My 550 Titanium Powerbook screen is shot and the hinges are broken. The computer works fine through an external monitor. Wires from the computer to the screen are exposed and screenis hanging from these.

My question is- Can I just cut these wires and continue to use external monitor or is there continuity through the LCD screen circuitry to the external monitor that will render external monitor useless.

The cost of replacing hinges and screen is too much. I would really like to remove the screen and use the botom half of the computer (with external monitor.

My 550 Titanium Powerbook screen is shot and the hinges are broken. The computer works fine through an external monitor. Wires from the computer to the screen are exposed and screenis hanging from these.

The cost of replacing hinges and screen is too much. I would really like to remove the screen and use the botom half of the computer (with external monitor.


I don't know about cutting the wires weather it's good or bad (i'd assume bad) but you can replace the hinges for a cheap price.

I found new hinges on ebay and just received them.
I'll have them replaced probably by the end of the week end, or first thing monda y morning.


this way, I don't have to pay the 1900 $ I was quoted for a screen replacement because of Apple's misdesign.

if you need the names of the seller on ebay, let me know.

Take some pics of your hinge replacement, would love to see the operation.

It is not only the hinges the screen is shot as well.. so hinges are minor part of the problem.

Rod -- Take apart the TiBook case.
The screen is plugged in by a teeny little mini-plug.
Unplug it. Everything else works fine.

I did it for fun with an old pismo powerbook, it worked.
Now, the one thing I don't recall was wether it worked without an external keyboard/mouse.

It's easy enough to re-assemble if you don't like it.