PRODUCT: Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital Edition
WEBSITE: www.matrox.com
PRICE: $329
· Connect three monitors at same time
· Very portable
· Uses existing video card
I was feeling pretty good. I had my new 30-inch HD monitor set-up in front of my Apple MacPro with plenty of room to view my editing and compositing jobs. Sure, if I wanted to browse the ‘net or check my email I needed to open up the apps and view them over my programs, but I was used to working that way.
Then a friend told me to check out Matrox’s new TripleHead2Go Digital Edition. I did, and now I’m addicted. The TripleHead2Go Digital Edition allows me to connect up to three monitors at once. It’s pretty amazing, I must say, to have my Web browser and email apps on one screen, and my Adobe After Effects comp window on another, and the rest of my After Effects application on the third. Pretty sweet!
Matrox’s TripleHead2Go Digital Edition allows for three external monitor sources to be connected via DVI to your laptop or desktop PC and Mac. It is extremely portable and the best part is there is no tinkering with the hardware inside your machine. It is completely external. Just plug it in from your DVI or VGA port, connect the power via USB and off you go.
The TripleHead2Go Digital Edition uses your existing video card and expands the display resolution to 3840x1024 in almost 17 million colors. I was able to get it up and running in no time on both my Mac Pro and my Dell PC with the factory installed graphics cards. [For compatibility information please visit www.matrox.com for an updated list of video cards.]
The following are the device requirements: dual-link DVI or single VGA output connector, on a compatible system; Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows XP x64-bit, Windows Vista, Windows Vista 64-bit and Mac OS X V.10.4; a display driver supporting 1920x480, 2400x600, 3072x768 or 3840x1024 resolution; and a Powered USB connector.
EXTREMELY USEFUL ADD-ON
In addition to making your desktop a three-screen monster, the TripleHead2Go Digital Edition has some extremely practical uses. I hooked it up to my wife’s laptop and asked her to try it out on a presentation she was doing for a producer. She went in and hooked up the device to three monitors that were placed on a conference table.
Everyone in the room was able to see the screen she was on and follow along with her presentation. Something else I plan on doing is connecting the TripleHead2Go Digital Edition to my editing workstation. I can then have the other monitors on the opposite side for clients or my executive producer to view and critique work. I always hated when they would be hovering over my shoulder.
EXTREME GAMING TOO
The Matrox Triplehead2Go Digital Edition is the ultimate gadget for extreme gamers. Having it hooked up to your machine will enable you to have a “surround gaming” sensation. Best of all, it works with most of the popular games such as Half Life, Brothers in Arms and Vanguard. Ok I admit I had to try this out with my game of choice, Vanguard, and was blown away with the experience. Two huge thumbs up here.
Matrox’s Triplehead2Go Digital Edition comes with the Matrox Monitor Bezel Management System. What’s that you ask? The system gives you the ability to “hide” part of the image that should appear behind the monitor frame, creating a more aligned, seamless view of your environment. This really gives you the feeling that the monitors are part of the game. Very cool feature, indeed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The only negative I can see is if your video card won’t support this. I tried the gaming side on my two-year-old Dell and my post production side on my Mac Pro. Both worked amazingly well. As I said, check the Matrox Website for more info on compatible video cards.
I can’t imagine my world now without multiple monitors. The surround graphics ability is amazing.
Coming in at just under $330, this is a great and inexpensive add on to complete your digital experience. With the holidays coming up it’s also a great gift idea. Just Google (can you believe that’s a term?) to find a retailer.
David Basulto is a Producer/Director/Editor with Clarity Pictures in
South Pasadena, CA. He can be reached at: dave@claritypictures.net.