On using a printer switch box and 25-pin cables to switch VGA signals
-- I don't recommend this. Likely to cause impedance mismatches and other
discontinuities. There are switch boxes and cables especially made to
switch a VGA monitor, keyboard, and mouse all together.
However, a more basic piece of advice is "get to know your local
computer graveyard." At least around here, there are various local
businesses that specialize in buying and selling used computers and
computer parts. One of them is a metal salvage company with a sideline in
computer parts that still work. You may be able to find a low-end used
monitor for less than the price of a switch box, and gain considerable
flexibility. In my setup, that gives me a complete second computer --
very useful for testing hardware, configuration files, and the like. Of
course, this does take a little more desk space.
I found the answers to many of the kinds of questions you're asking in
"Upgrading & Repairing PCs" -- very useful book. I also recommend "Unix
for the Impatient" for Linux newcomers.
Good luck.
Jack Carroll
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For daily digest info, email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
