DoubleSight debuts trio of new Smart USB monitors
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 30th 2009 5:07AM
posted September 30th 2009 5:07AM
Tiny USB monitors may not exactly be a must-have desk accessory for everyone just yet, but those in the market for a bit more screen real estate are fast getting more options to consider, like this new trio of Smart USB monitors from DoubleSight Displays. Available in your choice 7- or 9-inch models, the displays are mostly identical in outward appearance with the notable exception of a detachable webcam on the top-end DS-90UC model, and a higher 1,024 x 600 resolution on the two 9-inch displays, as opposed to a mere 800 x 480 on the lone 7-inch display -- making it a far less attractive choice for all but the most desk space challenged. That choice is made even easier by the fact that the 9-incher costs just $20 more than its smaller counterpart ($140 vs. $120), while the webcam-equipped version will set you back a somewhat heftier $160.
wow... a 7" monitor for the price of a 20" monitor...
I'm a consumer whore... I'll buy anything...
So who wants this "gem"?
Agreed. Crap resolution, and that price has got to be a joke. I can get a 20" for the same amount, if not cheaper, with higher resolution to boot.
These are pretty cool in my opinion. Yeah I can get a big hi res monitor for about the same price, but this is USB, and just a little extra real estate for things like toolbars in photoshop, or my IM program, thing that normally get in my way but I need them open all the time... I can have 2-3 real monitors for my work, and one of these down below my screen for those little things...
Damn, I just bought Maxivista for $50. I would prefer one of these. I could use it with my desktop or with my laptop.
But that's not to say that Maxivista is poor software, it's actually great.
Give me linux drivers so that I can bolt this to the rack in my closet instead of dragging a monitor in there when I a console...
Careful not to accidentally the console.
Damn it, I was distracted by this comment and I just accidentally the WHOLE console.
I am the target market...perhaps.
I have a 22" beautiful Samsung display at home, but I miss the dual monitors that i have it work. Working with multiple documents/windows is *so* much easier with multiple monitors. Sure, a 9" second monitor won't help much, but it will allow me to drop a video, telnet/SSH, or similar window on a second screen.
Instead, I just went out and bought a 20" Samsung monitor that is beautiful...and it cost $159. That said, I don't like it next to my primary 22" monitor because it doesn't match and the two take up quite a bit of room.
Thus, I have decided that I either need to replace the 22" monitor with an identical 20" monitor to yield a pair of matching 20" monitors...or return the 20" that I just bought and keep an eye out for something like this...albeit, knowing that it really will only be good for something like stream video while I work. That said, Windows 7 automatic window positioning will help with multiple windows on larger monitors.
The answer would be easy if this thing cost $50. Perhaps, even $70, but $140? For $60 more I can get the same screen with an entire netbook attached...or for nearly the same price, I can get that beautiful 20" Samsung.
I applaud the effort, but the price is way off base from a consumer point of view.
I want to take the 9" add in a Touch screen so it is a tablet add-on to my current netbook.
These are awesome for a 'niche' audience. For standard computing this is obviously a bad choice for a secondary monitor- you can purchase a nice 19" for the same price. However for portable computing this thing would be awesome (in line with Mimo and Century's offering of USB powered monitors). The higher price you are paying is because 1) Its USB bus powered and 2) Its designed to be portable and easy to setup and takedown. Granted- I think the prices on these things will fall over the next year. These are perfect though for productivity users toting netbooks and some laptops. For me this would be an awesome option to have with me when I need more screen real estate then my netbook currently offers. I gives me the flexibility of not having to take a full-size laptop with me, while still allowing me to stay minimal in what I haul around.