Research for Basic Magic Mirror
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No speakers, no mic, no alexa … just a display behind a mirror with a nice wooden frame. I can do the wood part, my RPI is already up and running / I use the IP:port number to look at my MM via a browser … but I would prefer to see it hanging on a wall somewhere.
I am looking at the Acer SB220Q bi 21.5 Inches Full HD as a display part of my MM. Has anyone tried this monitor?
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Really, just about any monitor will work. However, looking at your link, I noticed the ports come straight out the back of the unit. In most cases, it’s preferable to have the ports facing down towards the floor, especially if you’re putting this in a frame. With the ports facing downward, the frame doesn’t have to be as “thick”, keeping it closer to the wall where you hang it.
Personally, I’d make my priority the mirror glass itself and pick up a 2nd hand monitor.
That’s just my opinion. Take it for what it’s worth.
Peace
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@mykle1 - thanks for the post. Good point about the direction of the ports. I will keep that in mind.
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I ordered that screen from amazon. It is now downstairs, largely disassembled. It has a circuit board that has three different connectors.
- One large (wide) connector goes to the screen
- Another thinner connector goes to the bottom right of the screen (as you look at it) - purpose unknown
- A third, even thinner connector that goes to a separate, very small board with buttons (screen brightness, contrast, etc controller?)
I don’t think I can connect my RPI to the screen via the cable (different sizes) so I will have to use the HDMI port on the back of the monitor (sticks out, but not too far) and then plug that into my mini-HDMI (RPI 4).
I might be able to take the bezel off the screen but I might just not worry about that … this is a very thin monitor to start with.
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@ruff-hi said in Research for Basic Magic Mirror:
Another thinner connector goes to the bottom right of the screen (as you look at it) - purpose unknown
probably power…i have 4 monitors that have had the power button on the bottom bezel on the right corner. i am using one now (asus)
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The most important thing is :
The monitor need have 178 degree from side or top clear , so many old monitor have reflect way . -
@sdetweil said in Research for Basic Magic Mirror:
@ruff-hi said in Research for Basic Magic Mirror:
Another thinner connector goes to the bottom right of the screen (as you look at it) - purpose unknown
probably power…i have 4 monitors that have had the power button on the bottom bezel on the right corner. i am using one now (asus)
It wasn’t power. The power button was on the small board. It is connected to the screen so I am thinking back lighting.
Anyway, monitor all put back together and is being returned to Amazon.
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As I said above, I am sending the monitor back
Ordered this one from Amazon today - a ASUS VE228H 21.5" Full HD 1920x1080 HDMI DVI VGA Back-lit LED Monitor, Black. There is a picture on newegg that shows the video output facing down
The picture also shows a sticker ‘warrantee void if seal damaged’.
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@peterpang said in Research for Basic Magic Mirror:
The most important thing is :
The monitor need have 178 degree from side or top clear , so many old monitor have reflect way .Thanks for the post. I read this line a bunch of times … trying to make sense of it before I resorted to google. Searching ‘178 degree from side or top clear’ yielded links about viewing angles and refining my search gave me this …
Who knew that bestbuy blogged?
Now that I understand the comment, this is not the most important aspect for me. A screen where you can see the edge behind the mirror and the ability to show crisp, possibly small text is much more important that being able to read the content from a 65° let alone 89°.
Now … here is a question … can I put an animated background / wall paper on my magic mirror?
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@ruff-hi said in Research for Basic Magic Mirror:
can I put an animated background / wall paper on my magic mirror?
maybe, but rememeber all that animation takes cpu power… nothing is free…
