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If you already carry a an iPad in your laptop bag, but use Windows or Linux on your laptop, you can use the iPad as an external monitor using: - a cheap HDMI U

If you already carry a an iPad in your laptop bag, but use Windows or Linux on your laptop, you can use the iPad as an external monitor using: - a cheap HDMI USB capture device ($5 from Temu) - a short HDMI cable to connect that to your laptop's HDMI output - a USB to lightning or USB to type C adapter (depending on your iPad model) - a free app to display the UVC camera input full screen, e.g. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/genki-studio/id6466343285 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/genki-studio/id6466343285 This isn't quite as convenient, but it's not much extra weight to throw in your bag.

RockRobotRock 3y ago
>a cheap HDMI USB capture device ($5 from Temu) I've tried a couple of these and the quality is pretty shitty. Maybe they've improved since then.
conqrr 3y ago
Can this be done on an Android tablet too like Samsung?
- rahimnathwani 3y ago
  Probably, as long as your tablet supports an external webcam. You'll need an app to view the camera. Search Google for 'android uvc viewer'.
- bentcorner 3y ago
  I've found it easiest to use something like deskreen. That way you don't need to rely on your tablet supporting hdmi input, you just need a browser. You'll need a hdmi dummy plug on your PC though.
- staindk 3y ago
  Samsung tablets can act as second screens for windows PCs AFAIK. For Linux I've had some success with Microsoft's RD Client android app -> remote to Linux PC. I'm on gnome though, which has some experimental setting which allows you to set remote desktop clients to act as a new display instead of cloning your existing display.
  - ghusbands 3y ago
    I've got a top of the line Samsung tablet and a recent windows PC. The second screen experience is absolutely terrible in many ways, the worst being inconsistent lag, sometimes measured in seconds. I do not recommend it at all.
soared 3y ago
Potentially a good idea to avoid using Temu - https://apnews.com/article/temu-shein-forced-labor-china-de7b5398c76fda58404abc6ec5684972 https://apnews.com/article/temu-shein-forced-labor-china-de7...
- ARandomerDude 3y ago
  China is a forced labor camp.
  - 5350-uiop-1130 3y ago
    apple captures 60% of profits on its devices while the factory that builds them in China captures only 2%. now you know why foxconn had suicide nets.
    - jychang 3y ago
      To be honest, this changes my mind on the situation. I've always tried to follow the money; those who control the money flow control all the power. Is it a situation where Apple is squeezing the suppliers? I'm aware Walmart has very predatory practices with their suppliers, so something similar?
      - 5350-uiop-1130 3y ago
        > Is it a situation where Apple is squeezing the suppliers? yes. brutally. from: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/14/only-half-of-indian-iph https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/14/only-half-of-indian-iph... > "Apple engineers told that Chinese iPhone suppliers and government officials have a "whatever it takes" approach to win iPhone orders, work was often completed weeks ahead of schedule at "inexplicable speed". In India, [we] are not running at this pace. "There just isn't a sense of urgency," one Apple engineer remarked." when you allow your supplier only 2% of the cuts. of course the ones at the bottom will be squeezed mercilessly. and apple maintains its huge margins. https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Criticism_of_Apple#Safety_problems_and_harsh_working_conditions https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Criticism_of_Apple#Safety_prob... https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/china-apple-accused-of-violating-labour-laws-as-employees-at-iphone-factory-found-working-100-hours-of-overtime-being-punished-for-not-meeting-targets-incl-co-comments/ https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/china-ap... https://www.culawreview.org/journal/child-labor-and-the-human-rights-violations-embedded-in-producing-technology https://www.culawreview.org/journal/child-labor-and-the-huma... https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/09/apple-accused-worker-violations-chinese-factories-by-labor-rights-group/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/09/apple-a... https://chinalaborwatch.org/somethings-not-right-here-poor-working-conditions-persist-at-apple-supplier-pegatron/ https://chinalaborwatch.org/somethings-not-right-here-poor-w... https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/09/key-apple-supplier-pegatron-caught-in-labor-violations-banned-from-new-contracts/ https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/09/key-apple-supplier-pegatron-c... https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/15/tech/apple-iphone-india-wistron-intl-hnk/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/15/tech/apple-iphone-india-w... https://www.reuters.com/world/india/fire-apple-supplier-pegatrons-india-factory-disrupts-production-sources-2023-09-25/ https://www.reuters.com/world/india/fire-apple-supplier-pega...
hmottestad 3y ago
If you're using a mac you can extend your screen wirelessly to the iPad. I found the image gets compressed a bit but it's still plenty usable for showing a browser during web development.
- rahimnathwani 3y ago
  Yeah I was talking specifically about Windows and Linux, because I figured that people running MacOS would already know about Sidecar. Note: you refer to 'mac' (the hardware) but Sidecar is tied to MacOS (software). A Mac running Windows or Linux won't support Sidecar. A non-Mac running MacOS (aka hackintosh) probably will. If you're running old Mac hardware like a MBP 2015, you can install Ventura (and user Sidecar) using OpenCore Legacy Patcher.
  - hmottestad 3y ago
    Just assuming that some mac users don't know about Sidecar or Universal Control. And that most windows and linux users don't know that MacOS can take advantage of an iPad fairly seamlessly as an external monitor.
    - Terretta 3y ago
      Works with USB-c cable for all day charge but also works without a cable. iPad 19.9" with Magic Keyboard as stand is spectacular second screen for all day dual screen work and then ... you also have an iPad with you. Ideal for week-long biz travel.
eloisant 3y ago
Or just buy a portable monitor (i.e. Asus Zenscreen). It's bigger (15 inch), cheaper (less than $150), easier to use (just one USB-C cable). And if we compare it to the Zenbook Duo, when your laptop becomes obsolete you can just buy any new laptop and still use your portable monitor.
- hmottestad 3y ago
  I would also go with a portable monitor. Just keep in mind that a lot of them have quite low resolution, low brightness, poor colour accuracy and that some of them still need a power brick (if they require more than 15 watts).
  - csdvrx 3y ago
    My portable InnoCN 4k OLED disagrees.
    - keenmaster 3y ago
      I have the InnoCN OLED and I love it. I had to do a double take when I saw the price on Amazon and bought it immediately.
      - csdvrx 3y ago
        Same: it has touchscreen, EMR pen, it's portable, and comes with an easy to carry case- that's a steal at this price!
    - hmottestad 3y ago
      Is it the 15.6” model. Curious to know if it needs a power brick to deliver full brightness, and Aldi if it’s pentile?
      - hmottestad 3y ago
        "also" not "Aldi"
makeitdouble 3y ago
While we're on it, a Surface pro will only need a bluetooth pairing to work as a second display for the windows laptop. Bonus points: it can a accept pen/touch and mouse/keyboard inputs as well, which makes it pretty useful.
moneywoes 3y ago
i’ve tried this with an android tablet and the lag is just unbearable have you noticed this? is it because my tablet ( samsung galaxy tab s6 lite) has usb c 2.0?
- rahimnathwani 3y ago
  I've only tried it on an iPad Pro, and did not notice any lag.
- spartanatreyu 3y ago
  You're not going to be able to send any useful screen contents over a usb 2 cable. The outdated Display Port 1.0 can send up to 10.8Gbit/s, and the even older USB 2.0 could only send 480Mbit/s. That'd let a raw 800x600 image per frame come through. It'd be better just to stream over wifi.

