Laptop with External Monitor (Higher Res?)

cormie

Hi,
I'm just wondering if you plug say a 20" monitor into a laptop with a max res of 1200x800 (on the laptop), can you get higher res on the monitor when you plug that in? Just looking at my display properties on my laptop. In settings I have 2 boxes, 1 and 2. 1 represents my laptop, 1280 x 800 (widescreen) and then 2 is for an external monitor. I don't have a monitor plugged in, but it says the max is 2048 x 1536. Will this be the case for all external monitors or will it depend on the monitor? Is this feature on all laptops and what is the usual max res for the 2nd box?

I suppose the best way, if doing this with regards typing/mouse is to just use usb devices instead of laptop keyboard and touchpad. Is the laptop screen blank whent he external is connected?

Any feedback would be appreciated:)

Zapho

The resolution is only limited by your graphics card, not your laptop monitor. And its very likely that your graphics will have a high enough res to run the external monitor properly.

Also you can:
1. Have the laptop lid closed and solely use the external monitor
2. Have the laptop lid open and use both monitors at the one time showing the same thing on each.
3. Have both monitors set up so that they act as one large monitor so show seperate things.

So basically anything you can imagine, you can do!

cormie

Cool thanks. Now if I'm looking for a laptop for a friend, will it only display the res on the laptop screen or the capabilities of the gfx card?