The Spontaneous Pop-up Display (or SPUD) is a 24-inch screen that folds up into a small, two-pound, book-sized form when not in use (easy to toss into a backpack). It quickly springs to full size ...

Obviously, you’ll need an extra monitor. You might have an old monitor collecting dust in your basement. If not, this is an excuse to buy that 19-inch flat panel monitor you’ve always wanted.

Best of all, monitors are cheap. You can add a 22-inch LCD to your setup for under $150, or a 24-inch display for under $200.

And if you want an even bigger monitor in the same style, AOC has a 22-inch version that puts out 1920x1080 pixels. You can get the 16-inch model for $125 and the 22-inch for just a few dollars more.

Turn an Extra PC Into a Second Monitor By Rick Broida Updated on: November 19, 2009 / 11:05 AM EST / MoneyWatch I don't often agree with Dave, but he's right about one thing: multiple monitors rock.

This is a "roll up your sleeves and hope you don't screw it up" project, but it's also a great way to re-purpose an unused laptop for a cheap second LCD monitor.

If you’re a desktop user, check your video card to see if it has a second VGA or DVI port. If so, just plug in your second monitor and you’re good to go. (See below for Windows configuration ...