[GeneA]

My ViewSonic 17" monitor (model PT770) is dying--I think. It suddenly goes "pop" and the screen contents go very small. If the monitor is turned off, left for a few moments, and turned back on, the screen comes back--sometimes in good shape, other times out-of-focus and washed out, other times needing to be reset completely. I can only assume that means a slow death!???
I am trying to figure out what I can replace it with--so I am ready when the 'the end' comes. The Mac is the graphite G4--500 MHz with DVD-RAM (got it April 2000). Can I buy an Apple (or anybody else's) flat screen? I have read and read... and get lost in the 3-letter jargon about connectors/adapters. Can somebody give me a fast crash course in what to do re new monitor? I live in an area where there is no one, and no Apple store, to which to turn.

[Mac Zealot]

Ok, this is what I can tell you.

You have a G4 sawtooth at 500mhz (the only 500mhz I know of) so you either got it on clearance or paid good $$$ <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

You have a ATI Rage 128 pro AGP graphics card. With DVI and VGA out.

The DVI port is a port with about 20 pins, and a + at one end. The VGA is 3 lines of 4 pins.

Analog (standard CRT monitors like the one you now have) use VGA
Digital (flat panel LCD monitors) use DVI
Apple monitors (flat panel LCD monitors) use ADC.

If you want to use a new apple monitor, you must buy a ADC to DVI adapter, which costs about $150

You may also buy displays that natively use DVI, one example is the Formac Gallery 1740 which costs $949. <a href="http://shop.store.yahoo.com/my3g/noname1.html" target="_blank">Or this viewsonic 17" which costs $700</a>

You may also pick up a 15", and in that range, there are MANY choices, I suggest:

<a href="http://shopping.yahoo.com/shop?d=l&id=1990607125&clink=dmks/Samsung_15_LCD" target="_blank">This samsung which costs about $500</a>

Samsung is generally one of the better LCD brands. If you want LG displays you may try those as well (LG supplies LCD panels for apple).

Good luck! And I hope this helps!

[GeneA]

Terrific! For the first time, I think I understand. It looks like you are right about my model too--I just dug out the picture of its 'rear end' and sure enough, it does have a VGA monitor port AND a DVI monitor port!!

I had wondered if I might need to use an expansion slot, but if I understand you, I do not. All I need is flat screen that will plug directly into the DVI port--or get a ADC to DVI adapter for an Apple screen. This is good news because I was afraid I'd have to buy another humungous CTR monitor.

What are the pros and cons to getting an Apple screen vs. say the Formac or ViewSonic? (I've had a 17" screen and don't think I could go back to a 15"!! with all the graphics work I do). Or, put another way, what do I gain by paying more $$ more for an Apple screen. As you aptly pointed, out my Mac wasn't inexpensive, altho' it is beloved! Color synch and bang-on resolution is what really matter to me.