If you want a multiple monitor setup and don't have a spare monitor, but you do have a second laptop, then you need Maxivista.

I've only just discovered the joys of a multi-monitor setup. At work I have a monitor connected to my laptop and I extend the screen area across my laptop screen giving me a 2 monitor setup.

At home I don't have an external monitor for my laptop, but I do have a spare laptop.

Enter Maxivista.

Maxivista has a simple sales pitch. If you have two (or more) laptops on the same network then install Maxivista on one as a server, and on the others as a client, and then the other laptops can be used as a second or even a third monitor for extended screen area.

I use a 2nd monitor at work and using my spare laptop with Maxivista at home is almost indistinguishable from the hardware solution at work.

Maxivista works its magic via a virtual monitor driver, so it uses the standard 'Display Properties' from Control Panel to control the positioning of the second monitor.

I use the Pro edition, which costs a teensy bit more (@ the time of writing it costs a whole 7 US dollars extra) but is easily worth the money. The pro edition allows me to toggle between an extended monitor setup and a remote control mode where I can control the other laptop from the main keyboard and mouse - kind of like a virtual kvm. For me this is even more valuable than a second monitor as my 'second monitor' has spare processing power which I can call upon anytime I want, and I can use the same keyboard and mouse setup.

Some great features that I find indispensible:

• remote control toggling via hotkey
• shared clipboard
• works the same as a physical setup
• faster than vnc
• easy to setup

I still call up vnc to transfer files between the two machines, but I've been assured by the programmers of Maxivista that file sharing functionality will be present in the upcoming v3 of Maxivista.

Maxivista is so easy to use that I haven't fired up the help file and configuration is easily initiated from the trayicon.

And I haven't stumbled across any problems using it.

I think this program is great, and I thoroughly recommended it. If you have a spare laptop then there is no excuse for not making better use of it.

Visit the web site for more information and take it for a spin.