Monitor problems - For the mac nerds as well!

[Liam]

I'm a poor boy, and desperately in need of a new monitor (Actually, not desperately I already have a perfectly fine 15" LCD but I need more real estate.

Anyway I have come across a 19"-ish apple crt.

But I've got a few questions:

1) How old is this monitor if it has a normal VGA plug and not DVI? :o

2) Every 30 seconds - 2 minutes it does this weird flashing thing, basically the monitor zooms up on whatever is on the screen very briefly. Is there any cause for this besides it dying?

3) Could it be caused by the VGA plug having a missing pin? If so, is it possibly to fix a missing pin?

[ninevalleys]

when it zooms, does it make and weird static sound? or a littl squeek? this had always happened when my CRT monitors died. you can get a LCD LG for abtou $300 (19"). the monitor should work perfectly fine on a PC (even though its mac). many monitors are still VGA

NV

[Eberbachl]

When comparing 17" and 19" LCD screens both at 1280x1024, I'd go for the 17" (nealry) every time, all else being equal.

The 17" is not only cheaper, but sharper because of the finer dot pitch.

Just over $200 for a nice Samsung 17" LCD

You only see any real improvement if you go up over 20" ;)

[Archangel]

1) How old is this monitor if it has a normal VGA plug and not DVI? :o
Not necessarily so old - I haven't looked at CRT's in ages, but they didn't go to DVI as enthusiastically as LCD's (since CRT's are more internally analog, whereas LCD's are wholly digital, so DVI didn't offer the same benefit).
On the other hand, I have no idea how long it's been since Apple sold CRT's (Marcus will probably know more than me!) but I think it's been quite a while?

2) Every 30 seconds - 2 minutes it does this weird flashing thing, basically the monitor zooms up on whatever is on the screen very briefly. Is there any cause for this besides it dying?
Sounds weirdly buggered to me. Maybe it's losing sync with the signal and having to re-detect the resolution?

3) Could it be caused by the VGA plug having a missing pin? If so, is it possibly to fix a missing pin?
No idea. You could fix a missing pin fairly simply, although it's worth noting that one of the pins in the VGA plug isn't used - I've seen cables that totally lack it before, so don't get too excited because there's a hole in your plug.
On the other hand, a 19" CRT is worth nothing these days. I would say find another. Personally I heavily prefer LCD's now but finding one with decent colours generally costs a bit more money - I've got a 17" that I got pretty cheap, but it looks like arse compared to my 20" which I spent more on.

Edit: Eberbachl is totally correct. 19" LCD's at 1280x1024 are just spin by the industry to extract more money for nothing.

[Liam]

Believe me if I were to spend money I'd get a 17" LCD, but this was completely free. And yeah NV, there is a static-y noise. I figured it's close to buggered. Oh well, hopefully it'll last a while.

[Archangel]

Believe me if I were to spend money I'd get a 17" LCD, but this was completely free. And yeah NV, there is a static-y noise. I figured it's close to buggered. Oh well, hopefully it'll last a while.
Oh well if it's free, that's all good. Just use it while it lasts I suppose :-)

[patto10]

Liam I have a 19 in crt Hyundai monitor which I was asking people about at the club today. Its free and did not know that you needed one. I offered it to Norm but if you need it more its yours.Its like brand new and you more than welcome to have it however may have to square it away with Norm.

[Liam]

This goes up to 2048x1536 which is pretty massive! 1280x1024 is the last comfortable resolution though.

Thanks for the offer Greg!

[Liam]

T + 2 hours: Monitor died.

It was more sick than I thought. :(