USB 3.0 to external monitors? An option...

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Level 1

17 points

USB 3.0 to external monitors? An option...

I need to run a couple of external monitors while preserving my thunderbolt port for an internet connection. I have a 13" MBA (mid-summer 2013) with 8 GBs of RAM, i7, and upgraded storage. I would basically use the external monitors for SQL Server Development Studio, a document processor, and maybe an internet browser (no video - just text).

After looking all over the place (and considering various configurations) this adapter was the best I've found (in terms of online reviews):

EVGA 100-U3-UV39-KR UV Plus+ 39

Does anyone have a better suggestion or experience with the UV Plus+ 39?

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), i7, 500GB flash, 8GB RAM

Posted on Oct 21, 2013 6:51 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Michael Black

Level 10

80,268 points

Oct 21, 2013 6:56 AM in response to AIRloop

Looking at that link, it does not sound like that device is going to work on an OS X machine at all.

Unless you can find OS X drivers and software on the manufacturers site that would support OS X, it looks like that device is strictly MS Windows only.

Look for something called DisplayLink, which I know is OS X compatible software to allow USB monitor connections.

See http://www.displaylink.com/support/mac_downloads.php

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Answer 2

AIRloop Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 21, 2013 7:20 AM in response to Michael Black

Thanks for the reply, Michael. I found some folks on Amazon reviews who used this device on OS X with the DisplayLink driver. (One reviewer notes an annoying bug with this setup related to random behavior of screen-saver).

However, perhaps it would be better to get one of the adapters on DisplayLink's store page. I'll hunt around for reviews on these. If anyone has experience (or thoughts) on these / other suggestions I would love to hear them.

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Answer 3

Oct 21, 2013 7:26 AM in response to AIRloop

There is also http://www.startech.com/ which supposedly also makes devices that work under OS X. You can find their devices on Amazon too.

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Answer 4

AIRloop Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 21, 2013 9:09 AM in response to Michael Black

Well, I was trying to pour on the kudos with a "This helped me" and a "This solved my question" (I suppose the latter includes the former). However, I can't figure out how to undo the "This helped me" to check "This solved my question". Google search gave me nothing - does anyone know?

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Answer 5

Oct 21, 2013 9:47 AM in response to AIRloop

Don't worry about the points system - I do appreciate them, but they are honestly not a big deal (and you cannot change them once you've checked the option anyway).

All that does matter is if you have found a workable solution now, then all is good (and I learned something too, as I had not seen those startech products either until I looked - their prices on Amazon were really not bad either it seemed to me).

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Answer 6

AIRloop Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 21, 2013 10:20 AM in response to Michael Black

Thanks, Michael - That really helps me out.

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