Computer help yet again

[Wizard]

Need a little computer help here. A few questions, one being can you use a Mac monitor on a regular PC. Would they work or can they be hooked up?
My son has a laptop and the screen when out on it. The age of the laptop makes it not worth having a new screen put into it but if I can hook up and external one and let him use it as a desktop that would be helpful.
Anyone have a clue if a “monitor is just a monitor” or has to be a Mac thing…..

 

[H0wl]

If I remember correctly you can usually use a PC monitor on a Mac computer with the appropriate type of adapter, but not the reverse.

It's possibly that there is a Mac Monitor-->PC computer adapter out there but it's certainly not a common one.

However a 15" monitor wouldn't cost very much. Even the LCD ones are coming down in price.

 

[Weird Harold]

Anyone have a clue if a “monitor is just a monitor” or has to be a Mac thing…..

Nope, a monitor isn't just a monitor. -- PC's in general use VGA or SVGA monitors. Some newer MAC computers use the same kind of monitors but older ones used proprietary Apple standard.

In general, if the plug fits, the monitor will work -- provided the monitor and video card are set to the same mode; usually amater of configuration and/or software drivers.

To find out for sure if the particular monitor youhave in mind works, doa google search for the part number/manufacturer on the data plate and find the specifications for the monitor. Do the same for the laptop and external monitor requirements. If the specifications match, you're in business.

 

[Wizard]

Thank you Sir, yet once again and I will do a seach and see.....We have an older Mac monitor at work I may have it will work....

 

[ReadyOne]

We sell 15" used for $45 and 17" used for $65, just to give you a price benchmark.

 

[Wizard]

We sell 15" used for $45 and 17" used for $65, just to give you a price benchmark.

Thank Ready, I didn't think they were alot of dough just figured if I could use the old work one for free I would. Yep for the kid a 15 inch used one would be just what I would buy him. He as some 15 year old boys are is rather hard on thigs and I woulf think that also has something to do with what happen to the laptop screen. lol
Tjanks again to both of ya.

 

[Weird Harold]

Thank Ready, I didn't think they were alot of dough just figured if I could use the old work one for free I would. Yep for the kid a 15 inch used one would be just what I would buy him. He as some 15 year old boys are is rather hard on thigs and I woulf think that also has something to do with what happen to the laptop screen. lol
Tjanks again to both of ya.

Another place to look if the old MAC monitor won't work, is a thrift shop -- They often get computers donated and don't know what they're worth. I was looking for a junked out computer for the powersupply fan and wound up with a fully functional P2 250mhz computer for my daughter because the BIOS wasn't set right they thought it was dead and sold it for $7.50.

 

[Wizard]

Another place to look if the old MAC monitor won't work, is a thrift shop -- They often get computers donated and don't know what they're worth. I was looking for a junked out computer for the powersupply fan and wound up with a fully functional P2 250mhz computer for my daughter because the BIOS wasn't set right they thought it was dead and sold it for $7.50.

Great thought WH, We have a comouter Goodwill or Salvation Army store here in Pittsburgh that I hear has all kinds of deals like that there. Forgot all about it. Might be time to go check it out and poke around a little....

 

[Weird Harold]

Great thought WH, We have a comouter Goodwill or Salvation Army store here in Pittsburgh that I hear has all kinds of deals like that there. Forgot all about it. Might be time to go check it out and poke around a little....

If it's a specialized "computer" outlet, they're likely to be closer to the real value of whatever you get -- which is usually still a good deal.

The deal I got was just a local thrift shop that doesn't specialize in anything -- and is staffed by people who aren't very technically literate. Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent DePaul, Deseret Industries, and other large "chain" thrift shops often have better informed employees -- or at least established procedures for pricing electronics.

 

[Wizard]

I'll hit the local ones first for sure. I did hear the computer one had great deals. I'm told alot of old Bis. computer wind up there and work well but are just old. That would be just fine for me. He don't need the lastest and greatest. (He might say he needs it but we know how that is.)