Thermaltake 7" LCD Monitor

Manufacturer: Thermaltake Technology
Supplied by: Thermaltake Technology
MSRP: TBA

by Dean Barker (9/27/2006)

Introduction

The Mozart Tx case has been a huge success for Thermaltake.  Towering a full two and a half feet tall and roughly eighteen inches square, the Tt Mozart Tx is one of the largest cases we've ever seen; making such an impact on the hardware community that its following can't exactly be called a niche market anymore.  Thermaltake is pushing the desirability of their multifunction Mozart Tx case further with a line of specifically tailored accessories.  This includes their Media Lab which is a VFD display showing system information, e-mail, news, weather in any combination you choose, along with a corresponding remote that allows control of the system right down to a set of curser keys providing mouse functions for the sofa bound user.  A few of the other Mozart Tx accessory offerings are a BTX motherboard adapter kit and a mini ITX power supply that fits into an open 5.25" drive bay.  The last and probably most desirable of all of these Mozart Tx extras is the retractable 7" LCD monitor, custom made to fit the Tt Mozart Tx case.  Today, our friends at Thermaltake have given us an opportunity to take a close and practical look at this smallest of monitors made or one of the largest of cases.

Specifications:

• Application: 7" custom LCD monitor specifically for Tt Mozart Tx Case

• Monitor retractable into case

• Touch panel

• I/O: USB, VGA, Video In/Out, Audio In/Out

• Remote control unit included

• Maximum observed resolution: 1600 x 1024 @ 60Hz

• Powered by 12v power off PSU

What you get

Aside from the obvious 7" LCD monitor insert, several goodies are also packed in to make the most of the Thermaltake small screen.  These include a small gray remote control, Driver/Software CD for Touchpad, manual, VGA cable, Video In cable, Power adapter cable, USB cable, Touch Pen, Device removal tool.  The second shot below is of the remote.  A few of the buttons on it require some explanation.  The 'angle' keys in red aren't for special edition DVDs; they control the angle the monitor extends once installed in order to make the unit more comfortable to the end user's preferences.  The lower four keys control the input that the monitor displays; VGA, TV, AV1 and AV2. 

  

A closer look

The unit itself mounts in a steal frame shown below.  The outer frame is what is mounted to the 7" monitor bay in the Mozart Tx case.  The wing shaped cuts you see are the mounting stays for the monitor's outer frame.  Once the outer frame is pushed in place, the end user folds up the 'wings' in order to lock it in place then slides the inner monitor into the mounted rack.  I'm not sure I understand why Thermaltake didn't just put several hard point screw mounts here but this system worked just as well for a secure fit.

The front of the Thermaltake 7" monitor has 19 small buttons on it.  The top control the hardware display itself.  From right to left, open/retract the LCD from its mounting, adjust display angle up, adjust display angle down, a menu with normal display functions there all controlled by the + and - buttons to make adjustments.  Below there are a power button, AV select, a five button circular selector with six TV presets on the right like a radio. 

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