Many folks out there are really vocal about how much having more than one monitor can boost your productivity. Some people are such believers in this idea that they have even started designing multi-monitor accessories for laptops and laptops with multiple screens baked right in. You might find this a bit overblown, but for those who are, they often have to make some sacrifices to fully embrace this multi-monitor life.
Having extra screens basically needs more space, meaning those who don’t already own a big desk are kinda stuck. Most setups usually go for a horizontal arrangement, and that leads to the space issue I mentioned. Plus, if you’re someone who loves to work on a laptop, dragging extra monitors around isn’t really practical since portable monitors can be ridiculously pricey. But hey, there might be a new wave of these monitors that aim to be more budget-friendly, like this nifty offering from MINISFORUM.
Designer: MINISFORUM
For many who are glued to their computer screens, a multi-monitor setup remains a luxury they can’t really go for. If you tend to work from a laptop and are often away from your desk, it becomes impractical and just not realistic really. Portable dual monitors attempt to create a more compact option, but the price tags usually stop folks in their tracks. If the prices were lower, I reckon we would see more people interested in these gadgets, even for use on a desktop.
The MINISFORUM MDSA156 is trying to tackle this issue head-on. Honestly, the biggest selling point is it’s price tag of just $231. That’s nearly half the price of the least expensive portable dual monitor we’ve come across so far, and it comes from a brand that has a decent reputation. But the real question is whether this dual-monitor design lives up to the hype.
When comparing a side-by-side layout where all monitors are supposed to be on the same eye level ergonomically, a vertical setup forces one screen to be lower than the other, which means you’ll be looking down more often. But this can save space on your desk and additionally allows for easy rearranging without dealing with a mess of cables since you’ll just need a single USB-C cable for both power and data transfer.
Laptop users are likely to get the most out of this because they can instantly adjust their setup to what’s best for them no matter where they are. Whether at the office or home, three screens can be utilized, including the built-in display of the laptop. When they’re on the move, users can choose to use both or just one of the portable screens, depending on what table space they got. Plus, they can fold the display back to tent mode for sharing with clients or pals. Weighing in at 2.2lbs (1kg) with a thickness of 0.95 inches (2.4cm), it might seem like a stretch to call this “portable,” but hey, carrying two monitors isn’t a walk in the park either.
