Story
This ones going to be short, as I just want to share my findings. This short posting is about the 3 Multiple Monitor taskbar programs I've tried.
Short Reviews
Multi-Monitor (Free Version)
* they have a free version, and it use to look good back when the main windows task bar wasn't translucent, but now, it looks dull, old and boring
* this is the first program I used which a fellow colleague at work referred me to way back when. It was free at the time. I think they didn't have the paid version yet.
* If you like dull and boring, this ones for you
Here's the link to their website:
* http://www.mediachance.com/free/multimon.htm
To Download
Click the download tab, scroll down a bit, and choose which version you want. I'm not into paying for things, and so I tried only the free version
Actual Multiple Monitors
* this one has only a trial version for 30 days or so, and by the halfway point a dialog will open up each time windows boots up, and ask you to buy, enter your code, or continue. I found this most annoying!
* this is one of the best task bars I've tried. It has the nice windows 7 look and feel, and it also has the Windows Start button on it, so if you want to get at the Start Menu, you don't have to move your mouse back to the main monitor to get at it
* big downside is that there is no free version
* by day 22, I uninstalled it and looked for a free version
Here's the link in case your are interested, and possibly interested in buying it:
http://www.actualtools.com/multiplemonitors/download/
To Download
1. Scroll down the the 'Current Version' table, and click the link under file name to start downloading
Dual Monitor (Open Source) - *** RECOMMENDED!!
* I found this free Windows taskbar today that I never knew was freely available, so I got excited, and wanted to share it, hence this posting.
* what this program does is extend your current task bar onto other monitors that you have extended your desktop to. It doesn't have the 'Windows Start Button', but it does have the nice Windows 7 look and feel which is important to me
* most importantly, it's FREE!
If you are interested in getting a taskbar that works, looks good, and your don't have to pay for, here's the link:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dualmonitortb/
It says they've tested it with: Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. I currently have it installed on my machine which runs Windows 7. If you don't have either one of these, then try it at your own risk.
To Download
Click the big green download button
Conclusion / Recommendations
I guess now-a-days, with the internet, and Open-Source, everyone should really look long and hard for free Open-Source tools, testing them out to see if they suite your needs, before paying a cent for Software.
I recommend you trying out the "Dual Monitor" open source product. It might just be what you've been looking for and need.
Though, maybe if you have so many monitors that moving your mouse back to the main one to get at the start button, and you don't have a Windows key on your keyboard, it may be worth your time to check out the "Actual Multiple Monitor" software product.
Hope this posting was helpful! :0)
