HIS has released a USB video output adapter allowing end users to connect extra monitors through a USB port.  This ease of expandability is what many people have been craving to avoid the cost and time of installing a dual or quad DVI output video card.  Priced at $75, the HIS Multi-View initially doesn't seem inexpensive however, when you consider that a multiple DVI output VGA card will cost a tremendous amount more, it works out to be a very practical price point.  Aside from the cost difference, with a multi-output VGA card, you will max out that option with either two or four DVI outputs.  A USB alternative such as the HIS Multi-View allows up to six extra monitors to be connected in hot plug fashion.  Pretty cool stuff.  The good people at HIS have sent a sample of this very practical tool over for look.  Let's get started.

Specifications

• Application: Add-on monitor USB adapter

• Interface: PCI-Express 2.0

• Plug and Play

• Hot-plug: Add or remove monitor without system reboot.

• Supports up to 1600 x 1200 and 1680 x 1050 resolution

• Windows Vista Compatible

• Smooth DVD Playback

How it works

As we said in the introduction, the practicality of the HIS Multi-View is in its USB interface.  Not only does it allow extra monitors to be hot swapped in but it does so in a compact and highly portably fashion.  The HIS Multi-View can be used to expand up to six extra monitors through an equal number of Multi-View adapters.  Below are a couple of screen shots off the HIS website that make a pretty clear picture of how the HIS Multi-View connects.

Many laptops have a VGA output port that can be used in conjunction with a USB Multi-View adapter as shown above or multiple USB ports can be used to create a Circuit City like display with up to six extra monitors.

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