Two Monitors are Better than One

I recently saw this product on Amazon.com:

USB 2.0 UGA Multi-Display Adapter External Video Card

Product Description

Add monitors to your computer setup without having to open the computer case to install a new video card. The UGA adapter connects to your USB 2.0 port and allows you connect a CRT or LCD monitor or a projector. The adapter comes with two additional units to modify output for either digital or analog displays.

Here's how it works: The main adapter connects to your computer via USB cable, and features a DVI-I port (female). You can then connect to the DVI-I port with a DVI-I cable (not included), or use the two additional adapters. You can connect the DVI-I to HDMI adapter for digital displays using an HDMI cable, or use the DVI-I to VGA adapter to connect to analog display ports with a VGA cable. Please note that DVI-I, HDMI, and VGA cables are not included.

System Requirements:
CPU: 1.2GHz or faster, Intel Pentium/Celeron or better, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron or better
RAM: 256MB or better
USB 2.0 port
30 Mb hard disk space
OS: Windows XP, Vista 32/64, or 7; Mac OS X; Linux
Monitor: Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution
CD Drive

I'd heard about this technology for years, but never followed it up. But recently I've had a spare flat screen, and I saw this product for only $42.86. Customer reviews sang it's praises, saying it allowed people to work much faster. It seemed like it would be worth trying, so I got it.

So far, I am REALLY liking it! It was easy to set up, and it's easy to use. I'm using it right now. It makes blogging go faster, because I don't have to keep collapsing and opening windows, I just move the cursor across the screens to work on multiple open windows. How did I ever manage without it?

I might eventually need a THIRD monitor! ;-)
     

Is this the Desktop Computer of the Future?

If so, then the future is here! The Inspiron Zino is an 8"x8" square:


Dell PCs cram multimedia power into tiny package

Dell announced a miniature PC using single- or dual-core AMD processors, available with Ubuntu Linux. Starting at approximately $230, the Inspiron Zino HD sports up to 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, comes in ten colors, and is available with discrete graphics, says Dell.

While the Inspiron Zino HD measures just 7.8 x 7.8 x 3.4 inches, it should not be confused with a low-power "nettop" PC. Instead, says Dell, the device is a full-blown multimedia PC in miniature, offering "amazing performance," an HDMI video output, and an internal optical drive that's offered in both DVD and Blu-ray versions.

The rear panel of Dell's Zino HD

Dell offers the Zino HD with a choice of four different AMD processors, none of which has been well-documented by the chipmaker itself. The two single-core choices are the Athlon 2650e, clocked at 1.6GHz with a 15 Watt TDP, and the Athlon 2850e, clocked at 1.8GHz with a 22 Watt TDP. The two dual-core choices are the Athlon X2 3250e (1.5GHz, with a 22 Watt TDP) and the Athlon Neo X2 6850e (1.8GHz, TDP unknown).

[...]

The Inspiron Zino HD PCs are now available, says Dell, with prices ranging from approximately $230 to $1,024, depending on configuration.

More information may be found on the Dell website, here. [...]

They are also offered with Windows Vista or Windows 7, and with various features, different processors, ram, graphics cards, etc. Follow the link to see the options, the specs and more.

All the other micro PC's I've posted about seem to ship from Hong Kong or Taiwan, and have much lower specs. This is an offering from a major US PC vendor, and it's a high-powered, High-Definition multimedia machine. It's not your grandfather's PC. Is this where all desktop PCs are headed? I think it's a distinct possibility.