Connect External Monitor via USB - MacBook Pro

kdelaney · Apr 23, 2011, 12:18 PM

Greetings! I live in a blended family (I use mac

, roommate uses pc

- haven't converted her yet). She and I would like to live in harmony and use a shared desktop workstation.

I've hooked all external components (mouse, keyboard, printer) via USB to a Lenovo K33415 Port Replicator. NEC AccuSync LCD also connected to Port Replicator via VGA.

When I plug her PC in, it recognizes all components immediately. My MacBook recognizes all components except the monitor.

Do I have to use a Mini DisplayPort to connect the monitor to the Mac? Or can I make it work as is with the USB?

Thank you sooooo much!!!!

joshjohnson · Apr 23, 2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdelaney

Greetings! I live in a blended family (I use mac

, roommate uses pc

- haven't converted her yet). She and I would like to live in harmony and use a shared desktop workstation.

I've hooked all external components (mouse, keyboard, printer) via USB to a Lenovo K33415 Port Replicator. NEC AccuSync LCD also connected to Port Replicator via VGA.

When I plug her PC in, it recognizes all components immediately. My MacBook recognizes all components except the monitor.

Do I have to use a Mini DisplayPort to connect the monitor to the Mac? Or can I make it work as is with the USB?

Thank you sooooo much!!!!

Does the port replicator work with displaylink software? that's pretty much the standard for USB video: http://www.displaylink.com/ The os x driver is here: http://www.displaylink.com/support/mac_downloads.php

Note usb video is really slow to respond vs the displayport or dvi or vga because of the limited bandwidth and you will need the built-in screen on that macbook to install the driver but you should be able to watch youtube videos. Also, forget games, it does NO 3d.

iThinkergoiMac · Apr 23, 2011, 06:17 PM

You are far better off going through VGA.

discounteggroll · Apr 29, 2011, 08:14 AM

they do have USB dongles which convert to a VGA display. OWC sells them (as well as chinese vendors) and they work, but to a limited extent. We use them at a K-12 school and for that use it is fine. I would do mini display to vga if you are doing anything video related.

Apr 23, 2011, 12:18 PM	#1
kdelaney macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2011	Connect External Monitor via USB - MacBook Pro Greetings! I live in a blended family (I use mac , roommate uses pc - haven't converted her yet). She and I would like to live in harmony and use a shared desktop workstation. I've hooked all external components (mouse, keyboard, printer) via USB to a Lenovo K33415 Port Replicator. NEC AccuSync LCD also connected to Port Replicator via VGA. When I plug her PC in, it recognizes all components immediately. My MacBook recognizes all components except the monitor. Do I have to use a Mini DisplayPort to connect the monitor to the Mac? Or can I make it work as is with the USB? Thank you sooooo much!!!!
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Apr 23, 2011, 06:17 PM	#3
iThinkergoiMac macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Terra	You are far better off going through VGA. __________________ 13" 2009 MBP, 2.26 GHz C2D, 8 GB RAM, 320 GB HDD; 2.2 GHz C2D MB, 6 GB RAM, 160 GB HDD; 32 GB iPod Touch 3G -FWIW, my handle is iThink_ergo_iMac. There seems to be some confusion on this issue.-
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Apr 29, 2011, 08:14 AM	#4
discounteggroll macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Greenwich, CT	they do have USB dongles which convert to a VGA display. OWC sells them (as well as chinese vendors) and they work, but to a limited extent. We use them at a K-12 school and for that use it is fine. I would do mini display to vga if you are doing anything video related.
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