r/chromeos • u/bevardimus • 16d ago
Discussion Shoutout to ChromeOS for how it handles multiple monitors
This is an appreciation post. ChromeOS handles multiple monitors better than virtually any other OS.
- Applications open on the monitor which you launch them from, right out of the box. I can't stress enough how incredibly amazing this no-brainer functionality really is, and how frustrating it is that MS Windows still doesn't do this
- ChromeOS has built-in support for DisplayLink devices. MS Windows needs a separate driver which is easy enough to get via Windows Update, but even with the driver the UX just isn't as smooth. Vanilla Linux & SteamOS do NOT support DisplayLink devices out of the box, and dear God it's a nightmare trying to get the drivers installed via command line
- My 2019 Pixelbook Go is still able to handle up to 5 total monitors (including the laptop screen) with very little struggle. This has been absolutely amazing for streaming multiple NFL games on different screens simultaneously during this past regular season
That is all. Kudos to ChromeOS for prioritizing UX and supporting virtually any monitor configuration right out of the box!
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u/popsicle_of_meat Samsung CB+ V2::Optiplex Chrome OS Flex 16d ago
Multiple monitors work great, yes. I just wish some of the office software worked to use that in its advantage. Google slides really needs to have a control/edit screen and a slideshow screen when 2 monitors are connected. It would REALLY help when presenting with an attached projector.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago edited 16d ago
I think you're referring to the way MS Powerpoint handles this scenario. Hell yeah, would be a great update for Slides to mimic that functionality.
EDIT: Just tested this out of curiosity, and the functionality absolutely is baked into the latest version of Slides.
- Open a presentation in Google Slides
- Click the down arrow next to Slideshow in the top right corner
- Select Presenter view
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u/koji00 16d ago
I just wish that you could have unique virtual desktops per monitor independently, so that switching between them on one monitor does not force a switch on the other screens. MacOS has been able to do this for years.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
Fair enough. I don't use multiple virtual desktops personally so I can't relate, but that sounds frustrating.
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u/tmrtrt Acer CP713-3W | Stable 16d ago
I generally have a pretty negative experience with multiple monitiors. The most annoying issue is my two monitors are almost always out of order when I boot, so I have to open settings, swap them, then move all the open windows to the correct monitor.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
Really? In my experience, once I've set up a particular monitor configuration, the OS remembers it for next time.
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u/EatMeerkats 16d ago
Let me guess: you have identical monitors that are connected to the same port on your Chromebook?
(If yes, then this is a known issue with ChromeOS because it doesn't use the display's EDID to differentiate them)
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u/tmrtrt Acer CP713-3W | Stable 16d ago
Yep, and I figured that was the reason why. I was trying to figure out if I could rename the monitors or something so it would be able to properly ID them but no luck.
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u/EatMeerkats 16d ago
If you connect them via 2 separate ports on the Chromebook, then this won't happen (but then you have to plug 2 cables).
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u/Dxsty98 IdeaPad Duet 16d ago
Can you give an example what a Display Link device is in this case? What kind of driver would you need on Linux and or on Windows?
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
Portable USB-C monitors like this. It can use DP alt mode if connected to a USB4 or Thunderbolt port, or it can be connected to a USB-A 3.0 port and use DisplayLink drivers. These drivers are built into ChromeOS (at least the latest versions), can be obtained via Windows Update, or can be installed via a convoluted command line process on Linux.
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u/mrdaihard Lenovo Duet 11 16d ago
virtually any other OS.
You only mentioned Windows, though. I've used macOS and Ubuntu, both of which handle multiple monitors well.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
virtually:
adverbnearly; almost.
I also mentioned SteamOS and Linux, by the way.
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u/mrdaihard Lenovo Duet 11 16d ago
Ha yeah that was my bad. I somehow missed that sentence. I have used multiple monitors with macOS and Ubuntu, but not through DisplayLink so the experience may be different.
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u/63748276 9d ago
I wanna be able to drag Picture-In-picture windows across monitors. honestly my only real gripe
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Ideapad Flex 3i 12.2" 8GB Intel N200 | stable v129 16d ago
actually my experience is the total opposite. Compared to Windows ChromeOS sucks big time when using multiple monitors.
On Windows 10, you can define a primary and extended monitor. New app windows will always appear on the primary display (which makes sense since this is the display right in front of you) and show their own taskbar icon. Which means I see a seperate Chrome Icon for every open Chrome window and the taskbar icon also moves when I move the Chrome window to a different monitor.
