[G4] Monitor problem

[Aaron]

I doubt that the monitor is the problem if you don't get the distortion from anything but the scroll bar and tab. Monitors are not, AFAIK, intelligent enough to tell the difference between a scroll bar or tab and anything else of similar shape or size.

An interesting test would be to take a screen shot of the scroll tab, open the saved image and move it around near the right edge to see if it causes the same distortion. If, as I expect, it doesn't, then the problem is not with the video subsystem (monitor or card), but in the software.

BTW, if you live in a major metro area (in the U.S., at least) you can probably find a good used 17" monitor for $25, or a 19" for under $50. I'd never buy a NEW monitor unless I needed to switch to an LCD, and even then I'd try to find a used one. (It's also better for the environment!)

 - Aaron

P.S. I just saw your second post in which you mention having four "winboxes" in the house? Can you connect one of their monitors to your G4? If you can, you'd have a pretty good idea if it's a monitor problem or not.

>From: Gene Steinberg <gene at macnightowl.com>
>Subject: Re: [G4] Monitor problem
>Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:15:16 -0700
>To: "A place to discuss Apple's G4 computers." <g4 at listserver.themacintoshguy.com>
>Reply-To: "A place to discuss Apple's G4 computers." <g4 at listserver.themacintoshguy.com>
>
>
>On Oct 22, 2006, at 2:09 PM, Les Berkley wrote:
>
>> Hello all:
>>
>> I just getting back into Macs because someone gave me a Sawtooth G4 
>> 400. It
>> came with a 17" Apple Studio, which is where my problem is. The 
>> monitor has
>> this weird behavior. When I open a fairly large window (any app 
>> will do), so
>> that the scroll bar is close to the right edge (~4 inches or less), 
>> there is
>> an odd wavy distortion in the window and the black edge of the 
>> screen, at
>> the vertical location of the scroll tab. If I move the scroll tab 
>> up or
>> down, the distortion moves with it! The distortion is greatest when 
>> the
>> scroll tab is smallest (i.e. long window).
>>
>> Has anyone seen anything like this? I figure the display has lived 
>> quite a
>> while, so it may simply be failing. Degaussing doesn't help, nor does
>> changing refresh rate or res.
>>
>> TIA,
>> Les
>>
>>
>
>
>Today, you can get a superior 17-inch or 19-inch digital flat-panel 
>monitor for no more than a few hundred dollars. If you aren't put off 
>by the name "Dell," you'll find they have a magnificent 24-inch 
>model, better to my way of thinking than Apple's equivalent (the 23-
>inch HD Cinema Display) for less than $700. So maybe it's just time 
>to retire that 17-inch and look for something new. I don't think a 
>repair is worth the bother.
>
>As to the monitor itself, perhaps it's just getting interference from 
>an appliance or lighting system, so maybe moving it will have some 
>effect. Otherwise, consider option A :)