Ubuntu :: Check Via Terminal If External Monitor Is Connected?

Ive been wondering about an alternative method for checking to see if an external monitor is connected.
Currently I am using:

Code:
#!/bin/bash
EXTERN=VGA1
if $(xrandr --prop |grep -q "$EXTERN connected");then
echo -e "$(echo $EXTERN | tr -d [0-9]) is e[1;32mconnectede[0m"
else

[Code].....

So, what I am asking is, is there a way to ignore/over-ride compiz's texture size check, a different way to query xrandr, or is there a completely different method I can go about checking if an external monitor is connected?