Portrait Monitor Easel - Designed by Apple in California.

This a quick one, so simple, and great I had to share. For the past week I have been thinking about setting up my second screen in portrait mode.

Mac OS X supports easy resolution rotation of most monitors, i had already flicked the switch and tried it.

The main problem, my monitor was a 'media one' and came with no form of VESA mount. So i decided the best solution would be to make an 'Easel' of sorts, to hold my monitor as if it was a painting.

Here is how i did it.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Finding some good items.

I had recently picked up a cheap stand off the back of an iMac, i figured due to its solid construction this would make an ideal stand.

I was stuck for how to make the monitor remain still. At this point i remembered that i picked up an iMac VESA adapter kit.

Both of them are made of hefty aluminum, they both read, Designed by Apple in California.

L14M333 says: Jan 10, 2010. 3:33 AM

Thats good and i think thats the same tv i have... but i use it for my xbox and i think i would struggle with the xbox on the side lol... i have another cheapo 15" one i might just mount above my mac so i can see it easier from my bed :D

mayney93 says: Mar 21, 2009. 5:46 AM

Is it just me or is everyone else thinking the same thing, for 800 pound i can get a imac but for half that i can get a better pc, i just recently bought a intel quad core system for 400 quid yet if i had got a mac at double the price i would have got half the power as they only have dual cores, they seem to be very overated and overpriced.

gmjhowe (author) in reply to mayney93Mar 21, 2009. 7:48 AM

I have my reasons for using an iMac, as a professional i know exactly what i need, and the iMac provides. Also, im guessing your making the usual mistake of comparing a slimline all in one PC, with a standard tower pc. The iMac is also made of aluminum, the quality of the screen alone is equal to that of a £400 LaCie screen - so the screen kinda makes up the price without taking into consideration the form and size.

zoltzerino in reply to gmjhoweSep 11, 2009. 4:19 PM

Also, you have the shiny glass front. :-) I wasn't on the IRC tonight. :-(

ReCreate in reply to gmjhoweJul 25, 2009. 5:01 PM

Aha, Pc's range in so many brands and materials, That that reason to buy a mac would be invalid, PC's are also made of metals(like aluminum) and high-quality plastics. And the screen, Also Invalid.

gmjhowe (author) in reply to ReCreateAug 11, 2009. 9:07 AM

No, because to buy a pc made from aluminum, and with the lacie screen, it works out about the same.

Bartboy in reply to gmjhoweOct 18, 2009. 10:55 AM

So? Imac screens aren't any better than the 300$ 24" Screen I bought.
Sure, it's LED, and uses a lot less power/makes less heat, but it's not worth 800$

It's just apple being greedy.
A while ago you could buy macs from other companies, that were better and much more powerful, for a fraction of the cost, but apple wasn't making enough money. It's like how they charge 400$ for an Ipod, that probably cost them less than 50$ to make.

I just think that it's apple charging tons of money for the OS, and leave it at that.

Macintosh is a way better OS, but for 1000$ I bought a desktop and Full HD plasma monitor, that has:
More Memory,
Better graphics,
a Better sound card,
More USB slots,
Bigger Hard drive,
and has a way better processor
than my 2000$ Imac.

The only thing that the Imac does better is it has a way better wireless network card.

I prefer the Imac, but for a lot of stuff, the desktop is much better.

ReCreate in reply to gmjhoweAug 11, 2009. 10:46 AM

Same what? Also, A metal casing is dangerous, You drop it, and the insides crumble, You bend it, And it shorts out, You touch a hot part(like near the CPU) you burn yourself and drop it, not to mention it would end up heavier.

mayney93 in reply to gmjhoweAug 11, 2009. 10:05 AM

meh

=SMART= in reply to gmjhoweMar 21, 2009. 2:23 PM

+ Macs are beautiful !

lemonie says: Mar 21, 2009. 8:52 AM

It's great - only the second portrait monitor I've ever seen. L

gmjhowe (author) in reply to lemonieMar 21, 2009. 9:25 AM

Not alot of people make use of the feature, windows involves a messy bit of software, or a screen designed to be rotated with drivers. Mac os X on the other hand has drivers built in to support rotation of most monitors.

