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Big Mac · Nov 2, 2004, 03:10 PM

My 17" Apple Graphite display, the one that was sold before the 17" translucent ADC CRT monitor, is starting to die. Right now it's losing its geometry settings every once in awhile. I think this may have been brought on by excessive resolution switching. Other users enjoy lower resolutions than I, so frequent resolution switching has taken place in the last five months. I believe my old Apple 1705 monitor exhibited similar symptoms when it was on its way out. Is there anything I can do, or should I just prepare to order a new monitor?

Kenneth · Nov 2, 2004, 03:16 PM

Sad to hear.. but this thread shouldn't belong here.

I bet you better get a new display.

OSX Abuser · Nov 2, 2004, 03:30 PM

Time to go shopping for a new display and quickly.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Nov 2, 2004, 03:38 PM

You can get a new one that looks just as good for under $100. It is on its way out, nothing you can do.

SafariX · Nov 2, 2004, 03:42 PM

I'd take a nap.

Big Mac · Nov 2, 2004, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
You can get a new one that looks just as good for under $100. It is on its way out, nothing you can do.

Please do enlighten me. You are talking about some no name brand, right?

GoGoReggieXPowars · Nov 2, 2004, 04:24 PM

Mitsubishi Diamondtron displays are very nice, LaCie's CRTs use them, but you can find other-branded Mitsu tubes cheaper than LaCie. I would never go near a no-name non-flat CRT if my life depended on it.

shabbasuraj · Nov 2, 2004, 04:36 PM

now you have a reason to spend some money.

Mac Write · Nov 2, 2004, 05:15 PM

My Sony 17" 200SF December 1996, is still working fine with no scratches on the glass. Telling my mom to buy a 20" Apple Cinema Display next year (if they drop in price) scares me if a $1,800 CDN Display will die within 5 years. 8 year min the display would have to last.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Nov 2, 2004, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by Big Mac:
Please do enlighten me. You are talking about some no name brand, right?

I got a no name brand a couple years ago for under $100, don't remember the name.

Big Mac · 06:41 PM

Originally posted by Mac Write:
My Sony 17" 200SF December 1996, is still working fine with no scratches on the glass. Telling my mom to buy a 20" Apple Cinema Display next year (if they drop in price) scares me if a $1,800 CDN Display will die within 5 years. 8 year min the display would have to last.

You may have misunderstood - I don't have an Apple LCD. I do have an Apple CRT. I think I'll be able to live with it doing this for at least some while. Thank you for all the suggestions.

Mac Write · Nov 2, 2004, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by Big Mac:
You may have misunderstood - I don't have an Apple LCD. I do have an Apple CRT. I think I'll be able to live with it doing this for at least some while. Thank you for all the suggestions.

I know you have a CRT, but if a Apple CRT dies this quickly how long would an Apple LCD last?....

Big Mac · Nov 3, 2004, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by Mac Write:
I know you have a CRT, but if a Apple CRT dies this quickly how long would an Apple LCD last?....

Well, I don't think it's a matter of Apple's monitors not lasting so much as its a CRT issue in general. CRTs do die. On the other hand, I still have my LC's old 12" monitor, and it still works. Maybe it is an Apple issue, who knows.

Eriamjh · Nov 3, 2004, 06:25 AM

Stop switching resolutions and sit at one for a while. If the monitor is not blipping out, losing focus, fading, or dropping colors (like reg, green, or blue), then it should be OK to use for a while longer.

I just repaired my 2-year old 21 inch KDS. It was going wacko all the time. Ultimately, it was a couple cracked solder joints in two areas (flyback transformer and the main power relay). Easy fix for a lousy process problem.

I would open up that monitor, clean all the dust out of it (dust can be conductive and cause shorts) with canned air and continue to use it until it completely dies. You should get another year out of it or more.

pathogen · Nov 3, 2004, 06:42 AM

If you must go with a cheap CRT, I recommend the Mitsubishi Diamondtrons, too I have a 21" Blue and White whale for a G3 at home that was really sweet 6 years ago, then a few years ago for a computer at work I got a black 21" Diamondtron from the Apple Store. The Diamondtron was only a few hundred bucks versus the small fortune for my whale Apple CRT and was similarly configured, but with some bonuses: it could support some pretty high resolutions, had a flatter screen, and could support two VGA inputs.

Now there's nothing I know of to freshen up a dying CRT (maybe dusting regularly, but soldering is beyond me and would likely cost me too much at a tech shop). My whale is starting to take more than a few seconds to sharpen when it wakes up and the bubble effect is really getting to me.

If you really don't want to go for an inexpensive LCD as a replacement, and a big CRT is what you're after AND you need that Apple style, consider eBay for a replacement because some of those monitors still have alot of life in them and they go for cheap.

wataru · Nov 3, 2004, 07:17 AM

Originally posted by Mac Write:
I know you have a CRT, but if a Apple CRT dies this quickly how long would an Apple LCD last?....

Since LCD is a completely different technology, I'd say there's no connection.

Mediaman_12 · Nov 3, 2004, 07:55 AM

These old Apple CRT's must be getting beyond there useable life. I've just replaced mine that my mum was using after, it started 'refreshing' the screen at random times.
Replaced it with a 17 LG Flatron for just over �200.

-Q- · Nov 3, 2004, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
I would open up that monitor, clean all the dust out of it (dust can be conductive and cause shorts) with canned air and continue to use it until it completely dies. You should get another year out of it or more.

Unless you're technically proficient (and even then I really wouldn't recommend this) I wouldn't open that monitor. Those CRTs can hold a nasty charge, even when unplugged.

Apple CRTs have always had a problem for me. Bought a 15" with my7100 years ago and it only lasted 2 years. Then I bought a 17" with my beige G3 and it died about 4 years after its purchase. I'm hoping the LCDs are different and my new 20" will last around 5 years.

If you need a CRT, you can definitely get a brand name, good quality monitor for around US $150. Just shop around...

OreoCookie · Nov 3, 2004, 09:14 AM

A CRT usually lives around 5 years, but it can live longer than that. The larger they are, the quicker they get darker (that's a real problem with 20+ inch CRTs). On the other hand, my 19" Formac CRT is still in perfect shape ...

GoGoReggieXPowars · Nov 3, 2004, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by -Q-:
Apple CRTs have always had a problem for me. Bought a 15" with my 7100 years ago and it only lasted 2 years.

Was it the one with the built-in speakers? A friend bought one with his 7100 and sold it to me, thing popped and died exactly a week after the one year warranty expired. I took it to the local Apple dealer with original receipt in hand, and they replaced it free, since those monitors had known issues. I later sold it to the same friend's mother in law, and it's working great to this day.

For the most part, Apple CRT monitors are just rebadged Sony Trinitrons, hence their expense but general high quality.

wdlove · Nov 3, 2004, 10:00 AM

My 17" Studio Display died last January. Took it to my local Apple Store. The tube was dead, cost of repair $675. So I purchased a new 17" Cinema Display. It all depends on how much money you are willing to spend on repair.

jcadam · Nov 3, 2004, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by SafariX:
I'd take a nap.

sounds more like an excuse to have another nip of scotch instead!

:hiccup: