Projectors (aka Beamers) and Linux

External Projectors

There are several different methods to activate support for an external monitor (or beamer, or overhead display): as a BIOS option or during runtime with a keystroke e.g. <Fn>+<F4> (for my HP OmniBook 800 it's <Fn>+<Print>).

Note: You should turn on the projector first and wait until it's fully initialized before you turn the laptop on. If you have to toggle the signal at the VGA port (remember the keystroke above!) give the projector some seconds to catch the new signal. In other words don't toggle to fast.

For NeoMagic chipsets you have to edit /etc/XF86Config by configuring intern_disp and extern_disp. see /usr/X11/lib/X11/doc/README.neo (SuSE) or /usr/doc/xserver-common/README.neo.gz (Debian) for details:

3.  Technical Notes
...
o  Enable both internal "intern_disp" and external "extern_disp"
 options to get simultaneous panel/CRT support.
...

If you can't get this to work with XFree86, try a demo version of the commercial X servers mentioned above.

If you have lost the specs of your monitor you may try: Monitorworld.

Tools/Utilities

i810switch is an utility for switching the LCD and external VGA displays on and off under Linux. It was originally written by Antonino Daplas, and is now maintained by Ken Mano (mano at agate.plala.or.jp).

Survey of Beamers / Projectors

Manufacturer	Model	Annotations
3M	MP8620, MP8640, MP8730	SVGA/XGA, S-Video
COMPAQ	MP 1600	600 ANSI Lumen, 1024x768, weight < 2kg
Epson	7100	1024x768
Hitachi	CP-X960	XGA, S-video, USB, 1024x768
LG Electronics	LP-XG2	XGA projector, compatible with the usual TV formats
Liesegang	ddv 1111 ultra	XGA, 1024x768, 1700 ANSI Lumen, works fine
Sharp
SONY	VPL-PX1	XGA, 1024x768, 1000 ANSI Lumen
Toshiba	TY-G3
Toshiba	Mediastar TLP 510/511	VGA-, SVHS- Video IN and OUT, NTSC, PAL and SECAM IN, 600 ANSI Lumen, 1280x1024
Toshiba	Mediastar TLP 410/411	VGA-, SVHS- Video IN and OUT, NTSC, PAL and SECAM IN, 500 ANSI Lumen, 1024x768

Resources

• for information about Linux laptops and TVs and a survey of adapters see here.
• Building and Repairing Projectors Do-it-Yourself (LCD, OverHead, Dia)