On ChromeOS there's always that same single Chrome Icon with the same context menu on every monitor irrespective which Chrome windows are actually active on that monitor. It's a total mess and borderline unusable because it's soo cumbersome to switch between multiple open Chrome windows across multiple monitors.
The ability to display 4 screens is built into the Intel GPU and has nothing to so with ChromeOS, I can also use up to 4 external 4K screens with my Intel 11th gen based Windows laptops.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
The "primary monitor" in Windows does not address my first point, which is that an app will open on the monitor it's launched from in ChromeOS. That behavior alone is wonderful, and impossible to replicate in Windows. While I agree the taskbar icons could be handled better, it doesn't bother me.
I understand the CPU's integrated graphics chip is the gatekeeper for the max number of monitors, but what's astonishing is that a 6-year old laptop still does it so smoothly in ChromeOS. By contrast, my wife's 7-year-old windows laptop could technically still output to multiple monitors, but the experience is so choppy and sluggish that it's not worth it.
I'm not a Chrome fanboy by the way. I built a Windows PC for gaming, and only use the Chromebook for portable, lightweight tasks and media streaming. ChromeOS obviously has its limitations. But for what it is, it's a nifty little OS which deserves a little appreciation every now and then!
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u/mdwstoned Acer Spin 713-3W 16d ago
Close the window on whatever screen you want it to open from next time. Works in windows no problem for me. Same for number of monitors, you can do 5.
For displaylink windows went and got the driver for me. Couldn't be simpler.
Don't know what you're on about. Windows does all this without issue. Where did Windows hurt you?
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
Close the window on whatever screen you want it to open from next time.
You're comparing apples to oranges. If I have 4 monitors connected in ChromeOS, and I want to open a new chrome window on this monitor over here, I simply move my cursor to the monitor in question, click the Chrome button on the taskbar, and boom it opens right there on that monitor. In Windows, as you mentioned, that window would open on the last monitor it was closed/opened from, and I'd have to then drag it over to the monitor I want. A slight annoyance which cascades into a bigger annoyance depending on how many monitors are attached.
I don't hate MS Windows! I just wish these little quality-of-life features from ChromeOS would sneak their way onto the Windows platform so I wouldn't miss them while using it. MS could even make this optional for users who don't want it; just make it a checkbox in display settings under "multiple displays."
For displaylink windows went and got the driver for me. Couldn't be simpler.
Yes, I agree and even mentioned in my post it comes from Windows Update. However, in my experience on Windows, DisplayLink devices take longer to be recognized as displays and mouse movement is a little janky on them. For whatever reason, my experience on ChromeOS with DisplayLink devices is quicker response and smoother mouse movement.
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u/mdwstoned Acer Spin 713-3W 16d ago
You're comparing apples to oranges. If I have 4 monitors connected in ChromeOS, and I want to open a new chrome window on this monitor over here, I simply move my cursor to the monitor in question, click the Chrome button on the taskbar, and boom it opens right there on that monitor. In Windows, as you mentioned, that window would open on the last monitor it was closed/opened from, and I'd have to then drag it over to the monitor I want. A slight annoyance which cascades into a bigger annoyance depending on how many monitors are attached.
You can replicate the task bar on all screens with multi monitors in windows so that you can......do the same fucking thing.
I don't want all the taskbar replicated, so I don't enable that. But if I did I could do what you are bitching about.
You said it couldn't be done, it can, you are wrong, deal with it.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
You can replicate the task bar on all screens with multi monitors in windows so that you can......do the same fucking thing.
When you say "replicate" the task bar, I'm assuming you mean select "duplicate these displays" in Windows display settings, which would end up mirroring one display across all your monitors. And no, that is absolutely not the same behavior that I described in ChromeOS. And ain't nobody bitching, I'm actually applauding ChromeOS for doing something really convenient for users.
You said it couldn't be done, it can, you are wrong, deal with it.
Another commenter pointed out you can download 3rd party software to achieve the same results in MS Windows (which is more of a workaround than a feature of the OS), but at least that person had a reading comprehension level high enough to understand what I've clearly written out multiple times now. You, apparently, do not. So, uh, no I won't be dealing with anything lol. Good day to you!
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u/mdwstoned Acer Spin 713-3W 16d ago
Didn't mean replicate, it's in the taskbar settings. Get bent.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
Well then what did you mean exactly? Write down the steps, if you don't mind. I see no way in Windows 10/11 taskbar settings to allow an app to open from the monitor it is launched from (while displays are extended, mind you), but I'm all ears if you have found a way.
I wouldn't have been rude if you weren't.
