How to Configure an External Display on a PowerBook G4
The 12.1-inch TFT display installed on Apple's PowerBook G4 laptops is well-suited to most uses, such as web browsing and running office applications. However, if you plan to use your laptop for graphics or video editing or to watch media such as DVD movies or streaming video, you may wish to attach an external display to the device. Such displays often have higher resolutions and a larger viewing area, and may provide an added benefit of extending the size of your computer's desktop. The procedure for installing and configuring an external display on a PowerBook G4 is very straightforward and should only take a matter of minutes.
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Things You'll Need
- External display
- Mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter (optional)
- Mini-DVI-to-DVI adapter (optional)
Instructions
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Installation and Configuration
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1
Turn on the external display. Examine the connector at the end of the cable leading from the monitor. If the connector has 15 pins, connect it to the Mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter; if the connector is rectangular, with the pins arranged in distinct groupings, connect it to the Mini-DVI-to-DVI adapter.
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2
Examine the array of ports located on the left side of the PowerBook. Find the Mini-DVI port, located to the right of the USB ports. Connect the Mini-DVI adapter to the port.
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3
Open the "Apple" menu (click on the icon of an apple located in the upper-left corner of the desktop). Select "System Preferences" from the list of available options.
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4
Click on the icon labeled "Displays." Select the desired resolution for your external monitor. Close the "Displays" window by clicking on the red circle in the upper left corner of the window.
External Display Only
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5
Examine the USB ports on the left side of your PowerBook G4; connect an external keyboard and mouse to any open ports.
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6
Confirm that your PowerBook's power supply is connected to the device and plugged into a nearby electrical socket.
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7
Close the laptop's display. Connect your external monitor to your Powerbook as described in "Installation and Configuration" above.
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8
Press a key on your external keyboard to bring the PowerBook out of "sleep" mode; you may now use your external monitor as the sole display device.
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Tips & Warnings
You may purchase a Mini-DVI-to-VGA or Mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter directly from Apple's store; see Resources below.
If you are using the external display as your sole display device and wish to resume using the PowerBook's display instead, open the "Apple" menu and select the option labeled "Sleep." Once your PowerBook is in sleep mode, disconnect the external display from the device. Open the PowerBook's display and press any key to bring the laptop back out of sleep mode.
You may use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard in lieu of USB peripherals when using the external display with the PowerBook closed; open the "Bluetooth" section of "System Preferences" and select the option labeled "Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer."
