In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Ray <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote:

>
> "~misfit~" <misfit61nz******.com.au> wrote in message
> news:h1jr85$cqv$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> Somewhere on teh intarwebs Ray wrote:
>>> I have an eight-year-old HP ZE5300 laptop which is still in pretty
>>> good shape except for the screen.
>>>
>>> My question: Can I simply remove the entire top, plug the laptop
>>> into an LCD monitor, and essentially use the laptop as a desktop?
>>
>> As long as ther is no switch gear in the lid then the answer is;
>> Probably. --
>> Shaun.
>>
>> "Build a man a fire, and he`ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire,
>> and he`ll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett, Jingo.

> I suppose I could always just fold the top over completely flat, then
> put the external monitor on top of of the old one -- with some kind
> of platform, of course.
>

If running it as a 'desktop', you'd be better off using an external keyboard
and mouse rather than the built-in keyboard and navigation pad. If you do
that. you can close the lid completely - most laptops have a microswitch
which switches off the internal screen when the lid is closed.

You can then sit the monitor on a suitable stand, with the laptop tucked
under it, and with (external) keyboard and mouse out in front - just like a
"proper" desktop.

In my last job (before I retired a few years ago) we operated our laptops in
exactly that way - except that we also had a docking station into which the
laptop plugged, so that the monitor, keyboard, mouse and network cable could
be permantly plugged into the docking station - making installation and
removal of the laptop very quick.

Whether something similar would work for you probably depends on whether or
not the laptop's on/off switch is accessible with the lid closed. On my
works laptop it was, but on my current privately owned laptop, it isn't.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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