PB 12 External Display...

Shouldn't be a problem...

You should get just as good graphics out of a 17" LCD as you do your current 12". You can play games but keep in mind that you have a limited amount of video RAM. Don't expect it to be crystal clear either. LCD's are still catching up in the clarity game.

I believe that your PB came with an adapter. This adapter may or may not be necessary depending on the 17" LCD you attach. A LCD from Viewsonic won't need it, but from Apple, it will. (Or vise-versa. Sorry, can't remember what it looks like off the top of my head. In either case, you should be fine with the adapter that came with the machine and with any monitor that you purchase/use.)

 

Re: Shouldn't be a problem...

Not quite. What the adapter does is convert the mini-vga port on the powerbook to a standard vga port. The Apple displays DO NOT plug into VGA, rather they use an ADC connection, which would require a $400 adapter to work with the PowerBook. If the ViewSonic has a VGA port, than it will plug into the adapter which will plug into the PowerBook.

 

hm.
i got an 17 inch display and only a vga cable. will i be able to just hang it on the pb 12 '' if i buy one, and is it supposed to work immediatly?

 

The 12" comes with an adaptor to go from the mini-VGA -> VGA. So yes if you buy a 12" PowerBook you will be able to connect it to your 17" out of the box. Also yes the 12" should recognize your 17" right off the bat. Go to the monitors control pane to set up prefs on resolution and such.