LOL, just have to share this bit of sillyness with our computers...

[Huntress]

It's just how time and events change your "viewing" habits that I have to laugh at myself at times. Not too long ago I, and I'm sure many of you, were happily turning on our computers to either surf or play a game and were gleeful at the idea of seeing it on a 15" screen vice a 12" or smaller I know I was so happy to receive a 17" from my Son a few years ago as a gift and not to have to use my 15" anymore Now finally the other day I got a 19" to replace the 17" and it's so nice to use. My 17" has now replaced another 15" that was on my Compaq that I've written about before...and again so nice to see everything through this 17". Now I have a 15" that I'm not sure what to do with Keep it as a spare or wonder if you can donate it somewhere other than a "Thrift Shop"? Not sure how the schools or libraries work, if they have a contract only to get their stuff? Maybe someone of you have any insight on this...and I don't want to spend a lot of time and effort researching...just wondering in case I might do this sometime or other? It is a good working monitor and I don't want to get rid of it just to get rid of it. Just kicking the idea around for now Ta and Good Hunting!

[ChangelingJane]

Or, you could buy another 15" real cheap, and do some Surround Gaming (that's where you have a monitor on either side of the main one, for a peripheral view).

[Munin the Raven]

But Changeling Jane, don't you need multiple video cards if you want multiple monitors?

Huntress, I was thrilled when I got my 17" with my new system about a year and a half ago. I still have an old 14" lying around; it seems to me that the monitor outlasts the rest of the system provided it's taken care of.

I doubt I'll be moving up to the next level of monitor experience anytime soon though. Those 19" CRT models are simply too big to fit on my desk, and those flat panel models are still way out of my price range. I might consider getting one of those flat display CRT models if my current one burns out, as I'm still stuck with a curved screen.

As for what to do with your old computer parts, my old tower wound up getting donated to a local charity when they were accepting goods for a tag sale, and someone paid them $150 for it, even with all of the hardware conflicts it had.

[Fafhrd]

I moved up to a 17 in recently myself, after having used my 15 for about 4 years or so.. It kinda ticks me off too - I paid ~$350 for this monitor when I got it (pretty much top of the line) and my 17 I got for $100 after a mail in, and it easily outperforms my old one even outside of size...

anyway, I have an old 14 that came with my 486 7ish years ago which is still working fine (still hooked to the 486, no less - and its a good thing too, that's the only way I can play system shock 1)

I gave one computer to my uncle (it was a p1- 100 MHz maybe, so there wasn't a justifiable reason to keep it), but I've kept everything else - the 486 is still around to play the really old games, my p1-233 was doing duty as a part-time slackbox, but will just go for a small harddrive and win95 for the few 1st gen 3d games (like quake 1) that argue with me about displaying properly on my newer computers. my 500 MHz that I just replaced is going to full time linux, leaving the new 1.6 for general use...

I just share my old monitor between the 500 and 233 and the 486 has its own (doesn't take much space anyway). I think I have another monitor somewhere - maybe I left it in my office when I bought my laptop for work and gave the comp. I was using there to my uncle.

yes, I have too many computers. I also have too many console systems...

[Vanguard]

Huntress,

Try a Google search on "donate computer san francisco" to see what might be in your area.

Also, here there is Renaissance Computer that buys used computer equipment. There might be something like that in your area to get a few bucks in exchange to make it worth your while to travel to their store.

And you could always sell it on eBay. Granted that a 15-inch monitor isn't glamorous but someone might want it at the right price. Even if you almost give it away, be sure to calculate sufficient shipping (postage) and handling (packaging) costs so you don't have to pay to get rid of it. Obviously the monitor must be fully functional and not require setting the contrast and brightness all the way up to see a murky screen.

If the old monitor is junk, try a Google search on "monitor disposal san francisco" or look in your yellow pages. It will cost to dispose of it.

I've had a ViewSonic 19" monitor for maybe 3 years now and a Nokia 19" before that for 3+ years. Couldn't stand to go back to a smaller monitor. I've looked at getting a new and even bigger computer monitor but it sure does take up the desktop real estate. Of course, I could big flat panel monitors like a <a href="http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doc2/381391.html" target=_blank>CTX 23"</a> for $2300 or a <a href="http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doc2/450480.html" target=_blank>Sony 23"</a> for $2800 - but I have yet to win the lottery.

