I have been a big advocate of using multiple monitors for quite a long time.  Additionally I have used a KVM switches to support multiple pc's from a single keyboard and mouse.  This has been a very ergonomic and productive setup for my software development activities.

MaxiVista is a company that has provided a software solution for connecting multiple monitors to a single cpu. 

I currently develop from a single laptop with one externally connected LCD.  This second monitor has been hard wired to the laptop.  The end result is two monitors although not optimum as one is the laptop lcd while the other is a 20" LCD. 

Recently, I have been trying out the latest MaxiVista product providing for a much more efficient system.  The second monitor is the primary monitor for my home pc.  My home pc has two LCD's connected.  (so as you can see I share the middle monitor with my home and work pc)

With MaxiVista I have been able to establish three monitors all connected to the laptop.  So now, the laptop is setup with one externally connected monitor and a third LCD from the home pc.  With MaxiVista I really do not even need to manually connect the external monitor to the laptop.  As shown below you can see three actual LCD's which show the current setup.

So now while working on the laptop or the home pc I have all three LCD's working to which ever cpu I am working on.  Earlier versions of MaxiVista did not support a pc with dual head video cards or pc's with multiple video cards.  The recent version does this plus more.  I have also noticed that the product also comes with remote administration ability eliminating the need for the KVM switch.  At this point, I haven't tried to remove the KVM but I believe it is not needed.

I am over joyed that I can take advantage of all possible LCD's.

Mike Volodarsky has collected a number of very nice articles related to running Vs.net and Vista. 

Today, although I have been running Vista for a while now I came across a new problem today.  The problem was related to debugging on Vista.  Luckily the problem was quickly resolved.  Microsoft has a patch that resolved my problems.  The patch can be downloaed here. 

The error... "Debugging failed because integrated Windows authentication is not enabled."

All the new stuff ...good resource for presentations, hands-on labs and demos can be found for download Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit

The kit includes LINQ, C# 3.0, VB 9, WCF, WF, WPF, ASP.NET, VSTO, CardSpace, SilverLight, Mobile and more!  (yes I do sound like a commercial, but seriously check it out).  Nice way to catch up on some new things.

So last night after a long day and the kids were in bed safely I thought I would sneak away for an hour or so of Call of Duty 4 on the 360.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!  As soon as I turned the console on the unit flashed red.  I have heard about individuals with this type of problem.  It was the dreaded 3 red rings of death.  The unit was in trouble!

In an attempt to save any hope that I really didn't have this problem I did a few basic things that any professional engineer and software developer would do.  I removed all cables, removed the hard drive and let "it" sit for a few minutes.  I ran around the house a couple of times just to waste some time.  I sat down in front of the TV and console and plugged the cables back in.  I then slowly took my index finger and pushed the on button.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!  The same outcome...Ring of Death.

I thought for a minute that I might still have a chance.  I removed the cables from the power supply, ran around the house once again.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!  Now fear was really creeping through my bones. 

I thought, was this really a problem?  Let me go to the all knowing "Google".  The Google has all the answers.  A few quick searches found plenty of reference information confirming it was a real problem and sadly the prognosis didn't look good.

One link very quickly took me to the Microsoft Support page where I found the phone number for North America.  Yes! they were still open in Pacific time.  I called in any last hope that there was a solution for me beyond the inevitable.  My fear and the inevitable was "sending the unit back to it's maker".  I knew this was the familiar road that many other gamers had taken.  I also knew deep down that it would mean 3-5 weeks without the ability to shoot, kill, stab and blow up anything (all in the virtual world of course).

The Microsoft employee greeted me pleasantly on the phone.  I could tell as I went through the simple few steps he gave me that he would have to be the one that would break the news to me.  I knew he had given this news to many others.  It was his job.  We went through the few steps and then I heard it.  "Sir, you will need to send the unit back to Microsoft" Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!  This is exactly what I did not want to hear.  I said pardon and he repeated for me knowing I was desperately searching for alternative solutions.

He gave me the instructions and a reference number.  Microsoft would send me a simple brown box to me via UPS.  I was directed to unplug my unit and place the unit softly in the box and return to Microsoft.  Microsoft would receive the unit and keep for approximately 5-10 days and return to me. 

My brain quickly calculating the 'real' bad news.  Yes, I would be without my unit for 3-6 weeks.  The Microsoft employee confirmed the bad news but he tried to give me hope that Microsoft was working hard to resolve all issues before the Christmas rush.  I am not sure his attempts made me feel much better as it was surrounded with the possibility that my unit might be caught in the Christmas rush.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

I had no choice.  The unit must return to it's maker and be repaired.  I asked my wife for a hug and I suffered in silence with her arms around me.  My wife was probably not the best individual to provide sympathy however there were few others that I could turn to at 11pm.  Yes, this is crazy.   Unconsciously my brain had even quickly considered the purchase of a second unit.  This concept was very quickly rejected.  There would be no way to justify another unit.

Today, I realized that there was nothing that I could do but wait for the non-descript brown box that would come via UPS and wait for its return.

If you are still reading, you must figure I am nuts.  Well, I might agree with you however I do enjoy the recently purchased Call of Duty 4 (seriously, one of the best games I have ever played on either console or PC).  It gives me those few moments to lose myself in another environment online with up to 17 other individuals to relieve some stress/tension built up through the day.  (and yes I do have other outlets however at 11pm it sure is nice to waste 1 hour online).

With our lives we are connected via cell phones, faxes, pagers, email and numerous other electronic 'aids' that it seems ironic that one more electronic device would relieve those pressures.  The game is good and I allow myself this one outlet.  My feet are well embedded in older fashions that would consider this nonsense however; small things are fun and frivolous. 

I will be without my XBox for 4-6 weeks.  In a last sad attempt I warned the Microsoft employee there runs a risk that I might find something else to replace my addiction I await the repair.  It wouldn't be good for Microsoft if that was the case.  The young gentleman laughed with me and said "sadly this is all we can do".

So today, I blog about this and yes this is also my first frivolous entry that I have made in 2 years.  I am now in the company of many other individuals waiting for the brown box to show up on my doorstep where I can plug the unit in and enjoy this one activity.

If you have read this entry in it's entirety let me know.  Maybe we can hang out together while we both wait for our brown boxes.