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Looking to hook up to external monitor, which adapter + monitor is recommended ?

S

SonRK

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 9, 2011
258
18
I'm looking at Apple Online Store:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays?mco=MjMwMzAyNDI

and I'm trying to figure out which adapter I should get. Would Mini Display Port - VGA be best? Also which one would allow me to run the laptop in clamshell mode. I assume all of them would, but I just want to be sure.

I currently use this monitor : http://www.amazon.com/Dell-2408WFP-UltraSharp-Widescreen-Definition/dp/B0018LJYFC

and it accepts, VGA, DVI, Displayport connections.

I am actually currently looking to upgrade my monitor as well. I'm looking at 24-27 inch monitors, but their resolution is like 1280 x 1080, as opposed to 1280 x 1200 like my Dell one. Seems ilke it would be a sidegrade?
 
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KylePowers

KylePowers

macrumors 68000
Mar 5, 2011
1,688
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_4 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8K2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Do you need audio to transfer over the cable? I've always just gone Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI; check Monoprice.com.

As for that size range, I'd personally shoot for 1920x1200. I used to have a 24in with that resolution... perfect! Until I got my 2560x1440 iMac, that is ^_^
 
S

SonRK

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 9, 2011
258
18
I forgot to mention that i have the 2011 Air, and it has the thunderbolt port which I assume all these Mini DisplayPort are compatible with. Audio connection is not necessary, the monitor I choose will either have no speakers, or probably one that's not too good.

Yea, I need to look for the x1200 monitors at least, since that's what I am used to.
 
D

deeddawg

macrumors G5
Jun 14, 2010
12,245
6,393
US
First of all, I'd say go to VGA as the very last resort.
A quick google search suggests issues with DisplayPort on some instances of that Dell monitor.
Thus DVI is likely your best bet for now.

What to use with your future monitor would depend on the choice of monitor. Note the MBA can only drive one external monitor.

BTW, your monitor is listed as 1920x1200 not 1280x1200. The 16:10 ratio screens are less easy to find, everyone seems to want to make 16:9 screens today.

Whatever you choose, I highly recommend going to monoprice.com for cables/adapters. See https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/13148738/
 
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S

SonRK

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 9, 2011
258
18
You're right, I meant 1920 x 1200 **

It's strange, I got this monitors years ago, and (obviously) have gotten used to the resolution so going to something that's not 16:10 will be weird. I checked out Microcenter's monitors and they go from 1920 x 1080 to something really high!
 
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