[Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Hello there. I've made a small guide for newbies: "How to make Tablet work as additional PC screen". That work for Windows 2000/XP and maybe Vista. It's real side display, not some field of your desktop. So here it is:

Required PC-Side software:
- RealVNC ( http://www.realvnc.com/ )
- Windows virtual display driver from the ZoneScreen app (http://www.zoneos.com/zonescreen.htm )

Required Tablet-side software:
- VNC Viewer (it's right in the extras, install it thru App Manager)

What should I do?:
- Download ZoneScreen ( For XP: http://www.zoneos.com/downloads/zone...wxp_x86_en.zip, For Vista:http://www.zoneos.com/downloads/zone...wlh_x86_en.zip, For 2K: http://www.zoneos.com/downloads/zone...86_en_1090.zip), unpack it.

- Open up control panel - New Hardware installation - next - Yes, new hardware is connected - last row in the list (add new device) - Manual hardware installation, selected from the list - Show all hardware - Install from the disk - chose the folder with unpacked ZoneScreen - select file zonescreen.inf.

- Go to the Desktop Properties - Settings tab - you should see a small third display appeared in monitor sceme - select it and set the flag "expand desktop to this display" - apply.

- Open up the folder with unpacked ZoneScreen - run zserver.exe - hit Next - in the second combo-box select your virtual display (NOT \\. \DISPLAY1) - in the third combobox search for "800x480x16@42" row - hit Next - Select from the top menu "File - Save configuration to run at startup" (that's because XP resets secondary display settings after restart)
If that app really helped you and saved you 300 bucks that you wanted to spend on usb-display - please donate some of them to the author, cause his job is really unique.


- setup Real VNC.
- run it - doubleclick on tray icon - select Authentication tab - set "VNC password authentication" and hit "Configure" - enter any password - save - close.


- Setup VNC Viewer on your tablet.

- Run it - hit the first button - enter your PC's IP - enter password - now you can see your desktop - scroll upper-right utill you'll see the field without any applications and windows - this is our virtual display, say "Hello" to it.

-click on the VNC Viewer title - hit "view" - uncheck "show scrollbars" - hit "show toolbar" - uncheck "fullscreen".

- press fullscreen button


Our wireless (or maybe wired) second display is ready. Serve it with beer and nuts :)

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Imp--ressive ! :-)

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Just fyi, because this is using VNC, its going to be slow. Also, the tablet has a much higher pixel density than your monitor, so apps will look awkward.

For Vista Users (and I guess Win7): This will disable Aero because Microsoft is ******ed beyond belief.


ANOTHER METHOD (Won't Disable Aero):

This method is slightly different, but works just as good.

Required PC-Side software:
- RealVNC ( http://www.realvnc.com/ )
- Dual head graphics card with only one monitor plugged in
-Monitor with more than one input (aka VGA and DVI)

Required Tablet-side software:
- VNC Viewer (it's right in the extras, install it thru App Manager)


Ok, so if you have a dual head graphics card (most new ones are), this is what you do. First, you plug the SAME monitor into the card twice. This tricks the computer into thinking there are two monitors plugged in, but there is only one.

Now, most monitors can select DVI or VGA. First, go to the VGA screen, and change the resolution to 800x480.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lcd-...n-windows.html

or for Nvidia: http://www.nvidia.com/object/custom_resolutions.html

or even easier: Riva Tuner

And then change back to DVI mode. Now you have two monitors. Simply VNC like the OP said, and BOOM!!

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Well, I've made n800 to be additional screen for my HP Mini 2133 and since it has an insane resolution (1280x720 in 9") the DPI is pretty similar to nokias.
BTW. I've made a mistake. You still need ZoneScreen cause XP resets secondary display settings after restart. So to fix it automaticaly you should run ZoneScreen, configure it as described and select "File - Save configuration to run as startup". That will make everything good.

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Your instruction worked like a charm.
The only thing I'm trying to figure out now is how I can make the best of this pint sized monitor considering I already run a dual screen.
I have a docked laptop and attached to it is a 22" Widescreen monitor that I use as the primary display.
I think I might run Samurize on my N800 display.

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

I'd wondered about such possibilities before, and even rigged something similar in Linux, but the ZoneScreen driver was the missing part from a Windows implementation.

Thanks for the pointer to ZoneScreen!

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

I tried this today with the Windows 7 beta and I finally got it working via the Vista VGA cable and using TightVNC (RealVNC appeared to charge for anything but XP/2000 versions). I set up a secondary 800x600 monitor and then using TighVNC's Selective area settings, selected this screen. It's screen updating is a tad slow and has some artifacting - but it works with Wallpaper and Aero still enabled. This is great for stacking on some of the Gadgets (CPU monitor, Network monitor, IM list - via pidglet) as Win7 kills the sidebar concept for a more free floating placement. Most definitely cool stuff - thanks Thesandlord for the Vista (and Win7) work around. :)

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

It is weird, even though I followed every step, but when I try to connect to my laptop, my N810 would say "Could not connect to server."

