Can You Reuse A Laptop's LCD?

Josiah Dykstra asks: "I have a dying laptop computer, but a 14.1 inch LCD that still works fine. With the high cost of flat panel LCDs for desktops, is there a way to modify my laptop LCD and use it as the display device on my desktop?" Hmmm....homemade webpads, maybe?

Comments

You must be reading my mind

[QuantumG]

I've been looking around all day trying to find out details about using laptop LCD's. The best site I've found is The LCD Information and Technical Forum on EIO. There's lots of information there (although most of it is about character lcd's) and it was a good lead to finding part numbers on laptop lcd's. This site sells replacement LCD screens - some of which are sub-$150. However, on EIO they often sell laptop LCD's for $9-$25! Unfortunately I still have no idea how to use them. Sharp makes the biggest range of laptop LCD's but they don't supply datasheets for the high end LCD's on the web - you have to call them up and ask them to fax it to you. If someone can get Sharp to email them pdf's on the various laptop LCD's they make (hell, even a selection guide would be nice), I'd love a copy.

I want a monochrome LCD screen connected to an ultra low power CPU. I don't need 600 MHZ of processing power on the road. I just want some random motorolla processor hooked to an IDE interface, a half size keyboard (detachable) and a monochrome LCD. Using your standard lithium ion laptop battery (the one that powers a desktop equivilent laptop for 1 1/2 hours tops) I could power this baby for hours. Put it in an attache case and you've got a laptop that I can install linux on and code for days. Perfect for lectures, holidays and when you're out and about and bored out of your mind.