Can Surface pro run dual external monitors?

Anonymous
2013-02-05T22:36:00+00:00

With the ports configuration and specs of the announced Surface Pro, can one run  dual external monitors? By that I mean connecting two external monitors, one for primary display and one for extended display. Irrelevant what shows on the actual Surface screen.

This is the current configuration I have for my heavy laptop (with docking station) and want to recreate it if I swap to the cool Surface Pro.

I don't mind buying some port replicators, as long as the set-up works seamlessly once connected. I saw some other threads and no docking station is planned by Microsoft at this stage

Thanks for input

Surface | Surface Pro | USB-C

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Anonymous
2013-02-06T01:53:48+00:00

Greetings ManlioV,

That's a great question. Because the Surface Pro is running Windows 8, you could get a USB port hub and USB video cards and the Surface Pro would be able to install the drivers so you could hook up multiple monitors that way.

Hope that helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-03-08T16:20:27+00:00

    I was able to watch on Netflix or on Xbox video with no problem.  I took the video that was playing and moved it to the other two monitors I have hooked up.  Didnt seem to be issues. 

    Someone on this thread was complaining about displaylink drivers.  The Targus I bought had new 2013 drivers for Win8 so maybe the problem he was having is fixed.  I havent had any problems.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-03-08T15:45:24+00:00

    If you do get the chance to test it further, see if a restart, logoff or closing (Alt+F4 or Swipe down from top of app) of the Xbox video app makes any difference as well (if you have not already tested those things).

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-03-08T15:36:17+00:00

    Did videos play in any other apps or was it just Xbox videos?

    I didn't try any other videos, just those in my Xbox video app.  I doubt I will have time to test it more today (some hefty deadlines) but I will try to capture the specific error info that was displayed as well as see if other apps were impacted.  

    It seems like it was a conflict between what Xbox video expected to be the video drivers and the DisplayLink installed drivers.

    This was some testing to see if the Surface Pro should be one of the hardware options we include in our laptop replacement process, our sales staff is very non-technical so things like installing drivers and uninstalling them are something we have to avoid as it would require high touch interactions with our helpdesk staff.

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