Alright, so you’re lookin’ for somethin’ to replace that DisplayLink thingy on your Mac, huh? Yeah, I get it. Sometimes them fancy gadgets just don’t work the way they’re supposed to. Don’t you worry, we’ll figure this out together.
First off, what is this DisplayLink Manager anyway? Well, it’s supposed to help you hook up extra screens to your computer, like them monitors you see at the store. But sometimes, it’s just a pain in the neck. It can be slow, or it might not work with your Mac at all, especially if you got one of them new M1 chips.
So, what can you use instead? Well, there’s a few things folks talk about. One’s called InstantView. Sounds fancy, right? But from what I hear, it ain’t much better. Same problems, they say. Still slow, still fussy.
- Check your Mac’s ports. You might have somethin’ called a Thunderbolt port. Those are pretty good for hookin’ up monitors. If you got one, you might not even need that DisplayLink stuff. Just plug it right in!
- Look for a dock that doesn’t use DisplayLink. Some of them docks, they use a different kinda chip. Like, Lenovo, they make one. It looks just like the DisplayLink one, but works better. These are usually a bit pricier though.
- Think about how many screens you really need. You know, sometimes we get carried away with all these gadgets. Maybe one extra screen is enough? If your Mac can handle it, just plugging it straight in is the best way to go.
Now, about them M1 Macs… They’re powerful little things, but they can be picky. You gotta make sure you got the right drivers installed. That’s like the instructions for your computer. You can usually find them on the website of the company that made your dock or adapter.
And another thing, refresh rate. That’s how smooth the picture looks on your screen. Some folks want it real high, like for gaming. But DisplayLink, it ain’t always so good at that. If you need a high refresh rate, you might have to look for a different solution altogether.
What if DisplayLink Manager ain’t opening? That’s a whole other can of worms. First thing, I’d say, is to restart your computer. Yeah, I know it sounds simple, but it works more often than you think. If that don’t work, you might have to reinstall the drivers. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time to ditch DisplayLink altogether.
And if you’re worried about using multiple monitors, like three or four of ’em? Well, that can be tricky. Even with the right setup, things can get laggy. That means the picture ain’t smooth, it’s all jerky. Sometimes, you just gotta accept that your computer can only do so much.
Some folks are talkin’ about a new DisplayLink Manager beta. Beta means it’s still bein’ tested. They say it helps with rotating the screen on them M1 Macs. But I ain’t so sure about that. Beta software can be buggy. You might end up with more problems than you started with.
So, what’s the bottom line? Well, there ain’t no one-size-fits-all answer. You gotta figure out what you need, what your Mac can handle, and how much money you’re willin’ to spend. But don’t let them fancy tech terms scare you. It ain’t rocket science. Just try a few things, and see what works. And if all else fails, ask your neighbor’s kid. They always seem to know about this computer stuff.
Remember, keepin’ it simple is usually the best way to go. Don’t get bogged down in all the technical jargon. Find somethin’ that works for you, and stick with it. And if you can avoid using that DisplayLink thing altogether? Well, that might just be the best solution of all.
Tags: [DisplayLink Alternative Mac, Display Link Mac, M1 Mac Multiple Monitors, External Monitor Mac, Mac Docking Station, DisplayLink Manager Problems, InstantView Alternative]