Installing a second monitor on your computer is as good an idea as upgrading to an SSD, but sometimes the budget betrays us, and we have to work with what we already have. The latest versions of Windows offer virtual desktops and Snap support to better manage our windows; however, there is something even more comfortable: it is Dualless, a Chrome extension that allows us to “emulate” two monitors by automatically splitting the browser into two windows, with different proportion controls.
Recently I added a second monitor to my setup, and I must admit that I am delighted. It is not even a new panel and it works better as a TV than as a monitor, but the advantages are very important. The good news is that a 24-inch monitor with HDMI support averages 110 euros, and all we need is an additional video output. Anyone can do it.
But what happens when the second monitor is not an option? I understand perfectly because I have been in that trench (more than once), and one is forced to manage priorities. What we can do as an alternative is to use the width of our current screen more efficiently. I mean taking advantage of that 16:9 to the maximum, and in a way “emulate” two monitors. That is when Dualless, a Chrome-compatible extension, reduces the whole process to a couple of clicks.
How to “emulate” two monitors in your browser with Dualless
There is no strange trick here: its own developer calls Dualless “a poor man’s dual monitor solution” that splits the browser into two windows. All the magic happens through its main interface, which presents multiple horizontal and vertical configurations. Do you want an exact half-screen split for each window? Click on 5:5. Do you prefer a 7:3 or 6:4 ratio? You also have options for them. Vertical mode is designed for 4:3 or 5:4 monitors, but nothing stops you from experimenting with that setup on a widescreen monitor.
Another possibility of Dualless is setting up favorites with specific pages. For example, if you want Facebook in one window and Twitter in the other, all you have to do is assign a favorite to each box of the proportion. It also allows us to separate these favorites by color, so they are easier to identify. If you want to delete a favorite, you first have to edit it, and then delete it from inside that menu.
Granted, it is not the same as a physical second monitor, but I consider Dualless a superior option to Windows Snap and virtual desktops. Nowadays, the browser remains open almost all day during our sessions, and there is nothing absurd about setting it up to make better use of screen space.
Download Dualless: Click here
