Flip your iMac G4 into an exterior monitor utilizing the DockLite G4 mod

It has been 20 years since Apple discontinued iMac G4, a singular laptop with an uncommon hemispherical base and a flat-screen LCD show on an uncommon hinge and adjustable bracket. In its unaltered type, it’s a pleasing nostalgic relic, unsuitable to be used in a contemporary context. I coveted it, however at the moment I used to be by no means in a position to purchase it, however thanks DockLite G4 by Juicy CrumbI exploit this traditional iMac each day as an exterior monitor.

The DockLite G4 is a alternative motherboard for the iMac G4 that options an HDMI port, three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and three.5mm audio ports. Better of all, it makes use of the iMac’s present mounting holes and inner connectors for energy and video, so all you want is a few screwdrivers and a prying software—no soldering required.

It took me about half-hour to open my eBay-purchased 1.25GHz 17-inch iMac G4, take away the motherboard, insert the DockLite and shut it once more, and immediately I may join every little thing I needed to the MacBook. Air on my pretend Anbernic GBA SP. (Juicy Crumb even has helpful video information.) It was a lot simpler than some various DIY strategies.

Listed here are some pictures I took of the set up course of:

After putting in DockLite, my iMac now works precisely like an exterior show. It sleeps when my laptop is (though it’s important to press the iMac’s energy button to show off the backlight), and I can management the brightness in software program or utilizing the {hardware} buttons on the again.

There are stuff you lose by doing this, like entry to the iMac’s optical drive. And you will not be capable to run it as a standalone laptop except you go the additional mile and substitute most of its inner parts with one thing like a Mac Mini. The plus is that the set up is reversible – you possibly can all the time put the unique motherboard again.

The DockLite G4 is not low-cost at $260. The worth is pushed by “the time, effort and cash spent bringing even a comparatively easy product just like the DockLite to market,” Juicy Crumb CEO and co-founder Timothy De Denaro instructed me over e-mail. The DockLite G4 “is a comparatively small-volume product,” he added, and “every system is hand-tested by me earlier than transport” to clients.

This appears honest, but it surely would not change the truth that I spent some huge cash and energy simply to make use of a low decision show with poor viewing angles. Once more, I did not purchase the DockLite G4 as a result of I admired the standard of the LCD show on my now 21-year-old iMac G4. I did this as a result of this laptop appears ugly on my desk and I needed to have the ability to use it each day.