ReCreate in reply to gmjhoweJul 25, 2009. 4:56 PM

That is because Macs always(well mostly for more modern ones) have the same monitor/graphics card, If PC's where made the same way they would also have it, Also, Most Graphic card Manufacturers for PC's have that feature. Such as intel,Nvida,Trident and such

lemonie in reply to gmjhoweMar 21, 2009. 9:46 AM

It's no problem at all on my machine, but that's NVIDIA software. L

ReCreate in reply to lemonieJul 13, 2009. 10:03 AM

Yeah the same for my Intel graphics card

gmjhowe (author) in reply to lemonieMar 21, 2009. 9:51 AM

Ah yes, graphics card software would be another way. You have got a good mid range one.

Apple Rule in reply to gmjhoweMar 22, 2009. 10:59 AM

Go gmj :D

lemonie in reply to gmjhoweMar 21, 2009. 11:28 AM

Mid-range today, it's an old machine...

L

gmjhowe (author) in reply to lemonieMar 21, 2009. 3:48 PM

Was it once, top of the range?

lemonie in reply to gmjhoweMar 21, 2009. 3:54 PM

I don't know, but I'm assuming that it must have been higher-up when I bought the thing a few years ago(?) To be honest, I don't really care - I got a big tax refund and spent it on a high-ish spec-machine (from what was Watford Computers)

L

gmjhowe (author) in reply to lemonieMar 21, 2009. 4:21 PM

Well, i spent near £900 on my iMac.

lemonie in reply to gmjhoweMar 22, 2009. 12:54 AM

It was more than that, but I'm sure that I'm not using the full value (thought of it a future-proofing...) L

gmjhowe (author) in reply to lemonieMar 22, 2009. 2:29 AM

Yes Future proofing was one of my best sell up techniques when i sold computers.

lemonie in reply to gmjhoweMar 22, 2009. 2:40 AM

(Ha!) My decision, L

gmjhowe (author) in reply to lemonieMar 22, 2009. 6:41 AM

hey, i used it as a sell up technique because its what i believe and follow. I made the mistake by recently buying a second hand apple, it was a good price, and a great machine, but i found my self needing to upgrade. My new iMac will hopefully give me the 6 years my original iMac did!

Berkin says: Mar 30, 2009. 6:29 AM

You watch Star Trek?? LOL, that most efficiently tops off your awesome geekiness.

_{(A compliment.)}

gmjhowe (author) in reply to BerkinMar 30, 2009. 7:41 AM

Star Trek is the win. I own all 7 seasons of The Next Generation.

Derin in reply to gmjhoweJul 22, 2009. 11:33 AM

6 seasons

galenorama in reply to gmjhoweJan 7, 2013. 10:33 AM

Agreed! Star Trek is great! I can't wait until the new movie comes out!

Derin in reply to galenoramaJun 19, 2009. 12:30 PM

I watched the new movie. paaaaat küüüüüüt

Berkin in reply to gmjhoweMar 30, 2009. 7:57 AM

o.O

ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!

_{I have also found you on Twitter! LOL}

Derin says: Apr 23, 2009. 12:20 AM

Where would the CD drive in an iMac be?Just wondering.

gmjhowe (author) in reply to DerinApr 23, 2009. 1:59 AM

On the right, about the same height as picards shoulder, slot loading drive (no tray)

Derin in reply to gmjhoweJun 19, 2009. 12:30 PM

Thanks for letting me know.

Berserk87 says: Apr 20, 2009. 8:03 PM

im not trying to be negative but every computer for a long long time has been able to do this. you also put this in the epilog challenge - yet i dont see a single thing anywhere in this that gives this a "green twist". "Designed by Apple in California." what?

gmjhowe (author) in reply to Berserk87Apr 20, 2009. 11:59 PM

I know it has... the whole idea of this is the stand i made. Which was made from old apple mac parts! Up-cycling!

Plasmana says: Apr 13, 2009. 5:32 PM

That reminds me of the funny problem my mom had, she accidentally pressed some keys on the keyboard at the same time and the computer screen flipped sideways.. While my dad tried to figure out the problem, i suggested to him to turn the whole screen sideways... lol