Fuzzy CRT display

Question

Level 1

55 points

Fuzzy CRT display

Hi

I'm a switcher from Windows and this is my first MAC - why is the screen display so fuzzy?

Also where's the end key - and why the @ iin such a funny place?

Thanks

PS - looked at some posts and seems it may be to do with anti-aliasing - is it worth switching this off? how? it really is very fuzzy

Mini 1.42, 256, 80GB, 32 VRAM, 1 day old, Windows XP Pro, 768 RAM

Posted on Mar 8, 2006 12:07 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 8, 2006 2:45 PM in response to bobbyblue

bobbyblue,

The graphics should be crisp and sharp. What type connector are you using? DVI digital is best, but the VGA adaptor should be nearly as nice.

As to the keyboard - did you buy a US keyboard? If so, people on this side of the pond are used to having @ above the 2. Is it from Apple or another vendor?

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Answer 2

bobbyblue Author

Level 1

55 points

Mar 8, 2006 2:58 PM in response to Michael Bradshaw

The graphics should be crisp and sharp. What type
connector are you using?

VGA - so I wonder what the problem is....

As to the keyboard - did you buy a US keyboard? Is it from Apple or another vendor?

From an Apple store today and it says UK on the box

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Answer 3

Mar 8, 2006 3:05 PM in response to bobbyblue

OK - Open the System Preferences and go to display. Poke the "detect display" first. Then it would be good to review the resolution and refresh rate.

It's been ages since I have used a real life CRT - but it's often a matter of getting a combination of the above that looks crisp.

I prefer to max out the resolution to something like 1280x1024 or larger.

Then go to finder and change the view options (Apple J) to bump up the icon size and font size. Lastly - you could resort to universal access to really make the text clear until you figure out if it's a bad display card, cable or monitor.

I presume you have checked the mac with another display - the display with another computer - and a different cable to rule out them as factors?

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Answer 4

Mar 8, 2006 3:46 PM in response to bobbyblue

I'm guessing this a G4 mini and not a Intel mini right?

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Answer 5

bobbyblue Author

Level 1

55 points

Mar 9, 2006 1:35 AM in response to Michael Bradshaw

OK - Open the System Preferences and go to display.
Poke the "detect display" first. Then it would be
good to review the resolution and refresh rate.

1024 x 768 - 75Hz - detect didn't do anything

Lastly -
you could resort to universal access to really make
the text clear until you figure out if it's a bad
display card, cable or monitor.

what's "universal access"

I presume you have checked the mac with another
display - the display with another computer - and a
different cable to rule out them as factors?

Its as sharp as a ? on XP

Are you sure its not just the Apple Anti-aliasing - maybe you Apple guys are just used to it.

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Answer 6

bobbyblue Author

Level 1

55 points

Mar 9, 2006 1:36 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

I'm guessing this a G4 mini and not a Intel mini
right?

Yep

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Answer 7

Mar 9, 2006 1:23 PM in response to bobbyblue

Then I've got a feeling that a little fuzziness is the least of your problems with that mini. The G4's are infamous for having bad video output that doesn't meet VESA specs. This article should bring you up to speed. If you need more information just let us know.

http://www.modmini.com/mod/howto/dimvideo.php

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Answer 8

bobbyblue Author

Level 1

55 points

Mar 12, 2006 2:44 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

Then I've got a feeling that a little fuzziness is
the least of your problems with that mini. The G4's
are infamous for having bad video output that doesn't
meet VESA specs. This article should bring you up to
speed. If you need more information just let us
know.

http://www.modmini.com/mod/howto/dimvideo.php

Its so bad now I'm going to have to get rid of it (the MAC) - I've worked with computers for over 20 years and never seen such a phenomenon - even on really dirt cheap PCs. Its like looking through a layer of grease or dust on the screen. I might just try and take it to my brothers house and see it on his TFT.

I do like the design of the MAC mini (quiet, small etc) - you can't get a lifstyle windows PC like that for the same money - and OSX obviously has its UNIX pedigree.

The other thing I'd say is that maybe because the MAC community is smaller - the level of expertise available is less - I'm trying to share my MAC connnection and I don't seem to be able to do it - if I had a similar problem on Windows, after posting a question I'd be inundated with fixes.

Looks like MAC 0 - Windows 1

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Answer 9

Mar 12, 2006 9:21 AM in response to bobbyblue

Best wishes - I'm sure someone will gladly pay for your mac since most of us are so inexperienced to not know the difference.

Seriously - no one has a gun to your head - if windows is better for you - go for it. Find what works for you and don't worry what other people think.

If you change your mind and need help on passing the network connection from your mac to other computers down the line - post in http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=755 and I or the many other knowledgable people there will surely be able to lend a hand as long as the troll-o-meter isn't pegged in that thread.

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Answer 10

Mar 12, 2006 9:32 AM in response to bobbyblue

"if I had a similar problem on Windows, after posting a question I'd be inundated with fixes."

There is no 'fix'. It is an Apple issue and not user serviceable. It has nothing to do with the Mac community. When this issue first showed up thousands of mini users complained about it here and elsewhere around the world, but Apple did nothing to remedy the problem. It's not Mac 0 - windows 1, it's just Mac 0 for turning their backs on good customers. You will see a different problem with the LCD monitor, usually it's static on your screen. Some monitors can boost the video voltage to compensate for the minis apparent low video output. Your best bet would be to spend additional money on a new monitor that can compensate for the problem (which goes against Apples ads that say that you can ' bring your OWN monitors, keyboards and mouse') or just sell the mini. The new Intel mini uses a different video set-up so it might not have this same issue, you'll have to check and see. If another option becomes available you can read about it here. In the mean time you can google about the problem to read more about it.

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Answer 11

Mar 12, 2006 10:22 AM in response to bobbyblue

"you could resort to universal access"

Universal Access is intended for visually impaired or visually disabled people, and will not correct this. It is a band-aid approach. You can also make the text bigger and/or remove the shadow, but again, this will not correct the problem, just make it more tolerable.

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Answer 12

bobbyblue Author

Level 1

55 points

Mar 19, 2006 11:27 AM in response to bobbyblue

My apologies to you all - I sold my Mac Mini (at a small profit) - I still might buy another one - anyway - on connecting to my Windows PC the display is also fuzzy in exactly the same way - so its obviously the VDU itself - its becuase I've been using TFTs for so long (on my XP laptop) and then switched back to the CRT for the mini.

Sorry again - Minis Rool!

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Answer 13

Mar 20, 2006 3:48 AM in response to bobbyblue

bobbyblue - glad things worked out in the end. It's always good to hear when things finally make sense - one way or the other.

It's easy to be surprised how good LCD are when we have occasion to revert to the prior generation - even of the CRT is a good one or not suffering from being XX years old!

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Answer 14

bobbyblue Author

Level 1

55 points

Mar 20, 2006 5:14 AM in response to Michael Bradshaw

Not only that - I had to order a new TFT 19" because I now realise that my laptop screen is too small for comfort - ergonomically. I chose this one:

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=3JWZ

One other thing came out of my little experiment - I now use the Apple Keyboard with my XP laptop - managed to get an excellent little program which mapped the keys (and of course I've got an extra USB)

http://parkernet.com/applepro/index.html

All round a very worthwhile experience for a tinkerer like me - but as I teach IT its all useful experience.

I think I have a rational view now of the merits of Apple v Windows.

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