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Ask PowerPage: Mini LCD

So the PowerPage has helped me in the past, but this is a crazy little idea I had. you wouldn’t know where I could get my hands on a tiny LCD monitor. I’m thinking with a Bluetooth mouse, Mac mini, and said tiny LCD I could set up a pretty sweet little media center, hosting my music, and stuff.
The only little LCD that I could find is kind of expensive and it seems to not exist. Besides, at that price I may as well go full size. However, part of the benefit of the small size would be the tiny foot print. Is anyone else interested in something like this, or know anything about it?
Thanks,
The kungfumaniac

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So the PowerPage has helped me in the past, but this is a crazy little idea I had. you wouldn’t know where I could get my hands on a tiny LCD monitor. I’m thinking with a Bluetooth mouse, Mac mini, and said tiny LCD I could set up a pretty sweet little media center, hosting my music, and stuff.
The only little LCD that I could find is kind of expensive and it seems to not exist. Besides, at that price I may as well go full size. However, part of the benefit of the small size would be the tiny foot print. Is anyone else interested in something like this, or know anything about it?
Thanks,
The kungfumaniac

Kungfumaniac,
I’ve been thinking the same thing. What I’m going to do is throw a Mac mini with wireless into my entertainment center then use Apple Remote Desktop to admin it. If you need to do direct screen stuff you can pick it up and move it to where your computer desk is and plug it into a monitor. The small LCD would be nice but you can get a 13″ or 14″ model for less than US$150. It’s silly to pay US$550 when you can purchase a 17″ or 19″ LCD.
Your second option would be to use AirPort Express over by your stereo and have your Mac or an older Mac do wireless. Belkin makes a PCI card that does 802.11g if you have an older mac that doesn’t have airport. You only need 802.11b (11mb) to do audio. I have a powerbook that I use to remote desktop to one of the G4’s and change the audio selection. I have a second stereo in the formal living room that also has an airport express. You can only stream to one computer at a time. I’ve not tried to use multi-user to get it to do two, but it’s a thought…
Last option would be to get a VGA > TV adaptor and use your TV as a monitor. This would be good if you didn’t have a dvd player but text quality will suck.

By Jason O'Grady

Founded the PowerPage in 1995.