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Level 1

13 points

If I upgrade to something modern can I keep using my old monitor?

Hello. Believe it or not I still use a beige G3 for all the DTP etc work I do - it still works, having been bought refurbished in 2001. However I might just want to make a managed upgrade rather than have it not turn on one day. I have attached to it a very fine Formac 19" monitor, its actually a PC monitor and has the necessary adaptor.

Will it be possible to use this monitor with a G5 or Intel desktop machine please?

Powerbook G4-OTHER, iOS 4.1

Posted on Sep 9, 2012 8:16 AM

Best reply

D.I. Johnson

Level 7

22,355 points

Posted on Sep 9, 2012 9:11 AM

Hi.

Yes, it will be possible to continue to use your monitor with just about any G5 or Intel desktop Mac, excluding most iMacs (obviously they have their own built-in monitors).

It may require an adapter of one type or another however (generally very readily available) - you didn't say what connector type the monitor requires.

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21 replies

Sep 12, 2012 2:51 PM in response to Bousque

I started using music software waaaay back in the days of the Apple IIe and software like MIDI4. That evolved eventually into MasterTracks. And I recall Opcode's Vision and other similar products.

MIDI had just been invented and it was a BIG deal to get notation to happen properly. I can certainly understand why you want to stick with the software you have.

Good luck with your efforts to modernize. I've been there. As a matter of fact, I keep an old Power Mac Quicksilver 2002 around my studio in case I ever decide I want/need to revisit my old MasterTracks or Vision classic MIDI software and files.

Sometimes I think technology moves along just a little too fast. :(

Cheers!

Bousque Author

Level 1

13 points

Sep 12, 2012 3:28 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

D.I. Johnson wrote:

Sometimes I think technology moves along just a little too fast. :(

...

Well its certainly the case that not everything gets to improve along the way, and some things in recent times have definitely been going in the opposite direction, in quality terms (OK that's probably been the complaint since time immoral). Maybe in the next while somebody will produce a system that can produce nice output...until then I keep using GMP as long as I possibly can.

Ciao!

Bousque Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 28, 2012 4:03 AM in response to Bousque

Final update to this story in case its of any help or interest...

In the end I found that a G5 Dual Core refurbished could be had for about 100 pounds more than the more-or-less equivalent Mini. So I went for one of those, upgraded in ways a Mini couldn't be, and under 10.4.11 it runs Classic sweetly, and is also good for lots else ... just not watching BBC iPlayer ... which helps get some work done 😊

LordZedd

Level 1

70 points

Oct 28, 2012 4:55 AM in response to Bousque

Too bad the Mini is actually 3-4 more pwoerfual than that G5. 100pounds is more than most dual core G5's are worth, yet your post implies you paid upwards of 300pounds, you got ripped off!

And FYI, most all modern LCDs are far better in quality than any CRT monitor. Not to mention they consume 1/10th the energy.

Bousque Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 28, 2012 7:11 AM in response to LordZedd

Yes of course I could have found a Mini with much more power than the G5, but it was a better solution taken in the round, given all the tasks it is being asked to undertake.

etresoft

Level 8

46,524 points

Oct 28, 2012 8:21 AM in response to Bousque

There are a number of other possibilities:

http://debussy.music.ubc.ca/NoteAbility/

http://www.lilypond.org/macos-x.html

http://denemo.org/HomePage

http://musescore.org

If I upgrade to something modern can I keep using my old monitor?