Running multiple monitors on a single computer is just plain cool. At least it is for us here at the ‘Brick, and the more the better. So, when we heard about HP’s USB graphics adapters which allow you to connect multiple monitors via USB, we had to try it out. HP says a single computer can run as many as six of them and we wanted to see just how well.

THE SETUP:
We ran our testing with some pretty standard equipment. We used an HP ultra-slim desktop PC running Windows Vista with 2GB of RAM and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, along with six average 19″ displays and a single 20″ display. And of course six USB Graphics adapters (actually we had seven adapters but we’ll …

USB graphics adapters are a great way for Mac and PC users to add additional screens to their computers without having to open the computer up or install a new video card. DisplayLink reported last week that it had sold 1 million USB GPUs, without support for Linux.

The company has now announced that it will be releasing the source code for Linux under the LGPL agreement to allow developers to build drivers to support DisplayLink GPUs on Linux notebooks, desktops, and servers.

Not so long ago if you wanted to add a second or third display to your computer that meant you needed a video card with multiple outputs or maybe even an additional video card. That meant a significant outlay of money and buying new hardware.

DisplayLink came along and made adding multiple monitors as easy as plugging in a USB device. The company says that it has now sold more than one million USB GPUs since it launched. DisplayLink certified GPUs are available in a wide variety of products from many of the largest computer and accessory makers around.

Acer, in conjunction with DisplayLink, announced the availability of a new USB computer LCD monitor which still supports Windows Vista’s Aero Glass interface as well as other 3D functions. Acer’s latest B223 USB LCD monitor comes with the following features.

22″ LCD display, 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, DisplayLink DL-160 network display chip, USB 2.0 connectivity, 5ms response time, 32-bit, true-color graphics. The B223’s height, rotation and swivel angles can be adjusted for your optimal viewing comfort. It’s already available in Europe, retailing for about $430.

It wasn’t too long ago that to get a second display often meant adding a second video card. For notebook users adding a second display was often impossible. When DisplayLink technology came to market adding more displays became much easier.

The latest DisplayLink LCD on the market comes from a Koran company called Nanovision. The company has announced a line of 7-inch DisplayLink LCDs that gets power and connectivity from the host PC over a single USB connection.

A new Sony docking station being made available for VAIOs makes use of DisplayLink technology for USB-enabled displays. It is called the Sony VAIO Docking Station (model number VGP-UPR1) and you’ll find it available now for around $200.

The VGP-UPR1, according to DisplayLink, allows Sony notebook users to connect an analog or DVI display to a laptop using USB 2.0. It supports a resolution up to 1600 x 1200 and works with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, including support for the Windows Vista Aero interface.

For most computer users who want more than one display adding a second isn’t that hard if you have a video card that supports dual monitors. Going above a pair of displays requires an additional video card. This can be in the form of a USB adapter or actually installing a second video card into your PC, which can be a hassle.

Thankfully DisplayLink promises to make that difficulty a thing of the past by allowing you to simply connect a second, third, or even more displays via a simple USB connection. ASUS has announced that its new VW223B 23-inch LCD and its VW202B LCD are both DisplayLink Certified.

If you want enough screen space to get your actual work plus YouTube and the other fun stuff you like to read when the boss (or the wife) isn’t around and you can’t afford a big 30-inch LCD Kensington has your back. Kensington has announced its new Dual Display Adapter.

Sure a pair of displays sitting on your desk isn’t as cool looking as one massive LCD, but two displays has its perks. The Kensington Dual Display Adapter connects to your computer via USB and uses DisplayLink technology. Kensington says that up to six displays can be connected to one computer using multiple adapters.