From: naber_michael@tandem.com (Michael H. Naber)
Subject: Re: Augmenting an SE30 to have color capabilities ...
Organization: Tandem Computers
Distribution: comp
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 14:46:05 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.200007.11588@vax5.cit.cornell.edu>, vkwx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (Ed Swierk) writes:
> 
> In article <92Apr7.151315edt.8742@orasis.vis.toronto.edu>,
> eyal@vis.toronto.edu writes: 
> > Hi,
> > I was wondering if anyone knew if it were possible to augment an
> > Se/30 with an (external) color monitor and card such that one could
> > do color stuf on that monitor.
> 
> By adding a card to the SE/30's PDS slot, you can hook up a color monitor. I'm
> planning to do that with my SE/30. I called MacConnection and they sell an
> 8-bit card for around $275.
> 
> -- 
>                 Ed Swierk
>        Cornell University
> vkwx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
> 
> 
I just plunked down the money to add a color monitor to my SE/30 & love it!
What I put on my system was the Lapis PDS-30/21 card and an NEC 3FGx multi-sync
monitor.  With this configuration, I can have the equivalent of three different
displays (not simultaneously, of course).
   1) 640x480 (standard Mac 14" color)
   2) 832x624 (my default)
   3) 1024x768
Of course, each of these is displayed on the same 15" screen, so the third mode
has very small pixels and the first has pixels slightly larger than the standard
Apple 14" display.

The card is highly configurable - it can drive just about any kind of analog
monitor you can think of - VGA, Super VGA, monochrome, gray scale, color, etc.
This particular card can drive up to a 21" monitor (1152x870).

Lapis has other cards, including the PDS-30/17, which can drive up to a 17" display
(or the equivalent capability on a multi-sync monitor).  I chose the PDS-30/21 because
it gave me the third mode above - I won't often use that size, but I will often enough
to justify the extra cost.  In addition, Lapis makes cards without the ability to
drive multiple modes.

The card can be configured on the fly with keyboard combinations pressed on startup of 
the Mac - once it recognizes the new configuration, it reboot the Mac.  The mode can 
also be chosen from a control panel extension to the Monitors control panel.  Again, it
takes a reboot for the new mode to take effect.  Maybe Lapis can learn something from 
the Radius Pivot displays, as they can do the reconfiguration on  the fly without 
re-booting.

The NEC monitor is sharp and clear and works well with the Lapis card.  It does have a 
noticeable flicker when operated in the 1024x768 mode, but this is because the refresh
rate is 60Hz in this mode.  I will live with this, as I will be using this mode only
occasionally.

I chose the Lapis card over the Micron card because of the ability to drive a multi-sync
monitor in multiple modes.  It's more expensive, but for me it was worth the extra cost.

I purchased my monitor and card from MacOutlet (advertise in MacWeek, maybe other
magazines).  The staff there are friendly and helpful.

I am not affiliated with NEC, Lapis, or MacOutlet - I am only a satisfied customer.

Michael Naber
Tandem Computers
(Naber_Michael@Tandem.com)

Standard disclaimer: My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.