RockRobotRock 3y ago

>a cheap HDMI USB capture device ($5 from Temu) I've tried a couple of these and the quality is pretty shitty. Maybe they've improved since then.

conqrr 3y ago

Can this be done on an Android tablet too like Samsung?

rahimnathwani 3y ago
Probably, as long as your tablet supports an external webcam. You'll need an app to view the camera. Search Google for 'android uvc viewer'.
bentcorner 3y ago
I've found it easiest to use something like deskreen. That way you don't need to rely on your tablet supporting hdmi input, you just need a browser. You'll need a hdmi dummy plug on your PC though.
staindk 3y ago
Samsung tablets can act as second screens for windows PCs AFAIK. For Linux I've had some success with Microsoft's RD Client android app -> remote to Linux PC. I'm on gnome though, which has some experimental setting which allows you to set remote desktop clients to act as a new display instead of cloning your existing display.
- ghusbands 3y ago
  I've got a top of the line Samsung tablet and a recent windows PC. The second screen experience is absolutely terrible in many ways, the worst being inconsistent lag, sometimes measured in seconds. I do not recommend it at all.

soared 3y ago

Potentially a good idea to avoid using Temu - https://apnews.com/article/temu-shein-forced-labor-china-de7b5398c76fda58404abc6ec5684972 https://apnews.com/article/temu-shein-forced-labor-china-de7...

