Portable Tabletop MAME Cabinet (Monitor)
 
I chose an inexpensive Compaq w17Q Flat Panel LCD Monitor. I was able to face this monitor upwards at Fry's and look at it from a variety of angles—a known weakness for LCD displays. I decided that the display was acceptable from every angle except “below,” which was the case with most of the monitors I looked at. Therefore, when I mount the monitor for use with the tabletop MAME cabinet, I intend to turn the display upside down and run MAME with the appropriate options. The good news is that LCDs are nowhere near as bad as they were a few years ago on side viewing. Also, a bonus: there were simple audio speakers already embedded into the monitor, which saved both room and some extra cost.
 
After getting it home, the first thing I needed to do was the remove the mounting for the display stand. Not only is this unnecessary, but it also encroaches on the computer hardware in the MAME cabinet housing frame below. This mounting was attached on the back of the monitor with three screws—two at the top and one through a peek-hole in the middle.
 
 
Saturday, August 25, 2007
After unscrewing them, the mounting slid down and off.
 
 
Next, I need to cut out a cover for the monitor from my wood.