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What a deal on a secondary lcd display!!!
Howard_Casto:
I normally don't meander into this forum, but since I'm here I thought I would chime in on my experiences.
Small tft/lcd screens ... don't bother unless you are using a psone because they are so tiny that any output on them is unreadable in terms of text unless you have vga/component out and as you've discovered it's very dificult to get that on these smaller screens unless you buy one so expensive that you might as well buy a cheap computer lcd screen which is larger and has a better res.
As for your text segmented displays, they aren't such a good idea because there isn't a lot of text you can display on them unless you buy the 50-60 dollar models, in which case, again you could get a discounted pc lcd display. Also there isn't as much interest in programming for these displays lately. Mind you they are easy to program to, you could probably write something youself, but the current buzz around dual displays is due to mame, which supports dual monitors, not a monitor and a segmented display.
I've got some dual screen software coming up that is shaping up nicely. It basically makes your secondary display "smart" and it displays relevant data to the game/app/whatever you have running. Better still, is the fact that it takes advantage of the fact that joysticks can be polled without focus to allow you to make independant controls for your screen. (you can scroll through a move list while playing street fighter 2 on your primary display).
Getting back on topic. These smaller screens aren't very good for reading text. I'm not talking about large text, like you might see on a custom j5 layut or something, I mean smaller text (12 pt or less). Even non-hacked vga screens of this size can't display really tiny text, so keep that in mind.
MonMotha:
Well, this one appears to take 640x480 RGB at standard VGA signal levels, so text readability shouldn't be a huge deal as 640x480 is fairly "high res" on a 6" display. The only thing I can't determine from the datasheet is if it'll take progressive video on the RGB inputs, or if it has to be interlaced. Since LCDs are inherently progressive devices, I'd guess it'll take progressive.
As far as the backlight goes, the specs are near the front of the datasheet. I'm sure you can find a suitable inverter (or just build your own).
I always hated how most of these smaller LCDs only take composite video (WHY, WHY WHY!?) since they just have to demod it back out into RGB anyway (and then some). This looks interesting.
loadman:
OK... Who let Howard out of the software Forum? :laugh2:
I have to agree with most of Howards points.......
Except:
I personally like the simple small 'Character LCD Display'. The controller for it is bundled up with the Mala LED controller so it is a Bonus.
I use it for displaying:
- Currently running Game, What Each Cloured button does for that game (I only have 3 buttons), Deatils of MP3 muzac playing in the background bla bla
It was very very cheap $25
"TO EACH HIS OWN" ;D
Howard_Casto:
Granted, that looks really nice, but as you said, you only have three buttons. Imagine 6 or more. You have a unique situation too as it's a cocktail. Text lcds often have low viewing angles, meaning you have to look at them straight on. Of course lcds, have similar issues, but it usually isn't as bad.
Also you paid 25 bucks for it eh? Got my psone for 15 bucks at kmart and paid 10 for a video card to run it, so I got a "real" display for the same price. ;)
Yours, looks nice though, don't get me wrong. I'm just talking in general.
Final thought..... on that lcd you got monmotha.... actually for smaller displays the output is generally interlaced, not progressive this is due to pixel size limitations more than anything.
loadman:
--- Quote ---Granted, that looks really nice, but as you said, you only have three buttons. Imagine 6 or more. You have a unique situation too as it's a cocktail.
--- End quote ---
Sure, Its not for everyone. But it's 'LOAD' essential ;D
--- Quote ---Also you paid 25 bucks for it eh?
--- End quote ---
Australian Dollars :(
--- Quote ---Got my psone for 15 bucks at kmart and paid 10 for a video card to run it, so I got a "real" display for the same price.
--- End quote ---
You did? Send me one to play with! I don't need it but at that price I'll put a display on everything starting with the Toilet. :P