If you use remote desktop a lot, you've probably wished you had the ability to have multiple monitors. Vista now has a new application that will let you, and you can even use this new development on Windows XP.

The Hardware

In order to extend your desktop to multiple monitors, you're either going to need an internal video card, or an external video card. Internal video cards are usually a little less expensive but also require the hassle of opening your computer's case to install. If you're wanting to extend your desktop on a laptop beyond any provided auxiliary ports, an external video solution might be your best bet.

The best external solution we've come accross is through USB, like this USB external video card. It only requires you to plug one end to an available USB port on your computer and a DVI or VGA monitor to the other end (DVI to VGA adapter included). These adapters can add as many as 6 monitors to your set-up (one monitor per adapter).

Software

Windows Vista now includes an RDP client that will allow you to stretch your remote desktop over multiple monitors. Here are some easy steps to get increased remote desktop real estate:

1. Create a folder for your RDP 6.0 files (just not in System32)
2. Next, find these files in your System 32 folder: mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll. Copy these files from the Vista installs System32\en-US folder to the new folder.
3. Create a subfolder to your new folder called en-US.
4. Copy the files mstsc.exe.mui and mstscax.dll.mui from the Vista installs System32\en-US folder to the subfolder.
5. Create a shortcut to mstsc.exe and include the command line option "/span".

Limitations

The main limitation to this new application is that your extended monitors will not act as seperate desktops (like they do when you have multiple monitors on your local computer). For instance, when you maximize a window, it will maximize in all of your screens, not just one of the them. So you will probably have to manually maximize, minimize, and move your windows from screen to screen. With the added real estate, this might be worth it to most remote desktop operators.