Microtek 815c - Here's a Neat Trick

[jfh2112]

So I've got The Bug(tm) again - wanting to build a bunch of cabinets now. I've got this Microtek 815c 18" VGA LCD monitor, and I"m thinking I can use it for a smaller cabinet, or maybe a vertical-games-only cab. Or something.

Anyway, I decase it and hook it up to my notebook, copy MAME over and start playing with things. Now, this monitor is persnickety. We got it, oh, about five years ago, so it's pretty primitive compared to today's stuff. It *loves* to auto-adjust, and then it always wants you to press a button on its control panel to confirm. Plus, the power button is on the panel as well.

So I'm thinking "how the hell am I gonna get this thing to turn on automatically?" I power it down and unhook the control panel from it, and plug it back in. Much to my surprise, it came on! By itself! <ghosts> I try switching its resolution, and it auto-adjusts...and that's it. It *never* asks for confirmation. It just works.

Hell, if I'd known it was going to do that, I would have taken out the control panel years ago. Damn thing was driving me crazy. 

I'm thinking that this monitor is now a very good candidate for a cab, and I wanted to post about it in case this works with other LCD monitors. I've only got the one, so I don't know; I'm sure one or more of you know for sure.