ibook and external monitors

[Nosamnoj]

I want to buy an iBook 900MHz PowerPC G3 15.1 inch. I need to be sure that it will drive a 21 inch external monitor at 1152x870 75hz.

Does anyone know?

Thanks in advance.

 

[question fear]

while i cant give you a super technical answer, the ibook will mirror to the monitor @ the same resolution the ibook is at...(i forget what it is).
so it should mirror to it but you might not get the best possible picture you could get out of that monitor.
anyone want to confirm/correct me/
--carly

ps: ibook is 12.1 in OR 14.1, theres no 15in ibook.

 

[rt_brained]

The iBook supports resolution up to 1024x768. I used to run a 12" dual USB 500MHz iBook on a 21" Sony. The monitor supported higher rez, but even at 1024x768 it was outstanding.

Monitor quality can vary significantly from brand to brand and model to model, so I'd be more inclined to consider which brand/model monitor you're using than the ability of the iBook to support it.

And since it can only mirror, I recommend turning the brightness all the way down on your iBook to save the TFT screen from needless wear.

 

[lmalave]

Hmmm...I couldn't find the info on the Apple or ATI sites, but I have to believe that the iBook can support higher than 1024x768, since it has 32MB of VRAM which should be good for at least 1600x1200, I would think. When I get home tonight I'll try hooking up my iBook to my 17" LCD monitor which supports 1280 x 1024, and see if it then lets me set the display to that resolution...

 

[lmalave]

Originally posted by rt_brained
The iBook supports resolution up to 1024x768. I used to run a 12" dual USB 500MHz iBook on a 21" Sony. The monitor supported higher rez, but even at 1024x768 it was outstanding.

Monitor quality can vary significantly from brand to brand and model to model, so I'd be more inclined to consider which brand/model monitor you're using than the ability of the iBook to support it.

And since it can only mirror, I recommend turning the brightness all the way down on your iBook to save the TFT screen from needless wear.

The new iBooks have 32MB of VRAM, though, so maybe they can support higher resolutions. They don't necessarily have to mirror, the iBook's screen could just turn off if it can't support the resolution. I'll test this out tonight...

 

[baby duck monge]

the ibooks only mirror the way they are set up. and they do this at 1024x768.

i seem to remember seeing somewhere on these boards that there are some firmware hacks or something similar, though, that can enable higher external resolutions as well as monitor spanning. a search should bring this information up rather easily.

 

[Kwyjibo]

yeah there is a hack i used it for a while and i don't know the mac resolution but it worked well, it can also extended the desktop instead of

 

[bennetsaysargh]

naturally, i think that the iBook can only mirror at the same resolution because it is mirroring. there is the firmware hack, and i think it was mentioned that it could be higher resolutions.

 

[ElComico]

So, does anyone know what the maximum external resolution that an external screen can be set to in mirror mode?

I'm finishing a request to purchase 20 iBooks, i need this info for my proposal!

Many thanks!

 

[LimeLite]

The official support for mirroring from Apple is just that: Mirroring. Whatever the highest res on the iBook is, is what it will be on the external monitor, or 1024x768 at the most.

Also, btw, the iBook screen is 14", not 15.1".

 

[MacRAND]

Why iBook G3 900 when G4 is only $95 more?

Nosamnoj

I like my iBook 700MHz but I’m very disappointed with G3 chip performance. For a difference of only $95, get the newer G4.

A new G4 gives you far better performance for your $1,200 investment like 33MHz more clock speed, and a G4 is significantly faster than a G3 CPU at same clock speed, 2 USB 2.0 (instead of 1.0) ports, a much faster AirPort EXTREME option, built-in Bluetooth option for $50. PANTHER is either installed or should be free ($129 value).

Plus, for only $50 you can increase the size of the 40GB internal hard drive by 20GB to 60GB.

Besides the external monitor, you can also hook up a larger USB keyboard which you may already own, or get one of the new Apple wireless Bluetooth Keyboards for $69 (but you also have to buy and install the $50 Bluetooth module)

MacZONE information:

Apple iBook G3 900MHz with Combo Drive & 14.1" TFT
900MHz PPC G3
256MB RAM
40GB Hard Drive (may not be ULTRA ATA)
Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) drive
Starting at $1,200

NEW Apple iBook G4 933MHz with Combo Drive and 14.1" TFT
933MHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache @ 933MHz
14-inch TFT XGA Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive (for only $50 more get a 60GB)
(2) USB 2.0 & Ethernet ports
Combo CD/DVD Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
optional AirPort Extreme wireless for $99
optional built-in Bluetooth wireless peripheral connectivity for $50
FREE 256MB*
Starting at $1,295

...and which ever iBook you buy, within the first year (not right away if you don't have the money) pay $250 for AppleCare full 3 year extended warranty and phone support - this protects you from eating an LCD screen, battery or Combo drive if something happens - it pays for itself. Remember an iBook is PORTABLE and gets knocked (dropped!) around a lot. It is not insurance and will not cover loss or careless damage.

 

[solvs]

I just read on Accelerate Your Mac a few days ago that the hack does work on the new iBooks. Get the new G4 iBook.

From the translated page of the patch author:

Since I get so many emails asking if the patch also allows external resolutions higher than 1024*768 I want to clarify this: Yes, you can select much higher resolutions. If you use Panther you will see that you get a lot more refresh rates compared to Jaguar.