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BlackBook for $50!
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If running 10.9+ isn't a workaround required to get brightness control working however?
Would the display then be locked into whatever brightness was last used? Does the brightness button on the front still function?
From my experience with using ADC displays with dead USB ports(where the brightness control does not work-even when plugged directly into an ADC card) that's what happens.
I can test one later under Maverics and report, although I'll have to dig out my MiniDP to DVI adapter.
Not only are they a perfect match for G4 era Macs, but they are also a great quality LCD display and very convenient to use.
I've-at one point-owned all the flat panels except for the 15". I've also never the 17" CRT, which I'd actually like to find just for completeness sake.
If you're looking for a Cinema display(widescreen), I'd steer you toward a 20" for a good combination of size and appearance. I had one for about a day, although I returned it(fortunately, I bought it at a B&M store that accepted returns on electronics) due to several severe pressure marks on the screen that I decided were unacceptable for the $40 I paid for the display.
The 22" is older and lower resolution than the 20"(although the difference is not huge). To my knowledge, it's the only flat panel ADC display with physical buttons-it has three located along the bottom right edge of the screen-one for power and two for brightness up/down. All the other flat panels use capacitive buttons, with one on the right for power and one on the left that brings up the display preferences pane for you to adjust brightness. The other thing I'll mention is that my 22" has a noticeable pink cast along the top and bottom edge. It's worse when first turned on, but doesn't completely disappear. I don't know if this is true of all of them.
The 23" is the king of the bunch, and I love mine dearly.
The 17" Studios(studio displays are 4:3) are a nice and convenient size, and are a very high quality display.
If possible, I'd strongly recommend buying in person on Craigslist or likewise. Many folks don't know how to pack these properly, and that's how a lot of the acrylic feet get broken.
When I bought my 23"(the only one I've bought anywhere other than locally), the seller was nice enough to pack it as per my request and removed the foot before shipping. If you do buy one on Ebay or likewise, be sure to request this-preferably before buying. Mine actually came in the box for the Thunderbolt display that evidently had been bought to replace it(the TB display box showed Yosemite, so it was a relatively recent purchase). I actually think I got a decent deal on it-I paid a little under $100 including shipping, and got an A1006(ADC-DVI adapter) with it.
If nothing else, it's fun to hit the power button on the front of the display and have the whole computer power up
. Unfortunately, this doesn't work through an A1006, nor does it work with the 9600XT in my Quicksilver(which I had to hack to get it support an ADC display in that computer).
Tried the Cinema on the 2011 Mac mini (running 10.8 IIRC) and got nothing via the HDMI-DVI adaptor it shipped with.
Not being prepared to give up so easily ... one of the lads at work has a 1GHz TiBook, so he brought that in today. Worked straight off.
Not being prepared to give up so easily ... one of the lads at work has a 1GHz TiBook, so he brought that in today. Worked straight off.
Tried the Cinema on the 2011 Mac mini (running 10.8 IIRC) and got nothing via the HDMI-DVI adaptor it shipped with.
Not being prepared to give up so easily ... one of the lads at work has a 1GHz TiBook, so he brought that in today. Worked straight off.
I need to hook one up to my MBP(running 10.9) with a mini-DP to DVI adapter and see what happens. I'll try to do that tonight.
I did just try it with my late 2011 MBP, and it worked, albeit without brightness control.
Interestingly enough, it was "touchy" in Clamshell mode, but worked perfectly with the laptop display open.
Interestingly enough, it was "touchy" in Clamshell mode, but worked perfectly with the laptop display open.
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So--my beleaguered quest for a BlackBook has ended in success...at least tentatively.
Here's the one I just bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231547353530
It's actually a much better one than the first one I tried to buy. The graphics (Intel x3100) are utter trash but the CPU (Pennryn, 2.4GHz) is a real winner. I've got an SSD with Leopard installed ready to pop into this guy. Can't wait!
Here's the one I just bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231547353530
It's actually a much better one than the first one I tried to buy. The graphics (Intel x3100) are utter trash but the CPU (Pennryn, 2.4GHz) is a real winner. I've got an SSD with Leopard installed ready to pop into this guy. Can't wait!
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Why Leopard? I'd think you'd want to go with SL, at least. Although, I think that model tops out at Lion.
Well, I'm pretty sure SL and higher won't boot in 64-bit mode. Not sure whether or not that makes a difference.
Looks like a great computer. I won't repeat(again) how much I love my Blackbook.
