothing if not versatile in terms of the way it can be set up. It has a 360-degree swivel kickstand meaning it can be hooked up to a laptop screen with the bracket or stand on its own.
Cross-platform compatibility
The bracket itself can be stretched to a maximum width of 405mm to fit laptops ranging from 13” to 17” – and really, who has a21” laptop these days?
Although I am using theCevaton screen with Windows, the screen is compatible withWindows, macOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, PS4/PS5 and smartphones.
**NOTE:**Cevaton doesn’t detail whether the product works with Microsoft Xbox units, but I have one of my Xbox’s hooked up to a PC monitor via HDMI, so there should be no reason why this wouldn’t also work.
The connection options span from asingle-cable USB-C or HDMI + USB-A (all cables included, but I had to use an additional hub connector to get mine fully set up). Pleasingly, the screen isequipped with 3.5mm audio jack and built-in speaker – and that’s not a given in screen extenders, so it’s good to see.
Many modes
Working with the double-screen version of this product might take up a lot of desk room (and, to be honest, almost look a bit over the top) but the dual laptop monitor extender offers multiple display modes, including extended, mirrored and portrait modes.
Its makers claim that it may enhance worker productivity by up to 200%… that might be an inflated figure, but productivity certainly goes up from the base 100% of a single screen.
All well and good so far, but I did say connection across two screens is a challenge. In fairness to Cevaton, that’s more down to the lack of ports and connections on most laptops than it is in any way related to the cables and connections the company has provided.
The official line is, “If your laptop lacks a fully functional type-C port, you can easily connect using one USB-A cable and one HDMI cable; the setup is straightforward and fast, with no complex [driver] installation required. The dual monitors boast a fully transparent back panel paired with vibrant RGB breathing lights, delivering a sleek, futuristic aesthetic. When used in single-screen mode, the monitor extender does not need to be clamped onto the laptop, nor does it add any burden to the computer.”
The total weight of the device is only 2.75 lbs (1.45 lbs when detached) and of course it fits well inside any existing laptop bag or suitcase.
Redefined mobility
Cevaton says its monitors are specifically designed by professionals with over a decade of experience, featuring high resolution and accurate colour fidelity. The company is hoping to be the brand that “redefines mobility” with straightforward portability, robust quality and connectivity options.
Other users have said that the build quality is good, with heavy-duty metal hinges and high-grade plastic. There is a very slim bezel surrounding the screen so users get a lot of screen real estate.
Concluding thoughts
In closing then, I walked the halls of various tech events this year and saw an increasing number of developers, developers and management types using an extra screen and it’s not hard to get used to the luxury of extra space.
It often works best when you can get your email client and socials (and perhaps also your communications channels like WhatsApp-web and perhaps also your planners like to-do list apps and calendar) all shifted out to the second screen (or screens) as you use your main laptop screen for so-called productivity and creativity apps, which may be a word processor, an integrated development environment or other creative space. What’s it like to go back to one screen on its own afterwards? It’s not fun… it’s good to stretch.