Posted: 4/29/2005 4:07:58 AM EDT
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I just setup a Dell 17" flat panel on a MAC for a friend. I know very little about MACs. I was able to adjust the resolution to 1024 x768. It is still a little fuzzy. I know that I need to adjust the frequency. It should be running at 60 Hz. My problem is the the resolution and frequency are not independent settings in MACs. He is using OS 9.2. It should be runnnig at 1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz, which is too small for him. It is currently running at 1024 x 768 at 75 Hz. I would really like it be running at 1024 x 768 at 60 Hz. The choices under the monitor settings only allow the 1024 x 768 resolution to run at 75 Hz, 85 Hz, and 87 Hz. I just want the it to be sharper. I have used the auto adjust on the flat panel which doesn't help. I have tried all of the different settings on the flat panel, but that didn't help either. Any suggestions |
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Flat panel LCD's have a "Native Resolution". Unlike a CRT where you can pretty much pick any resolution and th cathode ray will render them as desired an LCD's pixels come from an actual physical little tiny dot. In your friend's case the Native Resolution is 1280x1024 (should also be showing up as the highest resolution). Any other resolution will be fuzzy because the pixels have to fake it. I would suggest setting it at the maximum resolution so you have a nice sharp screen ... Then from the main finder window go to the View menu, select "View Options" then adjust your icon size and text size to something that's more comfortable viewing (ETA just noticed you said he's on 9.2 ... I don't think you can adjust the size of the icns in 9.2 ... There is a setting to change your text size, might be in control panels/general, it's been awhile since I've used 9.2) .... Some interface elements like menus and toolbars won't be able to be made larger, but he should get used to it in a cople of days .... Key is to leave it alone and allow youself to get used to the change. As for the refresh rate, I was under the impression that LCDs didn't work that way, so I'm not sure what the setting is doing. |
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You will ahve to run it at 1280x1024 or it will be fuzzy, refresh rate is immaterial on an LCD display, they don't flicker. Go into the control panels and you can adjust the icon sizes in the views panel IIRC…the 'help' menue should confirm. it's been a long time since I messed with OS9!… all OS 10 now… much better! I've just finished putting in a new network of 14 G5's with 20" flat panels this week… woohoo!  ANdy |
Yeah… I get paid and extra @$4,000 a year to watch the Macs work week in week out, the guy who does the 'real computer' PC maintenance works his ass off 40 hours a week just trying, and often failing, to keep the things from going to snot… no thanks, you can keep your 'real computers'… ANdy |
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Hmm... Perhaps have him check Apple's excellent tech support forums. I bought a nice Viewsonic 19" LCD to go with my then-new G5... I basically had two options for native resolution, yet the good news is that one of them is perfect for the display. I'd just play around with it to see what works best. If none works and it's still fuzzy (perhaps change the "text smoothing" to "CRT" to see if it makes it any sharper?), head over to Apple's forums. I guarantee you someone has tried what you're doing. GEEZ it's been a while since I worked in OS9! I worked in that system (and the previous ones) for years and I've forgotten so much about it! 
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You have a 2.7 already??? I thought they just came out! Did they do anything else to it besides the speed bump? (internal stuff) I use a dual 2.5 both at home and at work and it's pretty sweet. |
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I've worked in graphic design and pre-press for 15 years. At least twice a year some sales guy or Windows IT guy predicts that "Windows is going to take over the industry", and that we should dump all our Macs and get "real computers". Still waiting.......... CKMorley |
Yep, Just got it recently (I bought it with the wonders of an employee discount). We have been able to get them for a while (a little over a month), though one of our retailers (I work for an ISP/Computer Store).  I tell you one thing - that fucker is FAST. I do a lot of video editing on it, so that is definately a good thing. |
What is the noise level like on it? I've been running a Dual 1.25 G4 for about a year and a half and my only gripe is the fan noise. Sounds like a Harrier taking off when it starts up ... Your new 2.7 uses liquid cooling rather than fans correct? |
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Another thing you might try is calibrating the display. I'm no expert, but it does help with the colors. You can go to VersionTracker and download a free utility to do that. As for the "real computer" comment, it based on complete and utter ignorance. I switched over to Mac in November after my hyperdrive PC (less than six months old), crashed for the umpteenth time. I'm never going back. And for those who say you can't use one in the "real" world: I use mine plugged into the PC network at work, and I've had ZERO problems. The Dell they issued me, however, has had to go back to IM three times, and I don't even use it. "Real" computer, indeed. 
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ON the control panel for monitors/displays you should be able to switch resolutions - only the "recommended" resolutions are shown unless you make it show "all" available resolutions. option-click menu to make the switch. Also, you need to make sure his graphics card is capable of driving that high a resolution. It may not be available due to the graphics card. To eliminate some fuzziness go to the "appearances" control panel and switch the "text-smoothing" to a higher text size (from 9pt to 12pt for instance) |
Sweet! |
I had a dual G4 for a long time. The G5 with liquid cooling still has fans, but they are MUCH quieter. When I had one at work, the guy that sits in the cube next to me had an early liquid cooled G5. I once went over to his cube to talk to him and I could hear my computer's fan OVER his fan, and I was right next to his computer! Bottom line, much quieter. |
Yes, it has liquid cooling, and is virtually silent. I know what you mean about the air cooled G4s though, we have one at work that sounds like just what you are talking about - a harrier. |
About 6 years ago my boss calls me in and says. "Andy, we're going to switch over from Macs to PC's next year, we can buy PC's that are much faster for a 1/3rd of the price… do you have a problems with that?" "No, no problems at all Ann" "But I thought you hated PC's?" "I do, but it won't affect me as I won't be working here" She's gone, I'm still here, and despite the claims of the salesmen, Wintel is still an outsider in the Graphics/Publishing world. ANdy |
LOL There were similar rumblings in my agency a few years (geez, probably 6 or 7 now) ago. Basically most of us in the creative department would have bailed. /you can have my mac (like my guns) when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers. |
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I'm about " <-- that close to buying a mac mini. I used to be a hardcore pc gamer...but with the constant need for addons and changes to the pc, I've kind of fallen away from that over the last few years. I've actually been spendnig a lot more time gaming on my xbox (I love Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction...I've probably logged a solid week playing that..) As a consequence...my pc just basically does web browsing and mail and some other junk now, but gaming is generally not on the list of things I do on the pc anymore. Fortunatly, a lot of the crap I got for the pc (external dvd burner, nice new Dell 20" flat panel, etc) will be easily portable to the mac. Not to mention my cameras will plug and play with it, instead of requiring all sorts of special software from the manufacturers (for instance, my Sony microDV videocam will only work on pc's using a special Sony version of Video Shaker, which further only works with a custom version of QuickTime modified for it specifically...) Only thing I'm waiting for is the rumored new version of the mac mini to appear, then I'm snagging one. |