My T23 and an external monitor.

[BlueDevilTide]

In the future, I might think of using an external monitor. Preferably a widescreen LCD, probably around the 19" range.

Could I just plug that baby into the back of the T23 and have it up and running? I have a 2647-4MU, with an XGA 1024x768 screen.

If I wanted the widescreen monitor, what might I need? I have a Thinkpad MiniDock that I don't use and will probably sell. Would that do the trick?

Thanks.

[rkawakami]

An external monitor can be plugged into the back of the laptop using the VGA port, or the VGA port in the docking/port replicator station. Depending upon the drivers installed in your laptop and how the external widescreen monitor handles non-native resolutions, you may or may not have some issues. For example, widescreen monitors do not exactly contain XGA (1024x768) or SXGA+ (1400x1050) pixel arrays so your image may be "letterboxed", stretched or cropped. According to the tawbook, the maximum supported external resolution is 1600x1200. That would be the maximum for the 16MB of video memory.

My best guess is that you would need to find the latest S3 SuperSavage/IX drivers to see what screen resolutions they support. And since we are talking about a laptop here, you could always take it to the store and ask them if you could plug in some widescreen monitors to see what it looks like.

[BlueDevilTide]

Very helpful info, thanks.

A question though: I can totally understand how the 4:3 displays would look normal, up to the 1600x1200 supported. And I can see how the widescreen image could be "stretched" looking.

But could it possibly *not* be stretched? Is that physically possible for the VGA output going to the widescreen monitor and display a 16:9 image? And (if they exist) the right drivers would be all I need, versus some hardware?

Thanks...I've never used an external monitor before, and having something good for my movies would be great!

[chan_man]

I have used a T22 connected to a Dell 20 inch 4:3 as well as a Dell 24" wide screen. I can tell you that the drivers for the T22 will not go to 1920x1200 that is needed for the 24". You will have to use 1600x1200 and the screen will be stretched to fit. A stretched image is "acceptable" and you might get used to it.