This is a difficult request to fill. We want to hang composite TVs/monitors from the museum ceiling so we can demo the computers on the top shelves (can't use regular monitors because of the slanted shelves). We do not want to use composite-to-VGA adapters because they produce poor image quality. Can anyone help us procure 8 identical LCDs with composite input and with 4:3 displays? Meanwhile, somehow we collected around a dozen small/medium VGA LCD monitors through the years. We don't need most of those. We'll test them and make them available at upcoming workshops.
How large? Also, it will be exceedingly difficult to get eight identical 4:3 LCD displays with composite, as they have not been made in quite some time. May have much better luck getting 16:9 and setting them to native, so they don't stretch the 4:3 output. On Fri, Jul 26, 2019 at 9:54 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
This is a difficult request to fill. We want to hang composite TVs/monitors from the museum ceiling so we can demo the computers on the top shelves (can't use regular monitors because of the slanted shelves). We do not want to use composite-to-VGA adapters because they produce poor image quality.
Can anyone help us procure 8 identical LCDs with composite input and with 4:3 displays?
Meanwhile, somehow we collected around a dozen small/medium VGA LCD monitors through the years. We don't need most of those. We'll test them and make them available at upcoming workshops.
How large?
I don't have a specific size in mind. Maybe 15ish?
Also, it will be exceedingly difficult to get eight identical 4:3 LCD displays with composite, as they have not been made in quite some time. May have much better luck getting 16:9 and setting them to native, so they don't stretch the 4:3 output. Hmmm .... tell me more about that.
You can get longer shelving poles in the front and add flat shelves above the slanted ones. Then you can use any monitor and not make holes in the ceiling. On Jul 26, 2019, at 9:53 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote: This is a difficult request to fill. We want to hang composite TVs/monitors from the museum ceiling so we can demo the computers on the top shelves (can't use regular monitors because of the slanted shelves). We do not want to use composite-to-VGA adapters because they produce poor image quality. Can anyone help us procure 8 identical LCDs with composite input and with 4:3 displays? Meanwhile, somehow we collected around a dozen small/medium VGA LCD monitors through the years. We don't need most of those. We'll test them and make them available at upcoming workshops.
You can get longer shelving poles in the front and add flat shelves above the slanted ones.
Nah. We'd have to rebuild all of the carts I think it would look weird.
and not make holes in the ceiling
Not concerned about that; we could always patch holes later if needed. Our plan is to install one screen for every four systems with a four-way switching device.
Rebuilding the shelves would be less work than getting on a ladder and drilling holes in the ceiling. Why not try it and see for yourself before you call it weird. I think hanging monitors from the ceiling would look weird. I have this thought every time I am in the museum. I really think it is worth a try/look. It’s similar to many exhibits that Doug, Todd, and I have done and they looked great. And functional. On Jul 26, 2019, at 10:30 PM, Evan Koblentz <evan@vcfed.org> wrote:
You can get longer shelving poles in the front and add flat shelves above the slanted ones.
Nah. We'd have to rebuild all of the carts I think it would look weird.
and not make holes in the ceiling
Not concerned about that; we could always patch holes later if needed. Our plan is to install one screen for every four systems with a four-way switching device.
Rebuilding the shelves would be less work than getting on a ladder and drilling holes in the ceiling. Why not try it and see for yourself before you call it weird. I think hanging monitors from the ceiling would look weird. I have this thought every time I am in the museum. I really think it is worth a try/look. It’s similar to many exhibits that Doug, Todd, and I have done and they looked great. And functional.
Well, it's also about enabling kids to see what is on the screens. LCDs can be installed onto mounts that tilt downward. I don't see why hanging a few screens would be weird at all. But I will think about it.
I use the "native" feature with all the LCD TVs I use with my 8-bitties. I get them dirt cheap at garage sales, so they tend to be different brands, but they all are capable of turning off the "stretch" feature, so you get the desired aspect ratio. Small LCD TVs are great because they are cheap and tend to have RF and composite input at the very least, and very often have component, S-video, VGA and HDMI inputs as well. That makes them great bench displays. They also tend to be multi-system (PAL, NTSC, etc). On Fri, Jul 26, 2019 at 10:31 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
You can get longer shelving poles in the front and add flat shelves above the slanted ones.
Nah. We'd have to rebuild all of the carts I think it would look weird.
and not make holes in the ceiling
Not concerned about that; we could always patch holes later if needed.
Our plan is to install one screen for every four systems with a four-way switching device.
they all are capable of turning off the "stretch" feature, so you get the desired aspect ratio. Small LCD TVs are great because they are cheap and tend to have RF and composite input at the very least, and very often have component, S-video, VGA and HDMI inputs as well. That makes them great bench displays.
Good point, re: bench displays. We have a few like that; one may have come from you. I should install one near our workbench for that purpose.
participants (3)
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Chris Fala -
Dean Notarnicola -
Evan Koblentz