It’s well known that the most expensive part of a laptop is the LCD panel (i.e. the screen). If you’ve ever shopped around for a replacement panel – even if it’s just the thin-film part and not the surrounding bezel – you know exactly what I’m talking about. LCD panels have never been cheap and probably never will be. Because of this, when a screen decides to go TARFU, most don’t bother with a replacement because the screen almost always costs more than the whole laptop is worth.
You can however convert the dead-screened laptop into a "half-top" desktop PC.
If your TARFU-screened laptop was made in the last 8 years or so, it has Wi-Fi and at least two USB 2.0 ports, so to create a half-top setup, you will need:
- 1 4-port USB hub
- 1 wired USB keyboard
- 1 wired USB mouse
- 1 computer monitor
- 1 monitor stand
The monitor stand, said honestly, doesn’t have to be anything special. It has to be high enough to slide the laptop under and strong enough to support 10lbs/4.5kg (for reference, a 23-inch widescreen monitor is usually around 9.5lbs/4.3kg). On NewEgg, all the stands are here, and you’ll quickly notice a bunch of them are basically nothing more than little 2, 3 and 4-leg tables. For you crafty/handy types out there, yes this means you could build your own stand out of wood and it would work fine. Break out a tape measure, measure the height you need, cut a plank thick enough to hold a monitor for the base, then 2 long pieces or 4 short pieces for the legs and you’re all set.
"Couldn’t I just stack the monitor on top of the closed laptop?"
That’s not a good idea for two reasons. First, most laptops aren’t perfectly level when closed, running the high risk of the monitor falling off, so that’s no good. Second, the extra pressure from the monitor stacked on the laptop will increase heat on the inside of the unit and significantly shorten its lifespan.
Who would actually use a computer this way?
If you have a TARFU-screened laptop or two (or more), creating half-top setups to give away is probably the best way to offload some of your computer stock you couldn’t otherwise sell to those in need.
More than a few of you out there have enough parts in your basement/attic/garage/work area/whatever where you could put together an entire half-top setup out of spare computer parts for zero dollars. And it’s also likely true you know someone (or maybe someone’s kid?) who needs a computer. It’s not like you could sell any of your half-working stuff for any significant profit anyway, so if you know a needy soul that needs a computer, put together a half-top setup and give it away.
I’d especially recommend giving half-top setups away for those of you who have no computer recycling centers nearby. Better to put together working setups for use than toss electronics out and contribute to e-waste.
"I have nobody to give a computer to."
Post an ad on Craigslist in the "free" area for your locale. Believe me, someone will take it.
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Funny you posted this today. I JUST removed a broken screen from an old laptop and created my own half top last night.