There are two popular apps in the App Store that extend your computer's display to the iPad: Air Display and iDisplay. Does anyone have experience with either of these apps?

I'm interested in using them with my MacBook and a Windows 7 machine. I see low reviews for both from Windows users, but I'll primarily be using the MacBook, so I'm not concerned about that.

If you've used either or both, what do you think of the responsiveness? Does the touch input translate well when extending a display from OS X? Is the app stable? What about its desktop server?

Most importantly, is there another app I should consider?

My main need for this is moving windows off of the main display to when I need a full-screen view but still want another window's content visible. I already have a monitor I use when I'm at my desk, but if I'm out or working on the couch, it's not available.

5/26/2011 9:46:21 AM

It's a shame there isn't already an iPad thread for these types of questions...

5/26/2011 10:08:52 AM

Fuck you, you are part of the problem.

5/26/2011 10:23:59 AM

I use air display with my MacBook. It works pretty well. You can tell its not quite as responsive as a real 2nd monitor, but it's really only noticeable when moving windows or watching videos. You cannot watch videos in full screen mode, but windowed is possible, although choppy.

Never had any stability issues. I don't notice the server running at all I didn't mess with the touch control aspect a lot, only enough to see that it worked as advertised. I can't really see that coming in too handy when only 1/2 of your displays are touch enabled, but it did seem to work fine.

^ to further speak to that, I've already put some of my thoughts on air display into the iPad thread several months ago, but good luck finding my post.

[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 10:30 AM. Reason : Just sayin']

5/26/2011 10:28:54 AM

Cool beans. I won't be using it for video, just reading static text and images.

Is there a wired option that might be more responsive? I don't really need it, but I'm curious.

5/26/2011 10:40:19 AM

Nah, just video out solutions, but not video in.

5/26/2011 11:15:19 AM

Do any of these iPad display apps have a driver that doesn't disable Aero?

5/26/2011 11:24:20 AM

no, but there are already USB monitors out there...
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/

5/26/2011 2:51:28 PM

el nacho - worth the $10? might even be able to just add it to my next expense report

i have an ipad that sits on my desk all day and from time to time i need to use it for demos/testing but it sits idle most of the day - i use a macbook pro and hadn't though of adding an extra monitor like this

5/26/2011 8:03:02 PM

I used airdisplay and it was okay, had some issues with the server, ended up deleting it.

5/26/2011 9:35:51 PM

What issues?

5/27/2011 6:25:50 AM

Quote :

"el nacho - worth the $10?"

I mean, for me personally, I know it's not worth the $10, because I've only used it a handful of times and even then it was just to say "Look, isn't this neat?" Then again, I don't usually NEED a 2nd monitor on my laptop.

If you can write it off, then sure, go for it. Or even if you think you'd actually use it a few times I guess.

5/27/2011 11:13:24 AM