Dual Screen Support

[Wally_Mac]

Like many avid Mac users who want or need to use some Windows applications from time-to-time...

I've been using both VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop to address my needs. For the most part my Windows VMs are almost identical duplicates and I've been working at understanding the pros-and-cons of the two VM solutions. Both Fusion and Parallels have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and as at the latest version of Fusion... the only big-deal item missing (in Fusion) for me is true dual monitor support; allowing single and unity modes to behave seamlessly across both monitors/screens.

In searching through the forum topics I couldn't find any date or timeline for this update... Any news on this?

[TimothyAllan]

I've got to put a big hand up for this as well. The -only- problem that fusion isn't solving for me right now is dual monitor support. I use it fullscreen almost all the time at work, and have a second LCD attached to my Macbook Pro that sits idle most of the time...

[admin]

In searching through the forum topics I couldn't find any date or timeline for this update... Any news on this?

VMware policy is to not comment on unannounced features (including timelines). We know multiple monitor support is important to people, but that's about all I (or anyone else) can say.

[sfong15]

Yes, I'm running an evaluation copy of fusion and this dual monitor feature will determine when I buy this. I'm currently running bootcamp with XP on a partition connected to 2 monitors. I won't give up one monitor because I paid for fusion.

[fuzzy-wan]

Both Fusion and Parallels have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and as at the latest version of Fusion... the only big-deal item missing (in Fusion) for me is true dual monitor support

Are you saying that Parallels does have dual-monitor support? I haven't seen anything on their site to suggest that.

I ended up buying a 20" widescreen so I could at least fit two windows side by side in the VM. I needed something, so this "poor man's" dual-monitor setup will have to do for now.

[Wally_Mac]

Fuzzy-Wan,

Yes, with Parallels I can use both monitors in a very comprehensive dual screen mode. When running Parallels/Windows in single window mode I can drag/move any and/or all windows to either monitor... and when running in Coherence mode the dual screen capabilities look extremely good.

That said... there are some things that I prefer about Fusion; specifically the dual CPU capabilities and the superior graphics support.

[admin]

Both Fusion and Parallels have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and as at the latest version of Fusion... the only big-deal item missing (in Fusion) for me is true dual monitor support

Are you saying that Parallels does have dual-monitor support? I haven't seen anything on their site to suggest that.

Last I heard, Parallel's dual-monitor support is still a hack - they stretch a single virtual screen across your monitors, the guest does not see multiple monitors. For some things, this works OK, but for others, it's bad.

[fuzzy-wan]

Yes, with Parallels I can use both monitors in a very comprehensive dual screen mode. When running Parallels/Windows in single window mode I can drag/move any and/or all windows to either monitor... and when running in Coherence mode the dual screen capabilities look extremely good.

Huh. I'm surprised they don't mention that, unless I missed it somehow.

I had a truly hellish experience withe the first Parallels 3.0 release, but maybe it just wasn't ready for the Santa Rosa MacBook Pros at the time.

>

>Last I heard, Parallel's dual-monitor support is still a hack - they stretch a single virtual screen across your monitors, the guest does not see multiple monitors. For some things, this works OK, but for others, it's bad.

That could get pretty ugly with mismatched monitors ... maybe that's why they don't talk about it much.

[VTMac]

Parallels does NOT have dual monitor support. They do a hack whereby they pretend the main monitor is bigger than it really it is, so that it extends to the secondary monitor. This is admittedly gives you more functionality than the status quo with Fusion, but it's still a limited hack. The biggest issue with their current implementation is that if you have 2 different resolution monitors it works very poorly. In my case it clips the parallels windows on the bigger monitor where my smaller monitor screens edge would be.

[fuzzy-wan]

I was afraid it would be something like that. Definitely not gonna fly with my MacBook Pro and the three (very differently sized) monitors I work with. Sigh...

[Wally_Mac]

VTMac,

You are either mistaken or have been somewhat misled....

Although this is not the right place for this discussion... and I'm not working at defending or promoting Parallels... yes they do have dual monitor support.

I have my iMac (24" - 1920 x 1200) and a Dell 19" (1280 x 1024) working in perfect harmony; side by side.

