can i use imac G3 as my monitor?

Question

can i use imac G3 as my monitor?

hi hi

i would like to buy a mac mini and use my existing imac G3 as a monitor. so using mac mini as my start up computer that using different programmes. is it possible? the reason i would like to do this is, i really like my imac G3 graphite. but it is too slow to run Photoshop, Illustrator, and it is not capable to use other new programme that need higher grade processor. using imac G3 as the monitor can help me to keep this imac G3 graphite as well as using a more update processor Mac mini to run new programme.

hope you can give me some advice

cheers

imac G3 slot graphite 13G, Mac OS X (10.3)

Posted on Feb 21, 2006 5:21 PM

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Answer 1

lz3broc

Level 2

420 points

Feb 22, 2006 2:29 PM in response to littledesigner

dont think so. your old imac's vga port only supports mirroring.

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Answer 2

Feb 23, 2006 1:14 AM in response to littledesigner

what is mirroring??

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Answer 3

AlanNYC

Level 4

1,575 points

Feb 23, 2006 8:35 AM in response to littledesigner

If you're particularly handy, maybe you can open up your iMac and unhook the monitor from the iMac's mother board and salvage the connection for the Mini. Look on Google for "iMac mod" or something like that.

But you won't be able to use the two computers simultaneously.

Sounds like you just want to have the iMac around as a piece of furniture. There's not much it can do better than the Mini (unless you have something important that you need to run in OS 9).

the iMac monitor is pretty small, especially for using photoshop. You might be able to find a much better monitor on craigslist or ebay for not much more then $50.

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Answer 4

Feb 23, 2006 5:46 PM in response to AlanNYC

I will have a look and see if i am able to do something on mother board. It sounds a bit complicate to me! But I will have a look anyway.

The reason I want to keep it is, first, it is still good and stable machine that function well. But it is too slow to use some graphic programme and I couldn't use some 'ram'-consume programme. I don't really want to bin it and get a new one. It is a bit waste to me. Second, if i sell it and get some cash for a new mac, no one would buy it cos it is such an old machine. I did struggle a long time to get a new machine. When Mac mini launched, i always had an idea in my head that using it to upgrade my computer without spending and wasting too much.

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Answer 5

AlanNYC

Level 4

1,575 points

Feb 24, 2006 4:45 AM in response to littledesigner

If you plan to continue to use the iMac (and not just its monitor), then stay away from the mother board -- you could do permanent damage there.

I think you're going to have to invest in a separate monitor for the Mini.

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Answer 6

Feb 28, 2006 1:59 AM in response to littledesigner

only rev.A and rev.B (the first first models) had an internal connector easily usable by means of an adaptor. Here I posted some directions: http://www.dellamea.it/docs/imac

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Answer 7

May 12, 2006 8:16 PM in response to Vincenzo Della Mea

On this webpage for the hack of the imac monitor,
first you mentioned your powerbook,
then you hoped it would work on a mac mini (did I get that right?)
So, did it work on the mac mini,
and what are the instructions on shut down of both
the imac and macmini?

I have a 333MHz tray loading imac that I want to do this to.

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Answer 8

May 12, 2006 8:37 PM in response to littledesigner

Well what your asking may be possible but risky and you might ruin your graphite. I recommend buying a cheap CRT monitor (If money is the issue) for about 80$ US. I just got one for 120 CAD and it's an amazing monitor (17"-Bigger then ur graphite) and has better picture than most LCDs.

I understand you don't wanna throw away your graphite but have you thought of this :

*Using it as a second computer. (Maybe in another room or for different tasks)

*Giving it away to someone who doesn't own a computer (Or a really bad one or needs a 2nd computer). I too understand you struggled to get your computer (So did I- heh, i'm only getting a mini because i got a huge bonus) but, if you can help someone else out so they don't have to struggle that would be a great thing to do.

*Using the keyboard, mouse from it and giving away the actual computer.

Anyways just a few ideas but i'm sure once you start using your mini you'll fall in love with it and forget about ur graphite,

Good luck,

Wannabe

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