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Why did it take so long for Windows to support multiple monitors period? Macs have had multi-monitor support since 1987 with the introduction of the Mac II. P
by lectrick 12y ago
Why did it take so long for Windows to support multiple monitors period?
Macs have had multi-monitor support since 1987 with the introduction of the Mac II.
Perhaps it is because Windows is primarily a low-cost consumer OS.
- DanBC 12y agoPlenty of HN users complain about the sub-optimality of multiple monitors on OSX, Linux, the BSDs, etc etc. Sure, they sort of work for some use cases but it's very easy to find exceptions.
- CurtHagenlocher 12y agoOr perhaps it's because the Macintosh in 1987 was an almost-entirely closed ecosystem with Apple dictating all the terms while the "PC" was an environment where dozens if not hundreds of vendors might have to agree on a specification that could make something like this work.
- yuhong 12y agoYea, in particular NuBus had auto configuration from the beginning while on the ISA bus fixed port addresses was common. I think IBM supported multiple XGAs on the MCA bus.
- mzs 12y agoYou could do it with two adapters which used different base addresses and ports. Maybe my father used an MGA or Hercules and EGA together.
- mzs 12y agoIn '85 my father had two monitors in an IBM AT running autocad. One was for the image and the other was text only where the commands appeared as he typed and output was printed.
- gdy 12y agoSo did mine!