Mac to TV

[chewedpen]

I would like to buy a mac laptop or a g5 desktop and be able to hook it up to a tv through the dvi connection. I am looking at the Plasmas or even the DLP's. I would like to use it as a large monitor for surfing the web, looking at pictures and so on. The problem I am having is that no one seems to be able to tell me if the cable exists, what type of interface that I would need on the tv or even what to look for, if the mac will even have a clue that it is hooked up to a tv and what display resolutions I would get, and last but not least what will it look like? Will I be able to even read what the text is on the display ?

Thanks for any and all input ?

 

[solvs]

The PowerBooks and G5s have DVI-out. That should work fine with any DVI-in, but you may want to e-mail the manufacturer to ask if they accept DVI-in from a computer, as I've heard some have problems with that. Don't bother mentioning the Mac in the first e-mail. Some companies hear Mac, and don't know anything about it, so they say it's unsupported. But any device that accepts a standard DVI-in from a computer should work. If the devices you are looking at can be used as computer displays, it will work fine.

The PowerBooks have S-Video, and the G5s have an adapter for TV-out. If the displays don't accept standard DVI, S-Video or RCA should work. Although the quality probably won't be as good as DVI.

 

[vraxtus]

The PowerBooks and G5s have DVI-out. That should work fine with any DVI-in, but you may want to e-mail the manufacturer to ask if they accept DVI-in from a computer, as I've heard some have problems with that. Don't bother mentioning the Mac in the first e-mail. Some companies hear Mac, and don't know anything about it, so they say it's unsupported. But any device that accepts a standard DVI-in from a computer should work. If the devices you are looking at can be used as computer displays, it will work fine.

The PowerBooks have S-Video, and the G5s have an adapter for TV-out. If the displays don't accept standard DVI, S-Video or RCA should work. Although the quality probably won't be as good as DVI.

You can buy DVI to S-video converters

 

[The Past]

Display Options

A large screen display, in my opinion, is not the ideal solution for surfing. Now, for watching pics, yes, that makes sense. The reason I say this is because if you want to sit at a sufficient distance from the display (say, a 42-inch in my case), you will have your resolution set such that you are not getting really any additional desktop than you would get in your 17-inch PB. But, if you want to make a presentation (e.g, displaying graphics) or make a slideshow as you suggest, yes, it is wonderful. I use my 42 for FCP and that I really like. Of course, make sure you have the screen saver running every now and then for a couple of minutes.

You can go a couple of routes -- DVI, VGA/RGB (monitors also designed for computer usage typically have one and in the front too), or S-Video. On a few models that do clearly state that the DVI is not intended for computers, I have gone ahead and plugged my PB all the same (for a short duration) and had acceptable results. If you have a DVI-HDMI converter, your options expand even with the newer monitors.

Between, DLP and Plasma or LCD, I prefer Plasma (first) and then LCD. May be it is just me, I have had unacceptable results with DLP. Fonts appear a bit smudgy and so do some curves on faces. Besides, if you want to work quietly with your display, the DLP fan noise is a factor too. Can get annoying, if you are a obsessed with a quiet setting as I am.

In terms of compatibility, I have so far not come across a display intended for a TV that was not plug-and-play with my PB.

 

[solvs]

You can buy DVI to S-video converters

That's the adapter I was talking about for the G5. It's about $20. I don't think it would work for the PowerBook, though I don't know why. Doesn't matter because the PowerBook has S-Video out built-in anyway.

 

[vraxtus]

That's the adapter I was talking about for the G5. It's about $20. I don't think it would work for the PowerBook, though I don't know why. Doesn't matter because the PowerBook has S-Video out built-in anyway.

Not the 12".

For that you can get this.