June 22, 2004

3:54 PM

My girlfriend is in the market for a new 17+" LCD flat-panel monitor for her Mac G5, and it occured to me that it might be nice to get something with two inputs, so that I could use it with my PC sometimes, leaving it connected and switching on the fly. Is this possible? Can anyone recommend a good product?
posted by sixfoot6 to (10 comments total)

Many 17" displays have both DVI + VGA input. Usually you can connect one input to each machine and switch via a button or a menu.

If you must use DVI for both machines, look in to a DVI switchbox. A 2 port DVI KVM box would work.
posted by Kwantsar at 3:58 PM on June 22, 2004

Keep in mind that Apple has been using proprietary (ADC?) connectors on their machines for a while; I think they just switched back to DVI, so you should check which kind her machine has. DVI/ADC adapters are not cheap.
posted by bcwinters at 5:02 PM on June 22, 2004

Apple just thwacked me in the sack to the tune of $106 for my ADC -> DVI adapter.

Beware.
posted by esch at 6:14 PM on June 22, 2004

The device esch posted about is for connecting DVI computers to ADC displays. If your girlfriend's G5 has ADC, and you want to plug in a DVI monitor, you only need to spend $39.
posted by Kwantsar at 6:18 PM on June 22, 2004

My Iiyama AS4332UT Bk has two DVI inputs, and either or both can be used with VGA, with the correct (supplied) cable.

PS - Iiyama TFTs are overpriced, but excellent.
posted by armoured-ant at 6:34 PM on June 22, 2004

Kwantsar: Thanks for pointing that out.

Also, all of Apple's cinema displays are have ADC connectors on them; Which are by and large really really kick ass if you never need to plug it in to a DVI port.
posted by esch at 6:42 PM on June 22, 2004

If you/she would prefer an Apple monitor, be aware that new ones are probably/possibly going to be announced next week, and rumor has it that they have DVI rather than ADC inputs.
posted by stonerose at 8:07 PM on June 22, 2004

I finally chose a VP171s for my PC after reading many, many reviews and I'm very happy with it. One DVI and one SVGA port, very crisp and clear, looks great for work and play.
posted by quiet at 3:23 AM on June 23, 2004

I really like my Samsung SyncMaster 172T.

DVI, VGA, S-Video; It's all good...
posted by jpburns at 5:00 AM on June 23, 2004

Thanks, everyone, for raising concerns with the ADC/DVI issue. I'll look into the new Apple monitors, the liyama, the SuncMaster and the VP171s.
posted by sixfoot6 at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2004