I looking to get a display and am in love with the MO VFD's!!!
Anyways, I was thinking of the VK-204-25.
1.) What does the efficient power supply and extended temp models offer if this is going to be used in a PC?
2.) Is there a bay insert model (dual drive) that has a built in keypad? I think I saw a reference to something like this that may materialize. It doesn't seem to, but will it?
Thanks ... there's probably more questions that I forgot ... dipan
1.) What does the efficient power supply and extended temp models offer if this is going to be used in a PC?
You wont be needing the extended temp verion, those are aimed at industrial uses and extreamly harsh conditions. I would recomend the Wide Voltage version of the display. What that allows is a greater input voltage tolorance. Lets say your computer PSU spikes a couple of volts, the -V option will be able to handle that no problem, where the standard voltage unit may be damaged.
2.) Is there a bay insert model (dual drive) that has a built in keypad? I think I saw a reference to something like this that may materialize. It doesn't seem to, but will it?
It is in production. We are currently waiting for samples.
So the dual bay inserts with keypad will probably be available soon ... good to know!!! I've not seen one of your inserts, let alone one with a keypad ... Are they paintable? I was planning on using silver-grey vinyl dye to paint all my drives ... CDR/DVDR/media card reader/LS120/Zip so that they match nicely with the painted metallic silver aluminum case that I've got. I was planning to paint your beige bay insert also, but if the buttons are inlaid, would that be possible to do cleanly? If not, I'll probably just go with the simple insert.
dipan, you may want to consider using blanks that came with your case and making your own (it will take two). The keypad interface is pretty simple to work with, and you could use the switches of your choice in the number and layout of your choice, plus coordinate with your color scheme. (Vinyl dye is great for this.)
It amounts to making one cutout for the display, and one hole for each switch. Plastic is pretty easy to work with, even without expensive tools. I would cut the opening a bit small and use files to shape it to the exact size for the display.
Have a look through the gallery for dozens of examples.
The two front screws would be problematic as I think the lcd opening would be right on them. Besides, I figured that if I had drives in the other openings without acrylic faces then the lcd would stand out with an acrylic face. Modding the drives with acrylic faces would be an idea (I saw an article at Bit-Tech on this) but would take a lot of time for me. Maybe another idea is to get the plain face MO bay insert and drill some holes in for switches. Where do you guys get switches. I've searched Newark Electronics and Mouser and I just can't tell what those switches really look like. Maybe I'll stop by my local RatSchack and see what they have. I just don't want the display to look cheesy with unprofessional looking switches. Maybe the plain Jane look is a good idea for me ...
Re switches, just wait till you see what's up my sleeve.
Did you see GOO's Lian-Li mod? It didn't occur to me until youstarted talking about the acrylic bits, but I bet you get a lot of idears from his article.
GOO's Lian-Li mod is pretty sweet ... I think that's what I was referring to when I was talking about the acrylic mods ... I'm not sure I've got the time to do ... but hey, my computer's always in some sort of transition or other and is never completed anyways
Can't wait to see what you mean about switches ... Will you post pics in the gallery?
... dipan
