"Touching" the Monitor

Plugging in...

Who knew that plugging a new, touch monitor into a power source could be so "touchy" - every pun intended.

Some of the new computer monitors no longer have retractable on/off buttons, or rocker style on/off switches. The ON button is no longer a button, but a graphic of an on/off button that one lightly touches with a finger and presumably that is all it takes to ignite the monitor to full on power.

Having worked with monitors for many years, the premise is simple: attach the cable from the monitor to the computer, attach the three-prong power cord from the computer to the power source (usually a power strip or a surge protected power strip), make sure the computer is on, press the power button to turn on the monitor. Yet, it was not so simple for this one client, with two monitors.

A new monitor, a new desktop computer, a new power strip. Power to the strip, check; everything plugged in, check; electricity on in house, check. Monitor on? Nope. Touch on button, nothing. Press lightly, hold, check power cords, take plastic panel with power button graphic off, use various implements to press power source. Nada. Call vendor, return monitor, get replacement monitor. Vendor claimed the monitor worked fine when returned, no problem with the "touch" mechanism. The vendor sent a replacement monitor. And we repeated the sequence: power to the strip, check; everything plugged in, check; electricity on in house, check. Monitor on? Nope. Touch on button, nothing. Press lightly, hold, check power cords. Another nada. Call vendor again. They slowly, and politely begin to explain no "pressing" is necessary (yes, we know, and no, we are not under-educated in touch technology).

The Tutor decides to try one more thing. Instead of plugging the monitor into the brand new, working power strip, the monitor is plugged directly into the electrical outlet. Voila - the touch mechanism works perfectly. The Tutor tries the power strip again (it is new, and everything else plugged into the strip powers on), no power to the monitor.

It appears that this monitor draws a tremendous amount of power, so much so, that the power strip was unable to accommodate the load required for the 21" monitor. Please tell us, dear vendor, where in the documentation for the monitor does it stipulate that a power strip MAY not be able to provide ample power to the monitor? One simple sentence is all we ask.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, did you try an outlet instead of a power strip, and is it turned on?

Unplugged