Third monitor on your MacBook Pro? Sure!

This morning I had a sudden urge to find out about adding a third (or fourth) external monitor to my MacBook Pro. I’ve been a multiple monitor user off and on since the early 1990′s – I do find the extra screen real estate very useful.

I’ll assume you can add a second monitor – that just requires the appropriate dongle (cable) from Apple for your model.

All of this will be dramatically simpler once more Thunderbolt devices are around – the latest Macs now hav this super high speed port to connect multiple monitors, external drives and so on. For the rest of us slumming it with slightly older gear :

Here’s a few notes on what’s happening with multiple monitor setups these days:

• Got a spare HD TV you could use as a monitor? Try the Imation Link Wireless HD Audio/Video Extender – as pointed out on Rexblog this works quite well once the Mac software is installed. Cost? $99
• Did you know there are USB connectors? This Diamond BVU195 HD USB Display Adapter Danny Sullivan used two of these in his four monitor setup! Cost? $66
• There’s an app for that! Air Display is a ten buck app that turns your iPad, iPhone & even iPod touch into an external monitor for your Mac (and Windows too.) Requires both to be on the same wifi network. How good will this look on the new iPad? Cost? about $10

Now I just need a spare monitor or two and a long weekend to try some of these out!

Note: some of these links are affiliate links and could result in me being paid.