Musings on converting an iMac into an external monitor

[jonny]

I think Stanley Park is the most beautiful urban park (forest!) I have ever seen. Lucky you!

[JoeH]

Is the video card actually failing, or just overheating? The heat transfer pads may have dried out after 10 years of use.

But, for these models you basically have to take everything out to get to the video card for replacement or changing the transfer pads. If the card does need to be replaced, working ones are getting short on supply.

[Todd's keyboard]

Good question about the video card.

I opened up this iMac to swap out the DVD drive for a 5TB hard drive. Unlike a previous iMac, I was not able to put it back together. My stubby fingers could not keep multiple, tiny, not-quite-springs in place.

I ended up having to take it to an independent repair shop. If that wizard were still in business, I would be there this afternoon. As it is, I'm ready to pack it in. Ten years is a good, long run.

This morning—as I expected—the time between screen blackouts shortened significantly. I'm now using the MacBook Air hooked up to the Dell 19" monitor with my regular wired (not Welcome Datacomp) keyboard and mouse through the old hub. Things are okay, and the 19" keyboard feels quite cramped, compared to the 27".

Todd's long-in-the-tooth keyboard