[bravus]

I'm writing this, and about to start re-playing Thief 2, on a very curvy¹ ancient monitor that is either 14" or 15" (I suspect the former). That's because the 17" one upstairs is very sick and very dark (kind of like death metal music?!), and impossible to really play Thief on without having to re-tweak the colour every time I save a game. So basically, our house just needs two new monitors! Our local Compusmart has 19" Samsung's for around CN $260, which is pretty good, and there are always 21" old Sun ones on eBay for around that price as well. We might toss in an extra 50 bucks or so and get a nice NEC 19", and one the eBay ones - then the kids can have whichever one we like least!²

Bravus

1. Which is a good thing in almost any context except monitors. IMO.
2. Hey, when they get jobs and are paying for the monitors, they can have the nicest one!

[ChangelingJane]

Originally posted by Munin the Raven
But Changeling Jane, don't you need multiple video cards if you want multiple monitors?

Not if you have one of these. Its benchmarks seem to be slightly below average on FPS games and such, but it's become quite the item in the simulation scene. I imagine it'd be fun to get working on Thief, if that's even possible. I'd rather have a Geforce FX anyways.

Of course, a much cheaper alternative that still widens your FOV would be to increase the single-screen FOV and render in a letterbox-type mode. I wish there was a game out there that supported this.

[Munin the Raven]

Have you actually seen one of those cards in action? I'm curious as to how well they work.

The surround gaming looks cool, but I think I'd be annoyed with having the view in three pieces like that.

[bravus]

Terry Pratchett who (a) is a huge Thief and FM fan and (b) is one of my very, very favourite authors and (c) can afford nice toys, apparently has a multi-monitor setup. He uses it when writing his books to keep notes and multiple edit versions of the book etc open, but apparently also uses it to play Thief. You could probably ask him about the experience in the <b>alt.games.thief-dark-project</b> newsgroup and get an answer...

Bravus

[Huntress]

Hi All... First Vanguard, as I stated in my post, the 15" is a perfectly good monitor and I will probably keep it for awhile anyway just because Secondly, I do NOT do any business with eBay and don't care to get involved in that, plus your mention of having to ship it doesn't thrill me either I just thought perhaps something local might get the benefit of it sometime if I don't do anything else with it...like maybe one of my family members?

As far as using it for multiple game playing...ha ha, that would be something but not really interested in that aspect either I have enough trouble keeping things straight on one! However, if I'm not mistaken, I think the ATI card I bought recently will support multiple monitors? Can't remember for sure as I haven't really looked into it as I'm not interested in that idea I do know it will support one of those Flat Panels and thought about it but I didn't want to invest in one of those yet either. Even with the good rebates Fry's had on some of theirs I don't fully trust rebate programs and so whenever I might get one it will be a sale price without a rebate attached. Unfortuately, David has had a setback in building his shed and so won't be able to install my stuff as had been suggested till later sometime And since I've put out a lot of money lately, I really don't want to take it to a shop and so it sits...darn!

Well thanks for your comments and time will tell what I eventually end up doing with it. Ta and Good Hunting!

[Mr. Perfect]

I think you can usually donate hardware to schools without any hastle. With the computers themselves all you need to do is include the Windows CD(So they know it's not pirated), so I'd imagine it'd be even easier to donate a monitor.

Ugh, not a Parhelia. About the only thing those things can do is use 3 monitors. They got around 30FPS in most games. *bleck*

Actually, with a DVI-to-something converter, a Radeon 8500 or Geforce 4(Maybe the GF3s too, I don't remeber) can use a second monitor on the digital port. It's nifty to see, but I don't care for the borders on the monitors breaking up the picture.

[confela]

My kid's schools will accept printers, and computers. Some schools around your area may be wanting monitors, Just call the schools around you and ask.

I know that the salvation army refused to take my old monitor because they have too many, so I took my old monitors to a computer shop that will take care of recycling properly.

Good luck!

[Rommel_1891]

Old monitors aren't worth selling. The trouble you have to go through makes what you get negligible. I would keep it for a SHTF situation. If you really don't want it, donate it to the library, Goodwill, Salvation ARmy, etc. Atleast then you can get some kind of tax write off.

[Peter Smith]

Umm.... did you see the date on the original post? I'll bet that monitor is either gone or so deep in the pile that it can't be retrieved.

[Rommel_1891]

Oh well, guess this means we have to drag confela on a gravel road by his toes for pulling this old thing out of the trash heap! lol

[Huntress]

I had to laugh at seeing this brought up from the cellar! However as it turned out, I had to put it back to use as the 17" went bonkers on me not too long after! The computer Gods were looking out for me that time Ta and Good Hunting!