macbook air to external monitor

You'll need a mini DisplayPort adapter. You get one depending on your monitor's connection, which can be VGA or DVI.

Mini DisplayPort to VGA: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB572Z/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

Mini DisplayPort to DVI: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570Z/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

If you're connecting to a TV, and want to use HDMI, you'll need a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H3983ZM/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

I use monoprice.com -- they make good quality cables and adaptors usually for 50-75% less than what you'd get the sames cables from Apple.

Monoprice.com || VGA/DVI/HDMI adaptors

From what you're telling me with a 17" monitor--I would think that it would probably be best to go with a mini Displayport to VGA adaptor.

I used this one from Amazon since I have prime. Works great for VGA monitors!

I don't have experience using adapters from monoprice.com, but I have bought cables from them. Good to know the adapters work just as well.

I would suggest using DVI if your monitor supports it so that it's digital on both ends. I have used VGA on Macs, and they don't look as good as DVI.

As for HDTV's, HDMI would probably be better, too. I don't have experience with this setup, but I would think using a digital connection would be best.

waltercln said:

thanks for the reply. If you tried this, does hdmi look good? or does it look bad. would vga or dvi look better on a 17 inch screen rather than a huge tv.

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HDMI will take the full advantage of your TV resolution. I do not think you will get better than HDMI.

Having said that... it will look poor on a 30" TV. The highest resolution on your TV is likely to be 1080P, which is just 1920 x 1080. That is just not enough pixels to look good over such a large area.

A typical 30" LCD monitor will be 2560 x 1600 which is twice as many pixels as 1080P. Apple 27" ACD/ATD is 2560 x 1440 which is similar (just a tad shorter in height).

Your TV will not be bad if you are looking at video. However, it will look crappy if you want to use it as a general purpose monitor.

/Jim

waltercln said:

thanks for the reply. If you tried this, does hdmi look good? or does it look bad. would vga or dvi look better on a 17 inch screen rather than a huge tv.

Click to expand...

Tried this hdmi adapter: Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H1824ZM/A/Moshi_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Adapter


Worked great with hdtv. Not so much with my 27 in. samsung monitor. Would not scale to full 1920 X 1200 resolution of the Samsung panel. Would max out at 1680 x 1050. At this non-native resolution, text is incredibly fuzzy on my monitor.

Ended up getting the mini display port to DVi adapter. Works great!

connecting to TV with Scard?

Hey Guys,

I'd love to connect my MacBook Air to my (old) bigscreen tv.
But I can only do this by using a scard input on the TV.
I tried it with the device "Grand Hand View III", but without succes...
do you know how to get the signal out in a scard?