Second monitor as independent display?

hobarrera · 2014-04-02 10:59:09

I've a second display hooked to my laptop, and I'd like to reproduce video on it somehow.

I though about multihead X, but that extends my desktop in ways that I don't want; it extends my screen to a side, and makes corners/borders not respond the way I want them to. It also messes up conky, which aligns to a border, and other similar stuff.

I though about two Xorg instances, :0 as my main, and :1 on the second monitor. The issue is, if I switch between VT1 and VT2, it applies to both monitors, so that's a no-go.

Does anyone have any additional suggestions? All I want is videos to reproduce in the second monitor WITHOUT extending my first in any way. I don't need to do any input onto that second screen (eg: I won't be needed mouse/keyboard input).

Gusar · 2014-04-02 11:29:51

What you want is called Zaphod mode. Search for that and you'll find how to use it. In this mode you get displays :0.0 and :0.1, you can move the mouse cursor between them, but not applications.

hobarrera · 2014-04-02 12:31:57

Gusar wrote:

What you want is called Zaphod mode. Search for that and you'll find how to use it. In this mode you get displays :0.0 and :0.1

Thanks, I've started looking into it and I'll give more feedback when if I manage to get it running as expected.

Gusar wrote:

you can move the mouse cursor between them, but not applications.

Actually, that WOULD be a problem, since my screen borders/corners react when the mouse hits them, so sliding past any of them would be a nuisance. But from what I've seen so far, this may be avoidable entirely and have the mouse restricted to the main screen. Again, I'll get back on this.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-04-02 10:59:09

Second monitor as independent display?

#2 2014-04-02 11:29:51

Re: Second monitor as independent display?

#3 2014-04-02 12:31:57

Re: Second monitor as independent display?

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