Power Efficient Computer Monitor Upgrade?
Hopefully this separate thread will eliminate hijacking another. Many RV'ers including myself use laptops instead of desktop units. But the 17" laptops seem to gobble laptop battery power at an ast...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:Like MrWiz said, the laptops video card will work fine. Likely the resolution of the laptops screen is 1366x768 which is a little more than 720p HD. Computer screens have always had higher resolutions than TV's (exception being the new 4k TV's). Don't worry about that part. Any 23" computer monitor OR TV with a VGA connector will work with the VGA connector of your laptop. All common standards. Don't worry about that either. Just worry about the price of the TV or computer monitor AND the power draw.
The laptop is a low-end purchased in 2011. I believe it has a VGA connection, a rectangular shaped connection with tapered sides and 15 holes. Somewhere in the Windows software says there is a selection for a separate monitor.
A 23" is about it as far as room to carry a monitor in the toad. Going from 15.7" to 23" -should- be quite a jump in screen area. I just don't want documents and images to go all grainy because of the limitation of the laptop video card. The laptop image is not all that hot to begin with.
My HMO won't pay for those cataract lenses that adjust for near and far focus. So with the laptop I am forced to wear strong reading glasses. One eye is fixed the other is getting pretty foggy. So after surgery I am going to have a one meter focusing point. I can place the 23" screen that far away and still see stuff.
But ratings like 720 or 1080 are confusing or 1920 X 1260. What does that mean for a laptop and can my group 31 power the laptop and screen for several hours?
I need a fountain of youth and triple air tanks...
This isn't complicated and I can see this thread making this complicated. All you need is the following:
1. 23" computer monitor or TV with VGA connector.
2. VGA cable.
3. Low power draw, preferably under 30W.
Anything more than that list is overcomplicating things.
PS - Here's a TV with a VGA connector. Advertised power draw is 22.77W. It does not have an ambient light sensor but at 22W, who cares.
Vizio E231-B1
Vizio E231-B1 Specs
