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Main => Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Forum => Topic started by: unclet on May 06, 2004, 12:23:38 pm

Title: Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: unclet on May 06, 2004, 12:23:38 pm

I got a free laptop computer and was thinking it would be nice to somehow use the laptop screen for my jukebox project.   I plan on having two 250Gb harddrives to store all the videos and mp3 files so I was wondering whether there would be a way to connect the two 250Gb harddrives to the laptop.    Having a nice thin screen would be much better than using a computer monitor or TV for my jukebox.

Basically, what are my options for using a laptop screen with two 250Gb harddrives.   Please keep in mind that the harddrives would be the standard Western Digital or Maxtor harddrives and not some USB or IEEE/Firewire drive.

Title: Re:Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: StephenH on May 07, 2004, 12:45:26 am

Most Laptop screens use a propitery interface.  :(

However, if you wanted to use the laptop as the main CPU, you could do that, and interface the hard drives via USB, Firewire, or PCMCIA adapters.

Title: Re:Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: GadgetGeek on May 07, 2004, 08:43:53 am

I would put the mega drives in a server and have the laptop based jukebox access them via network (wireless or hardwired).

Title: Re:Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: pointdablame on May 10, 2004, 04:03:22 pm

I would say a network connection like mentioned abover, or consider some external enclosures for you hard drives.  That way you can hook them up as storage drives on the laptop through USB or firewire.

Title: Re:Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: gprime on May 16, 2004, 02:23:39 am

that networking idea is pretty good.. i might have to steal it  ;D

i have an old 333mhz thinkpad that does nothing but collect dust, it could make a rather useful jukebox tho  :)

Title: Re:Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: MnMCaputo on May 17, 2004, 06:08:29 pm

Ok I ran into the same situation trying to use a laptop screen with a standard vga out.  The issue is vga is analog, and the tft of the laptop is digital, so you must get a a-d converter.  This is what I heard works the best.  I havent purchased it yet,  but i plan to in the future:
http://store.earthlcd.com/s.nl/c.318770/sc.7/category.99/.f

Title: Re:Can I use laptop screen with two 250Gb drives?
Post by: gprime on May 26, 2004, 11:28:28 pm

$200 .. ouch ..
Better hope it's compatible :P