The iPad family began its journey in April 2010. Currently in its tenth generation (speaking of standard models), official support only covers the last four, leaving a huge number of iPads with very high quality panels potentially gathering dust in a corner. That's exactly the situation for Drygol from the Retrohax portal: with an original iPad out of commission, he decided to extract its screen and turn it into a monitor, something made possible by the abundance of generic electronics on eBay.
One of the aspects that drew the most attention to the first iPad was the adoption of the 4:3 format for its screen. While the world chased widescreen in all its flavors, the iPad showed that 1024x768 was not a dead resolution, and that 4:3 remains a great format beyond content consumption. Today, the dimensions of panels have changed (the tenth-generation iPad is 1.44:1), but if you have an older damaged model with an intact panel, you could create an excellent monitor from its hardware.
iPad Panels Converted into Monitors
This project brings us to Drygol's Retrohax portal, whom we already know from his extreme restoration of an Atari 800XL. However, everything is simpler with the help of generic controllers from China. eBay offers a wide selection, including models for iPad 6 (2048 x 1536 on 9.7 inches, not bad at all), but if the idea is to reuse an iPad 1 or 2 panel, the initial investment doesn't exceed $25.
Drygol had two iPad 1s at his disposal, and used parts from one to repair the other, but with an extra LCD, all he had to do was buy the controller, print a 3D case, and prepare a simple charging circuit. The battery indicator with touch sensor is an optional detail, and to play audio, he ended up recycling a small Bluetooth speaker. For the second monitor he used a different controller, which already comes with the screen, and an integrated audio amplifier.
This allowed him to adopt a more compact design, protecting the panel with an extra layer of acrylic. Everything worked perfectly... except for one detail: That second screen came with moisture stains. Maybe time will make them disappear, but it's a minor defect compared to other symptoms.
Official site: Click here
