Using a second PC as an external monitor?

linnemeyerhere · 22 Dec 2012

Something tells me the lappy isn't going to control the lenovo without software.

mmkarimi · 22 Dec 2012

luckyrick said:

mmkarimi said:

i think there would be some problems
first check if the HDMI is an input port on lenovo, the hdmi port on your lenovo may be an output port the same as HDMI port on your laptop.can you take a photo from the back panel of your lenovo here?

sure.

i see, there are two ports here for HDMI, if i'm right and one is not usb3, then you can plug in your laptop to the lenovo monitor
and should say that you dn't need an expensive one, i think you can find one with 3-4 bucks
if 1% it doesnt work, use your network to do so...

bobafetthotmail · 22 Dec 2012

luckyrick said:

bobafetthotmail said:

In case you don't have any input in that ideacentre, you can install some softwares (a free one, a paid one with more features) that disguise themselves as a video card and pass the screen data through LAN, so it will totally suck for decent games but will be fine for everything else (well maybe HD movies may suffer, don't know, you can try the free one and see).

Thanks. Both computers have HDMI ports. Is any additional software required?

Both computer's HDMI ports are output-only so are irrelevant in this situation. You cannot use them to connect the two devices, they can go only to a screen or a TV (<-- recommended choice), because those have input-only HDMI ports.

the software I linked uses the ethernet network to move video data around and have either of the two become a screen for the other.

luckyrick · 22 Dec 2012

If you look at the photo above, at the right end of there is a tiny port, with this symbol:

Pedroc1999 · 22 Dec 2012

Try this, you may need a crossover cable

ZoneOS ZoneScreen

Pedroc1999 · 22 Dec 2012

Correct me if im wrong but that might be a mini display port or firewire port,

Pedroc1999 · 22 Dec 2012

But before anything.... Just try and see if it works

bobafetthotmail · 23 Dec 2012

luckyrick said:

If you look at the photo above, at the right end of there is a tiny port

I don't recognize that symbol. Still, I might be wrong after all.

After a quick google-image search, I found that some models of that device do have a HDMI-input port, that will allow it to become a screen for your laptop. It is a very very rare feature.

Please state what is the model ("Ideacentre" is a bit generic as half of Leonovo products are Ideacentre) and we can find out for sure (by fetching the manual or a reputable review of it) before you waste money on a HDMI cable. The one I linked is a Ideacentre A300 and looks like yours, but they may have made other models with the same looks.