Imagesource: Image by Freepik

We're sticking with the Mac, but sliding forward a bit on the timeline. By the late 1980s, Apple began supporting external color monitors. However, the word supporting had little to do with the word standard, as Apple's technical design decisions often meant that their computers didn't just readily output a compatible VGA signal.

I mean, a 67Hz(!) refresh rate ... but of course, there was a solid technical reason for that. 🙄

The issue persists to this day. If you want to run an old-school IIci with its 640 by 480 pixels on an external monitor, you'd need a lot of luck, the right moon phase, a few dried frog legs, and the blood of a 8 year old virgin to ultimately succeed.

Steve Chamberlin, better known as Big Mess O' Wires, delved into the issue and devised a solution – one without the blood 🩸. Using a TI LM1881, he crafted a video sync separator that acts as a VGA translator, allowing his own IIci to connect to more or less modern VGA monitors.

Not just a superb practical guide, but as always, expertly presented reading material. 📓