I'd definitely suggest SL over Leopard. Not only is it a more modern OS, but it will do everything(on an Intel Mac) that Leopard will do but also give you access to a much wider range of programs.
It's still available new from Apple
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
(My copy came the day after I ordered it-as did my copy of SL Server. Shipping on both was free, although I did have to pay KY Sales Tax).
I'm currently running Lion on my Blackbook. With 4gb of RAM and an SSD, it flies. Mine is the late '07 model.
One last thing-my recent experience in other sub-fora here have really made me appreciate how great this section is. I asked a question yesterday about "safe" GPU temperatures for my early '08 MBP(a model with known GPU issues) and got two responses-one response basically criticized my choice of temperature units and the other told me that I might as well just accept that a seven year old computer was probably going to die soon anyway.
I'd definitely suggest SL over Leopard. Not only is it a more modern OS, but it will do everything(on an Intel Mac) that Leopard will do but also give you access to a much wider range of programs.
It's still available new from Apple
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
(My copy came the day after I ordered it-as did my copy of SL Server. Shipping on both was free, although I did have to pay KY Sales Tax).
I'm currently running Lion on my Blackbook. With 4gb of RAM and an SSD, it flies. Mine is the late '07 model.
One last thing-my recent experience in other sub-fora here have really made me appreciate how great this section is. I asked a question yesterday about "safe" GPU temperatures for my early '08 MBP(a model with known GPU issues) and got two responses-one response basically criticized my choice of temperature units and the other told me that I might as well just accept that a seven year old computer was probably going to die soon anyway.
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Totally agreed bunnspecial! That's why I don't even want to take my Intel questions/thoughts elsewhere. I'd rather stay right here thank you very much!
The computer actually comes with the SL retail disks as a package deal, which I'm uber excited about. It will be so nice to have a retail copy for once. Knowing the merits of SL now (which I haven't heretofore used), I'll probably go ahead and upgrade.
The computer actually comes with the SL retail disks as a package deal, which I'm uber excited about. It will be so nice to have a retail copy for once. Knowing the merits of SL now (which I haven't heretofore used), I'll probably go ahead and upgrade.
Also agreed! I once asked a question if there was any ways to make the hard drive in my MBP quieter, and I nearly got stoned to death with SSDs!
They're just not crafty.
Mine should be arriving today. I was able to order a NOS OEM charger for it for only $40 as well! I'm gonna hold off on a battery until I know for sure it's free of problems. Stay tuned for pics!
Mine should be arriving today. I was able to order a NOS OEM charger for it for only $40 as well! I'm gonna hold off on a battery until I know for sure it's free of problems. Stay tuned for pics!
Keep your eyes open for chargers.
A few months back, I bought an 85w T type at a flea market for $8. I didn't know if it would work, but figured it was worth a gamble. It ended up working perfectly.
I prefer the T type chargers over the L type. The Ls either block ports or stick out the back of the computer awkwardly. They also don't really function as the Magsafe was designed to do, as they are too hard to pull out. The T type is sometimes too easy, but in keeping with the original design of the Magsafe I think this is preferable.
Mine should be arriving today. I was able to order a NOS OEM charger for it for only $40 as well! I'm gonna hold off on a battery until I know for sure it's free of problems. Stay tuned for pics!
Nice! You certainly got it for a steal! I would order one, but my parents have been restricting my cash flow for stuff I don't 'need' :/
Also agreed! I once asked a question if there was any ways to make the hard drive in my MBP quieter, and I nearly got stoned to death with SSDs!
They're just not crafty.
Recommending someone buy an SSD... in 2015...
IMO, the fact that Apple still sells new Macs without SSDs is absolutely awful. Yosemite/Mavericks definitely perform a lot better on SSDs. Even my 2008 MacBook Air deserves an SSD, and one is on its way.
Recommending someone buy an SSD... in 2015...
IMO, the fact that Apple still sells new Macs without SSDs is absolutely awful. Yosemite/Mavericks definitely perform a lot better on SSDs.
I whole-heartedly agree. The 2014 Mac Mini wouldn't feel so gimped if it at least shipped with a 128GB SSD. I mean, even the base model has a slot for a PCI SSD.
They're really not that expensive anymore. You can find a decent-sized one on sale for $50 easily.
Recommending someone buy an SSD... in 2015...
IMO, the fact that Apple still sells new Macs without SSDs is absolutely awful. Yosemite/Mavericks definitely perform a lot better on SSDs. Even my 2008 MacBook Air deserves an SSD, and one is on its way.
Oh for god sake don't start again!
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A few decades ago, people hated blacks so much! Now, they're special!