The Apple Cinema Display Saga (part 1)

Keith Gable — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:05:00 -0600

I own a 20” aluminum Apple Cinema Display. When I bought it, it was the best 20” widescreen you could buy. It’s still quite awesome. Except, the DVI connector is permanently attached to the monitor. Which wouldn’t be a problem if you were a normal Apple user in that you have a studio and keep your stuff in mainly the same place.

Well. I’m not. I go to LAN parties. I move my monitor two or three times a month. Lots of stress on the DVI connector. Finally, the DVI cable gave out. And, it’s not under warranty anymore (I was two days late getting AppleCare). And unlike every other manufacturer of hardware I know of, they won’t sell end-users repair parts. And it’s not like I can just go to a parts store and order a part. I have to pay Apple however much money they want for labor and then however much it costs for the cable. Which probably will end up around $100. For a DVI cable. That costs $2.

So, what am I doing? I’m doing the absolute geekiest thing: I’m soldering the $2 (free) DVI cable on to the attached Apple DVI cable. But, I did take it apart. It’s extremely simple to get it apart and replace the cable. And I’m hoping David from Galaxy Hardware Publishers can find a cable for me, just in case my solder job fails.

I’ll post take-apart pictures and a take-apart guide in part 2.

The Ignition Project: Tag mistake

The Apple Cinema Display Saga (part 1)