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From: WISEM%BYUSTAT3.BITNET@CORNELLC.CIT.CORNELL.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Third Party Monitors
Message-ID: <9104251931.AA13223@cheops.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 25 Apr 91 20:32:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
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Hello NeXTers,

Disclaimer:
Before people get excited and sending me all kinds of messages, I'm not
listening.  I am leaving school for the summer and may not have email or
internet access until september.

Information:

Way back in December when I was deciding which NeXT to buy, I felt and still
feel that color is a very important part of the computing I want to be doing.
So, I decided to buy a NeXTstation Color.  However, I felt and still feel that
the Color MegaPixel display was and is overpriced.  I decided to heavily
research the purchase of a third party monitor of equal quality for a lower
price.

Now considering that the computer industry never rests it should come as no
surprise to anybody that other companies make monitors which will work with
NeXT.  Note that this was not the case in December.  In recent months, many
companies have introduced monitors which have all the capability of the Color
MegaPixel.  The list prices are in the $2000 range and retail and mail order
prices around $1250 - $1600.  With the list price of the Color MegaPixel at
$3000 this is a considerable difference.

Anticipating this, I ordered a NeXTstation Color in December without a monitor.
About a month ago, said station arrived.  Apparently, NeXT did not believe that
anyone would not want their monitor so they sent one anyway.  I told the
bookstore that I was working on the third party solution and that if things
didn't work out I may want it.  They shipped it back the next day anyway.

Now the real problem in using a third party monitor is connecting the fool
thing to the NeXT.  The 13W3 connector NeXT uses is a standard, but it is by no
means common.  I went to 3 custom cable companies in town before I found
someone who had even seen one before.  I told them what I wanted and they
assured me they could build a 13W3 -- BNC adapter for me.  (By the way, NeXT
makes these for the 21in Display because the company supplying them couldn't
get tooled up for the 13W3 in time.  Unfortunately, this is an "interim fix"
and not an independently orderable part.)  Anyway, my friends at the cable
company start looking for parts to make the cable from.  NADA. Nothing.  They
found one company who said they made the 13W3 connector but it was backordered
with no date of availability.

The bottom line is I got the machine, I know of a monitor that should work, (I
can't guarantee what I haven't done or seen) but I can't plug the one into the
other.  After about two weeks of chasing around I finally broke down and
ordered the Display from NeXT( It is really frustrating to wait 3 months for a
computer, then have it for a month before you can use it.)  I was so happy when
it came last night that I set it up on the floor in my room.

I believe that third party monitors can and should be used with NeXT systems.
I am just not in a position where I have the resources to make sure it really
works.  In theory, it should work fine, but then every thing does in theory.

A final note:  Special public thanks to BOB DIAZ at Nanao America Corp.
technical support.  Had I been able to get the connector, I was going to get a
Nanao 9080i.  Sorry Bob.  He can be reached via an 800 number.  I can't
remember it but I got it from 800 directory assistance.

Hoping to be back online soon.
|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|
|+|     Morgan D. Wise          |+|     Some of our views are spacious.     |+|
|+|     wisem@stat3.byu.edu     |+|     Some are merely space.              |+|
|+|     Brigham Young U.        |+|                     -Neal Peart-        |+|
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