Here are a few informational links on their dual screen capabilities, including a YouTube video:

[VTMac]

I'm a paid owner of both VMWare and Parallels and I've used Parallels since their 1st public beta. I never said it didn't "work". I said it was a hack that has limitations. On my system, if I use my 15in MBP (1440x900) and my Dell 20in LCD (1680x1050) with Parallels in Coherence mode, my Windows applications are clipped at the border width (900px) of my MBP on the Dell LCD. Perhaps that is acceptable for you, or perhaps it behaves differently on your setup, or perhaps the latest release fixed this long standing issue. In any case that is how it's worked from the 1st beta of Coherence up until the last release.

[Wally_Mac]

Fuzzy-wan,

I've posted a reply (above to VTMac's comments, and would add one additonal item...

After setting up my iMac to use the second (Dell) monitor, then with Parallels or in Mac mode, I can shift, move, drag or manoevour windows and folders back and forth.

That said, if I tried to move something that had a size of say 1400 x 600 pixels from my iMac (1920 x 1200 pixels) to the Dell monitor (1280 x 1024 pixles) then yes, I would either have to re-size the 1400 x 600 window or have it "clipped".

Included below are two screen captures, the larger/wider being my iMac... (with Parallels running in coherance mode)

Screen 1 = Internet Explorer 7, Firefox, Mac Mail 3, Finder Windows, Info Tab

Screen 2 = Paint Shop Pro, Forklift, Text Edit

No complaints for my needs/wants.....

[holtsch]

I'm adding my vote on this - dual screen support is a MUST... I was kind of disappointed finding out this doesn't work

[-mj-]

hi all

i'm new to this list

just bought vmware and i'm also a bit disappointed about not having 2 screens

it did played with the parallels demo and i noticed the dualscreen hack

but it wont work for me . I have my second screen above my macbookpro screen

;(

-mj

[fuzzy-wan]

Sigh. Once again my flirtations with Parallels were short lived.

I chose Fusion in the beginning because it worked for me right out of the proverbial box, unlike Parallels which continues to throw roadblocks in my way. (I actually tried Parallels first, based on its reputation.)

Life's too short , and I know I can use Fusion to get my work done -- Windows-only work, the kind that earns me a paycheck, which blows my mind whenever I think about it. I still don't know if Parallels can meet my needs well enough to justify the extra effort, and their skimpy 15-day trial period doesn't really encourage persistence. So I'll live with one monitor and hope VMware brings us true multi-monitor support someday.

It's not a deal breaker for me.

[automandc]

I would also like to voice my strong desire for dual-monitor support in the guest OS. At work I have long been used to having 2 monitors: a larger one for general desktop, and then a 17" or 19" in portrait mode for editing docments. At 96DPI, an 8-1/2" X 11" page needs over 1100 pixels in the vertical direction to display fully at 100% (not to mention the toolbars etc.) A 19" works well in this role.

I would really like 3-monitor support since (AFAIK) there is no way to deactivate the MBP's internal LCD screen, which is just too small to be a primary desktop screen. Thus, my ultimate goal, which would get Windows back to where it was on my Thinkpad w/Dock is to have 2 external LCD panels that the guest WinXP treats as separate monitors.

(I am hoping to use one of the USB2.0 -> VGA/DVI adapters to connect a second external monitor to the MBP. However, none of them have OS X driver support yet).

I realize it is asking a lot, but one can always dream, right?

[srvance]

I'll raise my hand for dual-monitor support as well, but with an entirely different requirement. I do a lot of training and probably the only thing I miss about Windows is the ability to direct the slide show for a PowerPoint presentation to a projector while keeping the slides with notes on my main screen.

[Bob_Zimmerman]

I'm pretty sure you can do that with PowerPoint on the Mac and I know for a fact that you can with Keynote, since I've done it. Do you actually need to run the presentations in Windows?

[srvance]

I have licenses for PowerPoint on Windows through the Action Pack. That doesn't come with Mac licenses. I really don't want to spend the money for functionality I already have licensed. OpenOffice doesn't handle that scenario. Also, sometimes my clients are picky about the demo platform so I'd rather not have to switch OSes when switching in and out of the presentation.