Can I connect a new 17 in. Dell flat screen monitor to my old computer
(9 yrs. old) - IBM Activa Model 2161-C8E?  If so, do I need to follow
any special procedures, use any special equipment?  My old SONY
monitor from around 1986 just sent out sparks and died!!!

Hi lrdavis, 

You shouldn't have any difficulty connecting your new monitor to your
old Aptiva machine. I'm assuming the Dell monitor you have is a flat
LCD screen as opposed to a flat CRT.  If it's a CRT then it will
certainly have a 15-pin connector on it that will plug in to the VGA
output on the back of the Aptiva. If it's an LCD then it may be a DVI
connector as opposed to an HD-15 (VGA) connector. The link below shows
the various types of connectors:

http://www.cable4pc.com/jpg/all.jpg

It's quite possible that your Dell monitor has an HD-15 connector even
if it's an LCD, in which case you should be able to plug it in without
a problem. However, if the monitor has a DVI connector you will need
to purchase a DVI to HD-15 converter. They're not expensive and you
can buy them just about anywhere. Tigerdirect has one for $9.99 here:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=997118&CatId=466

The only problem you're likely to run in to with an LCD screen on this
machine is that the Aptiva probably won't be able to run the monitor
at its native resolution. Most 17" LCDs have a maximum resolution of
1280x1024. At lower resultions the screen has to reinterpret the image
to make it use the 1280x1024 pixels on the screen. This often leads to
ugly text and images. It's unlikely that the video card in the Aptiva
can run at such a high resolution. I haven't been able to verify the
maximum resolution for sure, but I would guess that it has a maximum
resolution of 1024x768. This will look fine on a CRT but very strange
on an LCD designed for a higher resolution. Still, it's usable, even
if not ideal.

Finally, once you plug in the new screen (again, assuming it's an
LCD), make sure to adjust the display settings on the monitor to give
the best image. Most LCDs have an auto adjust button which makes the
task much easier. Since every video card will transmit the video
signal slightly differently you should do this adjustment whenever you
move the monitor to a new computer. This will ensure that you get the
best possible image quality.

If you have any trouble or any further questions about this, please
ask for a clarification.

Good luck, 

Hibiscus