Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Powaqqatsi · Oct 22, 2004, 04:59 PM

Hi there,

I'm currently using my PowerBook with a second monitor: A sony 17" CRT that I'm borrowing from a friend. But now I'm hooked to dual monitors and I would really like a second screen. The thing is quite big (and isn't exactly in a good condition) so I was thinking of buying an LCD. The thing is: LCD's are majorly expensive for a student like me. I got like 150 euros max to spend on that second screen. I was thinking og buying one of these:

Are they still worth it ? If so how much are they worth ? I think they look really really cool. A bit retro even

Any other ideas on which monitor I could buy ? I'm a bit bothered by the 1024x768 as well but I could live with that since my funds are a bit on the low side...

OreoCookie · Oct 22, 2004, 06:20 PM

Nope, the technology is really, really old and the backlight is worn out. I would advise against it.

TimmyDee51 · Oct 22, 2004, 06:29 PM

It might be a good deal and it might not be. I got a graphite version of the Manta design a year and a half ago and it's been holding up fine. However, the graphite one is not as old as the blue version, which has VGA instead of DVI. I chose graphite for two reasons -- DVI and a newer backlight. I picked it up for $300 from Mac of All Trades.

Having said all of that, mine is working perfectly. One dead pixel on the whole thing and the backlight is still very bright. Maybe I got lucky, but I'm happy with it.

im_noahselby · Oct 22, 2004, 06:44 PM

I'd reccomend the NEC 1565 (15") or NEC 1765 (17") Both monitors have recieved reallly good reviews. A nice feature of these displays is the protective coating over the LCD. Which means it's very kid-proof. I wish more LCD's were made like this... I really liked the quality of these displays when I saw them in the store, and I didn't notice the glare. As long as you don't have a light shining directly behind it, you'll be fine.

Great colour and brightness. One thing though, they don't support DVI.

Noah

Powaqqatsi · Oct 23, 2004, 01:51 AM

Originally posted by im_noahselby:
I'd reccomend the NEC 1565 (15") or NEC 1765 (17") Both monitors have recieved reallly good reviews. A nice feature of these displays is the protective coating over the LCD. Which means it's very kid-proof. I wish more LCD's were made like this... I really liked the quality of these displays when I saw them in the store, and I didn't notice the glare. As long as you don't have a light shining directly behind it, you'll be fine.

Great colour and brightness. One thing though, they don't support DVI.

Noah

Yeah, but the 1565 is priced at 349 USD so you should add 21,5 VAT to that which means it's waaay out of my budget.

tooki · Oct 23, 2004, 11:58 AM

FYI, there were three, not two, displays in the Manta design:
-"Apple Studio Display (LCD)" -- original DB-15 (Apple VGA connector) version, dark blue and purple, not as bright as the later two versions
-"Apple Studio Display (LCD) (blueberry)" -- standard HD-15 CGA connector, blue and white color
-"Apple Studio Display (LCD) (graphite)" -- DVI connector, graphite and white color

tooki

d.fine · 01:57 PM

I've got 2 17"CRT's in excellent condition that I'm trying to sell, maybe you'd prefer LCD, but I can ask anyway ...
And since you're not too far away ...

They're 2 LG screens, 1 is 1,5 years old, excellent shape, as good as new, built in USB hub, its a FLATRON F700P, the second one is FLATRON 795FT. They both go to 1600x1200 / 75Hz, 0,24mm strip pitch
LG Flatron F700P Link
I was thinking of selling these for around 150 eur a piece ... thought maybe I could help

Powaqqatsi · Oct 23, 2004, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by d.fine:
I've got 2 17"CRT's in excellent condition that I'm trying to sell, maybe you'd prefer LCD, but I can ask anyway ...
And since you're not too far away ...
They're 2 LG screens, 1 is 1,5 years old, excellent shape, as good as new, built in USB hub, its a FLATRON F700P, the second one is FLATRON 795FT. They both go to 1600x1200 / 75Hz, 0,24mm strip pitch
LG Flatron F700P Link
I was thinking of selling these for around 150 eur a piece ... thought maybe I could help

Thanks for the offer but I'd really like an LCD which takes less space.

Verder op zoek dan maar

brettcamp · Oct 23, 2004, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
Thanks for the offer but I'd really like an LCD which takes less space.

Verder op zoek dan maar

You might find this article useful. Based on this review, I just got the space-saving Samsung 172 X to go with my Powerbook, and it's brightened my computing experience considerably.

d.fine · Oct 24, 2004, 06:39 AM

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
Thanks for the offer but I'd really like an LCD which takes less space.

Verder op zoek dan maar

Geen probleem

ik wil er vanaf voor dezelfde reden ...

Good luck !

Powaqqatsi · Oct 25, 2004, 04:02 PM

Update: I got an offer from someone with a graphite (DVI I think ?) version. What's the normal price for these monitors these days ?

Powaqqatsi · Oct 26, 2004, 03:21 PM

bumptibump:

The guy wants me to pay �250 (USD320) for the screen. He claims it to be in perfect working order and used for only 1 hour a day. Is that a good price if it is indeed in such a good state ?

TimmyDee51 · Oct 26, 2004, 04:24 PM

It could be. It's really up to you. I had to pay US$300 for mine, but then I had to add shipping on top of it and I didn't have a "history" to go on (whether it's a reliable history or not). The way I looked at it was that I got Apple styling and didn't have to pay an extra US$150 for a DVI to ADC adapter (price at the time).

Powaqqatsi · Oct 27, 2004, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by TimmyDee51:
It could be. It's really up to you. I had to pay US$300 for mine, but then I had to add shipping on top of it and I didn't have a "history" to go on (whether it's a reliable history or not). The way I looked at it was that I got Apple styling and didn't have to pay an extra US$150 for a DVI to ADC adapter (price at the time).

Yeah, I'll see. You got a picture of your setup ?

OreoCookie · Oct 27, 2004, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
bumptibump:

The guy wants me to pay �250 (USD320) for the screen. He claims it to be in perfect working order and used for only 1 hour a day. Is that a good price if it is indeed in such a good state ?

Nooooooooooo. Really, get a new one for the same price. Why? Because the TFT technology is generations ahead of what is in that Apple Display. Plus, you get real warranty.

Powaqqatsi · Oct 27, 2004, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by OreoCookie:
Nooooooooooo. Really, get a new one for the same price. Why? Because the TFT technology is generations ahead of what is in that Apple Display. Plus, you get real warranty.

What did change soo much ? New ones at that price offer me crap fugly non-DVI non-Apple screens. I don't care too much if it's behind on current tech as long as it as bright as my powerbooks internal screen. When I sell my powerbook I'll sell this monitor as well. If it's not as bright/brighter I'm not buying.

Don't worry I'm going to check it out first. It's not my primary monitor anyway. I couldn't stand 1024x768 anyway as a primary monitor. 1280x854 is low already. I would really like too see high rez screens in the PowerBooks. (and yeah an option for low rez for those people who have a problem with high DPI).