is it possible to use a laptop screen as a stand-alone monitor?

[kamikaze33]

hey guys
i just got a raspberry pi today and i have an old laptop kicking around. Instead of buying a new monitor for the raspberry pi, im wondering if it would be possible to just take the screen off of the laptop and somehow use that on the raspberry pi.
Im assuming i would still have to power the screen somehow, or does anyone know if this little board is powerful enough to just run the screen?
heres a link to the Pi's page:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

Basically the Pi supports composite OR hdmi out, but not VGA. Is there a way i can hook the laptop screen up to one of these?

thanks!

[quaxo]

Not without rewiring and coming up with a way to power the screen. The Pi isn't designed to power the screen, nor does it carry enough power to jury rig a connection. Unless you know enough about electronics to rewire and power the screen safely, I wouldn't advise attempting to do this. You'd be better off getting an inexpensive monitor for it.

[Geek-9pm]

Short answer. NO

Long answer. Yes, ,indeed!
You sell the laptop for parts and make enough money to buy a converter that hooks  the  handheld to a standard TV set. Quality is fair, but the size is great!

[hartbeatmr]

Good evening kamikaze33

I am not sure but maybe this might be what you are looking for http://www.instructables.com/id/Laptop-Converted-to-2nd-Monitor/

Please let us how you make out, Mike

[kamikaze33]

Good evening kamikaze33

I am not sure but maybe this might be what you are looking for http://www.instructables.com/id/Laptop-Converted-to-2nd-Monitor/

Please let us how you make out, Mike

thanks mike thats exactly along the lines of what i was looking for! ill give that tutorial a more in-depth look this weekend.

To previous posters:
If converting the laptop screen proves too difficult, what about using an old cell phone screen? I have a RAZR, CRAZR and Sony Cybershot k850i all kicking around that i wouldnt mind messing around with in the name of science haha. could the Pi possibly power these smaller screens?
i found another forum here, http://www.computerforums.org/forums/hardware/mobile-phone-screen-lcd-monitor-196395.html, talking about converting a phone screen to VGA via matching the pins and whatnot, but since the Pi either has composite or HDMI, would this still even be an option?

[quaxo]

Good evening kamikaze33

I am not sure but maybe this might be what you are looking for http://www.instructables.com/id/Laptop-Converted-to-2nd-Monitor/

Please let us how you make out, Mike

He quotes the price as less than $50. For about $60 you can get a decent refurbished LCD screen with HDMI input and save yourself the trouble of having to do all that work hoping you don't fry something in the process.

Looks like a fun little project, but to me wouldn't be worth the trouble. Just my opinion though.