Portable Monitor for Traveling

I think I want to pick up a second monitor for when I travel or sit in a client's office to hook up to my laptop. Historically I've actually carted around a 19" monitor with cables and everything but turns out portable monitors are actually a thing and I don't need to be a loser carrying around a screen anymore.

For those of you who do this, what are you using for a second portable monitor? I see Asus has some USB powered ones, but I also hear a lot of tablets can be used as second monitors? I'd like to keep the cost on the lower end of the spectrum as I don't travel as much as I used to and it will be used for things like emails, PDF viewing, and excel. I'm looking for something with at least a 13" screen but I think the 15" - 19" would be ideal.

I'm currently running a Surface book with Windows 10 if it matters. I have the wireless adapter and was planning on using TVs but thats under the assumption that the TVs have HDMI and USB.

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Originally Posted by schurchill39

I think I want to pick up a second monitor for when I travel or sit in a client's office to hook up to my laptop. Historically I've actually carted around a 19" monitor with cables and everything but turns out portable monitors are actually a thing and I don't need to be a loser carrying around a screen anymore.

For those of you who do this, what are you using for a second portable monitor? I see Asus has some USB powered ones, but I also hear a lot of tablets can be used as second monitors? I'd like to keep the cost on the lower end of the spectrum as I don't travel as much as I used to and it will be used for things like emails, PDF viewing, and excel. I'm looking for something with at least a 13" screen but I think the 15" - 19" would be ideal.

I'm currently running a Surface book with Windows 10 if it matters. I have the wireless adapter and was planning on using TVs but thats under the assumption that the TVs have HDMI and USB.

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Could look into Miracast.

I used one for a while. Ultimately, it wasn't worth the hassle and I just bought a laptop with a larger screen. This was the model that I had: https://www.amazon.ca/AOC-e1659Fwu-1.../dp/B00CMKOVMO

The main issue was that it was too large to fit into my carry-on bag. As a result, after about 5 months and 50k of travel it ended-up breaking in-transit in my checked luggage, despite being in its protective case and my luggage being the hard shell type. If I were to do it again, I would find a better case for it than the one that comes with it. Never the less, I expected better longevity out of it and, being a portable monitor, a more rugged mechanical design. The second issue was that none of my laptops could power it directly from the USB 3.0 port alone, it required a secondary USB power source. This turned into a gaggle of USB cords, power cords, and travel adapters. The final issue was that the display heavily relies on the CPU to operate -- about 25% CPU at idle just to drive the second display. My laptop was fairly under powered to begin with so my machine slowed to a crawl with it connected. That was only compounded by the fact that with two monitors I wanted more things open.

Anyway, in the end the better solution was a more robust laptop with more screen real-estate. Of course, YMMV.

We regularly send staff out to client sites. We used to pack a full monitor in a rolling carry on bag. Now we use these AOC monitors from Memex

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX49274

They've been very popular, and staff whine when they're all booked and have to take an old one.

I would highly recommend Asus mb169b+ for usb 3.0 and IPS 1080p or mb169c usb C connection

https://www.amazon.ca/ASUS-MB169B-15.../dp/B013XFJKGI
https://www.asus.com/Monitors/Portable-Products/

What about a small projector ???

https://www.staples.ca/en/kodak-75-l...iABEgLb-fD_BwE

Going to pull the pin on a monitor right away here. I've narrowed it down to the AOC one @The_Penguin posted or the Asus MB168B (not sure I fully understand the difference between it and the MB169B+).

I just need another monitor for working. So PDF, Excel, and maybe some you tube from time to time. Any input on those 2 (3) units? How is portability with either?