A crazy idea... [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Dave Reinquest

08-09-2004, 11:47 AM

I keep thinking how cool this idea would be. It involves laptop VGA LCD screens in pictureframes, mounted on my walls right next to the console they go to. (Yes, the consoles wall-mounted as well)

I just know it would be awesome, like walking into a museum and seeing the kiosks of arcade machines running in demo mode. I need opinions and ideas?

Cauterize

08-09-2004, 11:52 AM

its a good idea, but do you have the kind of money to be doing that? and the space.. i know i dont :(

Crush Crawfish

08-09-2004, 12:15 PM

Sounds cool, though very cash intensive. But if you actually have the money for all that, go for it! and post pics when you do. :)

Dave Reinquest

08-09-2004, 12:23 PM

I don't see the screens costing me more than $100 apiece total. Replacement LCD screns for laptops go cheap on ebay.

I think the only really difficult parts would be wiring.

tholly

08-09-2004, 01:07 PM

yea, that is a pretty crazy / interesting idea

too much $$$ for me, but if anyone actually went through with it and figured out the wiring, id love to see a lot of pics about it

so, if you ever actually did it, keep us posted.

richmond

08-09-2004, 01:30 PM

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/pictureframepc/images/pictureframepc0006L.jpg

sorta like that?

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/pictureframepc/

Cauterize

08-09-2004, 01:45 PM

I don't see the screens costing me more than $100 apiece total. Replacement LCD screns for laptops go cheap on ebay.

u must be rich.... thatrs a hell of a lot of money considerin u will be getting a few!

Mr. Smashy

08-09-2004, 01:57 PM

For a proper LCD, it would end up costing a fair bit of money for each system. Also, you'd either need to find scan converters or buy more expensive LCD screens with RF, composite, S-video, component video, RGB video, and possibly any European or Asian fromats you may be using. The Dreamcast would probably be easy in that respect if you just got a VGA box. The thing about most LCD screens is that they work best with a straight digital connection so you'd probably need to have your systems heavily modded for it to look really good (if your systems could be modded to take advantage of an LCD in the first place).

If there's any way around any of that, let me know.

tholly

08-09-2004, 02:09 PM

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/pictureframepc/images/pictureframepc0006L.jpg

sorta like that?

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/pictureframepc/

wow....that thing is AWESOME... i want it ... I WANT IT!

baddseed

08-09-2004, 10:33 PM

in this months Macworld there is a instructions on how do do this:

http://www.macworld.com/2004/08/publications/macworld/features/thenextdoityourselfmac/index2.php

The_EniGma

08-10-2004, 06:34 AM

wow............ tat is kool

davidbrit2

08-10-2004, 12:42 PM

A few problems with this:

Laptop LCD screens get a digital signal from the video hardware. Pretty much every home console to date uses analog video output at 15 KHz (VGA resolution is 30 KHz for a 60 Hz refresh). So that would be an ungodly amount of converting, and the screens probably all have proprietary connectors based on the manufacturers. You're not going to find anything off-the-shelf to get the job done.

You'll need actual LCD televisions designed to accept a normal RF/Composite/etc. analog signal. And if you've paid attention at the store, you've noticed those suckers aren't cheap. Heh.