ARandomerDude 3y ago
China is a forced labor camp.
- 5350-uiop-1130 3y ago
  apple captures 60% of profits on its devices while the factory that builds them in China captures only 2%. now you know why foxconn had suicide nets.
  - jychang 3y ago
    To be honest, this changes my mind on the situation. I've always tried to follow the money; those who control the money flow control all the power. Is it a situation where Apple is squeezing the suppliers? I'm aware Walmart has very predatory practices with their suppliers, so something similar?
    - 5350-uiop-1130 3y ago
      > Is it a situation where Apple is squeezing the suppliers? yes. brutally. from: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/14/only-half-of-indian-iph https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/14/only-half-of-indian-iph... > "Apple engineers told that Chinese iPhone suppliers and government officials have a "whatever it takes" approach to win iPhone orders, work was often completed weeks ahead of schedule at "inexplicable speed". In India, [we] are not running at this pace. "There just isn't a sense of urgency," one Apple engineer remarked." when you allow your supplier only 2% of the cuts. of course the ones at the bottom will be squeezed mercilessly. and apple maintains its huge margins. https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Criticism_of_Apple#Safety_problems_and_harsh_working_conditions https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Criticism_of_Apple#Safety_prob... https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/china-apple-accused-of-violating-labour-laws-as-employees-at-iphone-factory-found-working-100-hours-of-overtime-being-punished-for-not-meeting-targets-incl-co-comments/ https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/china-ap... https://www.culawreview.org/journal/child-labor-and-the-human-rights-violations-embedded-in-producing-technology https://www.culawreview.org/journal/child-labor-and-the-huma... https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/09/apple-accused-worker-violations-chinese-factories-by-labor-rights-group/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/09/apple-a... https://chinalaborwatch.org/somethings-not-right-here-poor-working-conditions-persist-at-apple-supplier-pegatron/ https://chinalaborwatch.org/somethings-not-right-here-poor-w... https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/09/key-apple-supplier-pegatron-caught-in-labor-violations-banned-from-new-contracts/ https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/09/key-apple-supplier-pegatron-c... https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/15/tech/apple-iphone-india-wistron-intl-hnk/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/15/tech/apple-iphone-india-w... https://www.reuters.com/world/india/fire-apple-supplier-pegatrons-india-factory-disrupts-production-sources-2023-09-25/ https://www.reuters.com/world/india/fire-apple-supplier-pega...

hmottestad 3y ago

If you're using a mac you can extend your screen wirelessly to the iPad. I found the image gets compressed a bit but it's still plenty usable for showing a browser during web development.

rahimnathwani 3y ago
Yeah I was talking specifically about Windows and Linux, because I figured that people running MacOS would already know about Sidecar. Note: you refer to 'mac' (the hardware) but Sidecar is tied to MacOS (software). A Mac running Windows or Linux won't support Sidecar. A non-Mac running MacOS (aka hackintosh) probably will. If you're running old Mac hardware like a MBP 2015, you can install Ventura (and user Sidecar) using OpenCore Legacy Patcher.
- hmottestad 3y ago
  Just assuming that some mac users don't know about Sidecar or Universal Control. And that most windows and linux users don't know that MacOS can take advantage of an iPad fairly seamlessly as an external monitor.
  - Terretta 3y ago
    Works with USB-c cable for all day charge but also works without a cable. iPad 19.9" with Magic Keyboard as stand is spectacular second screen for all day dual screen work and then ... you also have an iPad with you. Ideal for week-long biz travel.

eloisant 3y ago

Or just buy a portable monitor (i.e. Asus Zenscreen). It's bigger (15 inch), cheaper (less than $150), easier to use (just one USB-C cable). And if we compare it to the Zenbook Duo, when your laptop becomes obsolete you can just buy any new laptop and still use your portable monitor.

hmottestad 3y ago
I would also go with a portable monitor. Just keep in mind that a lot of them have quite low resolution, low brightness, poor colour accuracy and that some of them still need a power brick (if they require more than 15 watts).
- csdvrx 3y ago
  My portable InnoCN 4k OLED disagrees.
  - keenmaster 3y ago
    I have the InnoCN OLED and I love it. I had to do a double take when I saw the price on Amazon and bought it immediately.
    - csdvrx 3y ago
      Same: it has touchscreen, EMR pen, it's portable, and comes with an easy to carry case- that's a steal at this price!
  - hmottestad 3y ago
    Is it the 15.6” model. Curious to know if it needs a power brick to deliver full brightness, and Aldi if it’s pentile?
    - hmottestad 3y ago
      "also" not "Aldi"

makeitdouble 3y ago

While we're on it, a Surface pro will only need a bluetooth pairing to work as a second display for the windows laptop. Bonus points: it can a accept pen/touch and mouse/keyboard inputs as well, which makes it pretty useful.

moneywoes 3y ago

i’ve tried this with an android tablet and the lag is just unbearable have you noticed this? is it because my tablet ( samsung galaxy tab s6 lite) has usb c 2.0?

rahimnathwani 3y ago
I've only tried it on an iPad Pro, and did not notice any lag.
spartanatreyu 3y ago
You're not going to be able to send any useful screen contents over a usb 2 cable. The outdated Display Port 1.0 can send up to 10.8Gbit/s, and the even older USB 2.0 could only send 480Mbit/s. That'd let a raw 800x600 image per frame come through. It'd be better just to stream over wifi.