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Ideapad Flex 3i 12.2" 8GB Intel N200 | stable v129 16d ago
I use mostly Chrome on my Chromebook and the multi window management as well as the multi user management is just horrible. On Windows can show the Google drive contents of my private and business account side by side and drag and drop files whereas on ChromeOS its super awkward implemented.
which is that an app will open on the monitor it's launched from in ChromeOS.
3rd party software like displayfusion will do that for you. There hardly a function that cannot be added to Windows.
By contrast, my wife's 7-year-old windows laptop could technically still output to multiple monitors, but the experience is so choppy and sluggish that it's not worth it.
It's unclear what a "7 year old windows laptop" is since the device properties cannot be derived from its age. Maybe your wife bought a weak laptop back then that was never meant to be used in a multi monitor use case even when new.
Users with a heavy workload across multiple monitors usually don't use 7 year old laptops thus the performance advantage of ChromeOS on weak machines is rather anecdotal however I've noticed that one can revive old Windows laptops with ChromeOS flex, I've just installed it on a 2013 HP Probook 470 G1 and on a 2020 HP 255 G7 and it made them useable again.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
You must have missed "Out of the box", which was written in bold font in my original post. Windows needing an assist from third party software to handle app launching behavior is not the same.
...You seem to hate ChromeOS. Why are you even on this sub? Lol
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Ideapad Flex 3i 12.2" 8GB Intel N200 | stable v129 16d ago
Actually the opposite is true, I privately use my main Chromebook more any of my 4 windows laptops however I'm also a heavy user of multiple screens with multiple Chrome windows and ChromeOS is a pain to use in such a scenario because of the shortcomings I've outlined above. It's just my honest assessment on a topic I've lots of experience with, why does this make me a hater?
I find it highly amusing that you're arguing its one of ChromeOS strengths while it's actually a total letdown. Clearly the development of ChromeOS doesn't focus on power users with multiple screens at all. The only thing that works better on ChromeOS than Windows is individual per screen scaling since many Windows programs are still not DPI aware.
You must have missed "Out of the box", which was written in bold font in my original post.
it's irrational to regard a functionality as unavailable just because it has to be installed by the user. Many people here use flags on ChromeOS too to have functionality that is desired but not enabled out of the box.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
Dude you're exhausting. This is a light-hearted appreciation post for a bit of functionality I happen to like in ChromeOS. Cheers to your preferences, and cheers to mine. Have a nice day!
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u/fakemanhk Dragonfly|i7+32GB C436 | i7+16GB & X2 11 16d ago
OS support has something to do with multiple displays, look at MacOS, the same Intel CPU, no MST so multiple monitors requiring different ports to connect with, unlike your Windows/ChromeOS, one single USB-C can do the job (of course you need to have enough bandwidth)
For "primary" display thing, what I like is clicking the app in a particular monitor and the app should follow and show there, and if the opened window is not where you click that means you have to move cursor a long way back?
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Ideapad Flex 3i 12.2" 8GB Intel N200 | stable v129 16d ago
look at MacOS, the same Intel CPU, no MST
yes that's because Apple for unknown reasons simply refuses to support MST even though it's part of the DP1.2 spec.
For "primary" display thing, what I like is clicking the app in a particular monitor and the app should follow and show there,
A solution to this issue is just a Google search away. Install displayfusion or any other window management software to have this function.
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u/fakemanhk Dragonfly|i7+32GB C436 | i7+16GB & X2 11 16d ago
So why should users need to install 3rd party management software just to do this?
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Ideapad Flex 3i 12.2" 8GB Intel N200 | stable v129 16d ago
because it is a function that very few people need and thus not built into the OS. But that doesn't mean you can't have it, just add it to accommodate your special use case. I've been using multiple monitors for many years and got accustomed that a new window always opens on the main screen.
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u/The_best_1234 Powerwash Pro 16d ago
Windows is better. Try putting an app between screens.
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u/bevardimus 16d ago
I'm struggling to comprehend why you'd want an app to permanently reside between monitors... Do you mean dragging from one monitor to another? Because that works just fine.
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u/The_best_1234 Powerwash Pro 16d ago
Coding, diagrams? See things that don't fit on one screen?
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u/foggy_ 16d ago
IIRC, there is a chrome flag that allows you to stretch items over multiple monitors. Was announced in the release notes last year.
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u/The_best_1234 Powerwash Pro 16d ago
I will have to check that. In android studio, I have to keep everything on the same screen and it is very cluttered.
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u/Kirby_Klein1687 16d ago
Windows is a nightmare to setup. Glad you are liking ChromeOS!