PC Users Can Now Use iPad As A Second Monitor

PC users can now join the party. Thanks to MaxiVista, those with Windows can now use an iPad as a second PC screen. For some time, Mac users have been able to use Air Display to perform this task. Now, PC owners can too.

MaxiVista by Bartels Media GmBH ($9.99 in the App Store) allow users to spread windows over both displays, which instantly adds more screen real estate. The app works for PCs running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 including WDDM drivers. Both 32- and 64-bit OSs are compatible. Features include:

Fully automatic configuration. Install & Go!

Automatic update of the display orientation by simply turning the iPad.

MaxiVista is the first to support Windows Vista/7 including its latest WDDM video driver technology.

MaxiVista also works in existing multi monitor configurations.

The 32 and 64 Bit virtual video drivers are certified for Windows.

Automatic network parameter detection.

The iPad’s IP address can, optionally, be configured manually.

Early MaxiVista users (based on comments in the App Store) are discouraged by the app's inability to use the PC's Aero display mode. In addition, the app is not currently designed for full-screen video playback on the iPad. Still, the app worked quite well when I tested it on my Windows 7 PC, even with its limitations. But, I would expect an update to MaxiVista sooner rather than later to address the concerns. The app should make PC users happy that they too can utilize the Apple device as a second monitor. Here is a nice video the makers of MaxiVista have released that shows the app in action: