ScreenRecycler

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Level 1

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ScreenRecycler

hello everyone,
i have just tried out the trial version of ScreenRecycler.
i have noticed on these forums that many people have suggested using ScreenRecycler as a way of using an iMac as an external monitor.
I am connecting a MBP (new version) with an old iMac (intel core duo 1.83GHz 10.4.11) to enable screen sharing and use the iMac as an extended screen for my MBP. I would like to use it for video editing and CAD so need fairly seamless graphics. I noticed while i was trying it that there are visible delays/pixelation if you take video windows onto the remote screen (on the iMac), and redraw lags whilst using CAD.
first i tried the setup just wirelessly, and changed screen colours to thousands (as recommended by ScreenRecycler). i also have an old ethernet cable that i have just connected between the two machines.
i am not noticing any visible difference with the ethernet cable really, but i am also unsure how to tell the software to use a connection via ethernet cable, rather than a wireless one.
can i just cable the two computers together? and if so, where do i confirm in their settings that they should connect via the ethernet cable?
i am using 'Jolly FastVNC' on the iMac.
i was also advised to 'disable compression and degradation' as well as the screen colours to thousands.
does anybody know where to do this?

excuse my ignorance,

thanks very much

p.s is it the case that 'screen sharing' facility with leopard does not allow you to 'extend' your screen with another computer, just control that computer on your screen?

17" iMac intel core, Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Apr 7, 2009 8:28 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Apr 7, 2009 9:24 AM in response to indiacita_

Screen sharing is a mechanism for controlling another computer remotely. It is an implementation of VNC. It is not the same as what ScreenRecycler enables.

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Answer 2

Apr 7, 2009 12:45 PM in response to indiacita_

ScreenRecycler uses a network connection to transmit the video signal. It is the same method used for doing +screen sharing+, where you can see another Mac's screen from your Mac and remote control it. ScreenRecycler just uses that capability (along with VNC) in a clever way. It will not be fast enough to give satisfactory results when showing video. You need to get a regular monitor and attach it to your MBP as a display (the usual way) if you want +seamless graphics+.

What ScreenRecycler is good for is showing things that change less frequently. I use it for my Mail window that shows my email list. I also use it for tool palettes with program that have such controls. So you can use if for video editing; just don't put the window with the video on the ScreenRecycler screen.

i also have an old ethernet cable that i have just connected between the two machines.

Make sure it is at least rated Cat-5e so that it is working at gigabit speed between the two Macs. If it is Cat-5 or lower, you may only get 100Base-T speed or less. A wired ethernet connection that is working at gigabit (1000Base-T) speed will be better than using wireless.

i am also unsure how to tell the software to use a connection via ethernet cable

I would turn OFF AirPort on the iMac. Then you know it is using the wired connection.

i was also advised to 'disable compression and degradation' as well as the screen colours to thousands. does anybody know where to do this?

Those settings are in the Screen Recycler program's preferences.

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Answer 3

indiacita_ Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2009 1:14 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

kenichi,

thank you very much, extremely clear and precise information.

i just bought a Cat6e ethernet cable and connected it after turning airport off on both machines, and it is much much better. there is a small amount of drag when you move windows about on the virtual screen, but actually a video now plays on the virtual screen without pixelation or blurring, so it is pretty good.
my main concern was to be able to zoom in and out of CAD files without lag or redraw. that is now working very well so that's good. i am also going to use the extra screen space for tool palettes.
of course a proper external monitor is worth getting but i am very busy trying to finish my architectural qualifications and am pretty low on extra cash, so this is a nice solution meanwhile.

i turned back on the airport so i could still receive mail and nothing seems to have changed so i guess its running off the ethernet connection.

i was advised by the guy at ScreenRecycler to use my ethernet (en0) interface ipv6 address to connect the JollyFastVNC program to ScreenRecycler, but i couldn't get it to work. but in all honesty it seems to be working pretty well now, so i am satisfied.

apologies for posting questions re non-apple software in these forums,

thanks again for your help.

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Answer 4

Apr 7, 2009 1:25 PM in response to indiacita_

If you have a really fast network connection, such as with wired gigabit ethernet, it should work fine with the default settings in Screen Recycler. My recycled screen is on an old PC laptop running Ubuntu Linux, so there is a limit to the network speed between my two machines.

The interesting thing is if you do get a second regular display, you can use ScreenRecycler to give you a THIRD display. That's how I have three displays on my iMac. Actually, I don't have the +third screen+ set up at the moment because I did some moving around the home, but I plan to set it up again soon.

apologies for posting questions re non-apple software in these forums,

You can talk about non-Apple software in the forum. That's not a problem.

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