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

I'm running Ubuntu 8.10 which for VNC uses the vino server. I checked and it's running. Ubuntu's remote desktop is setup. I installed VNC viewer on my N810. I'm using a wireless router with the desktop cable connected. VNC works between my laptop and desktop but not withy the N810. On the N810 I enter my desktop's IP and it can't connect. Any suggestions?

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Outstanding!

This post should make the 'news' via engadget or gizmodo. Just post a camera taken picture of your working setup and I'll submit the news tip. They love these types of hacks, especially since small usb auxiliary displays are quite fasionable right now.

The fact that the N810 is versatile enough to handle this type of function should turn more than a few heads!

This is highly significant as it opens the door of using the N810 as a graphical 'touchpad' in a laptop mod. Just what the world (and Capt'n) have been asking for! This would be great for controling the on screen cursor *and* accessing special app buttons and displaying stats in the place where the fairly dry synaptic touchpad once was! Do want!


Pictures please!

YARR!
}:^)~

CAAAP!!

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

great idea capt. lets spread the word and make the zoneos guy rich :)

http://files.myopera.com/ciroip/albu...ndmmonitor.jpg

http://files.myopera.com/ciroip/albu...tor_closup.jpg

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Lets make some "engadget-style low DOF shot" :)
http://s52.radikal.ru/i136/0902/6b/d2e20e2c1cb3.jpg

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Done!

Great work guys, really impressive stuff! I'm loving the external display, and I'm hoping that others will be enjoying it as well!


YARR!
}:^)~

The Capt'n

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

LOL

That is all I can say. Why is this news? Just because it is going "mainstream" now? People have been doing this for EVER. I was doing this back in 2005 with a Palm T3. Its nothing special, except VNC is so freaking slow.

Anyway:

Using a combination of my method (dual cable), ZoneOS, and MaxiVista, you can get 5 independent displays. Yeah, you can have five devices all acting as monitors.

So, tablet, old PDA, friends iTouch, and two laptops. :D:D:D

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

I am also getting the 'could not connect to server' message. Any ideas? As far as I can see everything is set up correctly. I'll look into general VNC trouble shooting and report back.

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

News to some! ;)

To answer your questions:
It's news because it's new to some... Yes... If it is now going mainstream, it implies that many don't know about it... Thus we make news of it, to inform people that it can be done...

PS. I'd *love* to see your 5 device setup!

YARR!
}:^)~

Happy Cappy

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Sadly, MaxiVista needs some $$$ to work.

I could do just 3 displays though... hmmmmm...

Oh, and I meant to say "VNC was so freaking slow over bluetooth serial link"

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Dude, if you could do 3 displays, you'd be my new personal hero!

YARR!
}:^)~

Cooory

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Can someone help me, i'm running Vista 64
I installed the hardware driver but it says that it has to be signed and might have trouble working

and there are only 2 displays in the display settings and thus i cannot move on...

Any help?

Thank You [=

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Woohoo! Made it on engadget!

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Can you use SSH with X Forwarding to bring up a remote display on the Nokia tablet?

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Since "display" has a specific meaning in X, the only way to literally do that is running an Xnest or equivalent over ssh -x, but if you merely want to run arbitrary X apps forwarded to the tablet's display, it works as expected.

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Excellent!! I had asked about the possibility of something like this a while back, but never got exactly what I was looking for. Now I finally have an excuse not to throw out my otherwise unused 770. Everything worked exactly as instructed, and the fact that all the software is free make it even better.

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

How did you get it work in windows 7. I dont see add hardware in my control panel.

Thanks

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Is there a thread around on how to do something similar in Linux (Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu/etc)? I'm sure I could probably figure something out but I wondered if someone's already done it and posted instructions.

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

OK, this is great, since i've some time looking for a way to use my N900 as a monitor, this could help, i had tought of VNC before but i tought it would be too slow to enjoy, so i'm wondering why is this special? i don't really understand why the zonescreen is used. if someone could explain that would be great, does it do anything about the resolution? that's my guess...... i have one problem tho, the N900 won't show the whole screen of the pc, just like 1/4, or something, and after seeing the pics you guys posted, i see it's the same for you, umm i wonder if there's any way like zooming out.... cause i feel like i'm more like sneak peeking than using it as monitor :7

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

Is there any way to establish the vnc connection via usb ... ?

Re: [Life Hack] Make Tablet work as additional PC screen
 

interesting,

i wonder if you found the right settings for the tablet and server, possible w/ a sync delay using mpc, this could work w/ a media remote, headphones to your pc, to allow full res streaming for those late nights in bed when you want to watch a movie comfortably.

might give it a go with my ddwrt and a6 itx htpc, perhaps th lag could be managble with the right delay in audio/ good hardware and wifi signal.

USB would be tits though, if you could take the load off the tablet decoding video files to get full res, even if you had to pull audio off the stereo out seperately. If it works over wifi then :D.

the real question is if theres a way to set it up so the n810 doesnt have to decode anything, using usb of course. considering theres usb montors that do just that.