I have an empty G5 20" iMac and a headless Powerbook G4 400mhz (vga).
My idea is to get a 20" lcd monitor and disassemble it and put it with the PB into the iMac shell.
Having never disassembled a LCD monitor I need to know if it is possible. I have disassembled plenty of powerbook lcds. Besides the monitor power supply is it basically the same? Are there any issues that immediately pop out at you?
MaxTek
What all do you have in the iMac G5 case? Also, have you looked into a suitable lcd. I know that widescreen 20" lcd's don't generally come cheap. Though, this project sounds like it could work out well. (I have bits and pieces of a 17" iMac G5 case (display bezel, frame(midplane)) Are you planning to use the pedestal stand in the back (also this creates an issue with the ports. I'm assuming that this is the case for an original iMac G5 and not the iSight variation.
I have the complete shell on its stand. It is the original iMac G5 20" and yes I am planning on using the pedastal.
I haven't looked into getting a bare LCD because the answers the experts here give when someone talks about adding one to a Color Classic, SE etc. about finding a controller to go from the laptop to the LCD.
That's why I thought I could get a 20" flat panel monitor and take it out of its plastic casing and mount the total parts inside the iMac. Along with the Powerbook guts.
If the 20" flat panel is too expensive I could go the route of a 15" or 17" and make up the difference with perforated stainless steel (see next paragraph)
My cousin has access to perforated stainless steel and machinist tools. So cutting/drilling and or patching up original ports is not a problem. The original port holes can be covered with the perforated stainless. The stainless has 1/8" holes spread 1/8" apart. It would look like an air vent.
Before I got the iMac shell I was planning on making a desktop out of the headless Tibook. My cousin already made me a piece of perforated steel to replace the keyboard. It fits pefectly and looks very nice. I was in the process of designing a stand for my Powerbook desktop and he was going to machine it for out of billet (aluminum stock).
MaxTek
Sonnyhung has a dead Apple 20" LCD display. He half jokingly made a remark about turning it into an ant farm.
http://www.applefritter.com/node/10203
Your iMac shell might be a likely candidate too, albiet he has a form of dibs for that idea.
What might be cool too is turning your shell into one of those fake-fish tanks. Hack one of these into it...
http://www.pccasegear.com/prod1930.htm
-Dk
what happened to the guts of this thing?
John
My guess is that it has been field dressed
lol
prly croaked or something, an imac g5 is a little too new to disassemble just for the heck of it
An Apple Certified Service Provider store closed its doors in my area and I got a ton and half of free stuff. It was like Christmas again.
Anyone have an answer to my question in my original post about it being doable opening up a flat panel display?
MaxTek
It really depends on who made it, and what model. Any monitor should be able to be disassembled. Problems might include hidden screws and/or retaining clips. You might think you have a stuck clip and it turns out to be a hidden screw. It truely sucks when you discover that and you've already cracked the case plastic... :rolleyes:
Yes but that would be the fun part. I want to put the guts in my G5 iMac case. So I could care less about the original flat panel monitor case plastics...obviously as long as I don't screw up any cables.
MaxTek