Small LCD Screens?

Matt asks: "Is there anyone who sells small LCD screens? I need a small LCD screen (smaller than 10 inches) to connect to a laptop. I use my laptop to aid in navigating my boat, but I want to be able to put my laptop out of harms way and simply refer to a LCD screen, the only problem being the small space I have available to mount it in. I have contacted many manufacturers and the smallest I have been able to find is 13 inches. I would be grateful for any suggestions."

Comments

What resolution?

[jcwren]

See EarthLCD.com for all your LCD needs (well, most, at any rate. I can't see to find an affordable 6.4" 640x480x256 touch screen LCD for my car...). They are not on the cheap side, but they have many models.

You don't comment on what resolution you want. There are hundreds of 640x480 LCDs available, down to about 6", possibly smaller. There are some 800x600 displays in the 13" to 10" range, but you start approaching the limits of pixel sizes.

Re:What resolution?

[naomi385]

Buy a non-working Audrey from someone who fucked up the Flash IPL. It has exactly the screen you describe and can be had for less than $100.

Ebay.

[bpb213]

There are always 9+ inch LCD screens going on ebay. Of course a little electronic knowhow might be required as few come with a controller.

Try looking at portable TVs or DVD players

[Cecil]

Depending on your price range, of course. This may not be suitable if you're not suited to ripping apart electronics, but seeing as you're installing a navigation system in your boat, I'm willing to bet you're handy enough to do a little bit of desoldering.

Portable TVs and portable DVD players both contain smaller (and in the case of the DVDs, quite high resolution) LCD screens, with backlights, that you can tear out and install into your boat and rewire as neccesary.

You may need to get a converter to switch between VGA and whatever input the LCD wants, but it can b e done. I'm not sure specifically what inputs an LCD requires, but you might check out this site for a story of a guy who's done it.

Good luck.

PartsExpress

[admiral2001]

Check out http://www.partsexpress.com.
Also http://www.earthlcd.com, as mentioned above.
Keep looking the category 'Mobile Video'. You'll find many 4,5,6 inch screens.

If you're building something out of it anyway, PartsExpress has good deals on 'LCD Modules' which basically are the screens without the finished edges. There's a special right now for a 5.6" screen for $100! (part no 205-017). I bought a small screen there for $90 a few months ago to put in my car. They come highly recommended.

old laptops

[dJCL]

I have a bunch of older laptops and some have screens as small as the one on my ipaq, and they run 640*480 fine(16 colors probably won't bother you much) you just need the knowhow to setup the controllers or better yet(my solution for in house monitoring terms...) just network the damned thing and use it as is(with some internal re-working/re-arranging) good luck! don't forget to take pictures so we can have a server to slashdot.

Found some!

[breon.halling]

Although the site was mentioned earlier, here are two direct links:

8.4" w/controller

10.4" w/controller

There are some more sizes in the RV section(!).