Connect Macbook Pro to TV

[shi2koi]

I bought a DVI to HDMI cable and connected my MacBook Pro to my newly purchased Sony Bravia 32 inch HDTV (720p). The desktop background shows up nicely, but all icons and such are nowhere to be found. Any open windows, applications, and such show up on the MacBook Pro screen, but not on the TV.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong?

[Habakuk]

Nothing wrong with it. By now you can move a window or something to the TV by leaving the notebook's display boarder at the right side with the cursor. There should be a monitor icon in the menu bar (if not open system preferences - display). Click on it and you will find all possible settings. It is possible to clone or span the desktop or move the menu bar or have the TV 90 degrees tilt (upright).

[balamw]

You're spanning. The TV is an extension of your desktop.

You can make it your primary display and move teh dock/etc... to it with the Display tool in System Preferences.

B

[shi2koi]

That's it. Thanks for the assistance.

[csivegas]

Could someone expand on the display for me. I hooked a friend’s Mac book Pro to a projector and the display was as described here, it was an extension of the desktop. We could drag items to the right of the desktop image and they would go up on the screen. So we went into the preferences and display. There were three tabs, Display, Arrangements, Color. We then went into arrangements and found the mirror image box and check marked it. So then what we were seeing on the desk top was what we were seeing on the projector. Then once we disconnected the VGA cable my friend said the desktop images were stretched a little. We went back to preferences to uncheck the mirror box and the arrangement tab disappeared. Could someone explain this to me? I’m not much of a Mac person.

[Habakuk]

Originally Posted by csivegas

Could someone expand on the display for me. I hooked a friend’s Mac book Pro to a projector and the display was as described here, it was an extension of the desktop. We could drag items to the right of the desktop image and they would go up on the screen. So we went into the preferences and display. There were three tabs, Display, Arrangements, Color. We then went into arrangements and found the mirror image box and check marked it. So then what we were seeing on the desk top was what we were seeing on the projector.

Everything is so as it should be. You did a cloning of the desktop.

Then once we disconnected the VGA cable my friend said the desktop images were stretched a little.

...at the notbook display. If you clone the desktop both displays change to the resolution of the weakest device. Here it is the projector I guess. The MPB's display doesn't really look good then. When you disconnect the cable the MBP should change it's resolution automatically to the best (original) one. If not you'll have to change it manually in the System Preferences - Display.

We went back to preferences to uncheck the mirror box and the arrangement tab disappeared. Could someone explain this to me? I’m not much of a Mac person.

The tab is only apparent when an external display is connected. There is nothing to arrange when there is no second device.

[ST8D]

When I connect my Macbook Pro to my Sony Bravia TV, the image on the TV is only in black and white and the sound doesn't transfer from the computer. I am using the connection from the computer that splits into the Red/Yellow/white connectors for the TV. Any suggestions to get color and sound on the TV? Thanks.

[NicP]

Originally Posted by ST8D

When I connect my Macbook Pro to my Sony Bravia TV, the image on the TV is only in black and white and the sound doesn't transfer from the computer. I am using the connection from the computer that splits into the Red/Yellow/white connectors for the TV. Any suggestions to get color and sound on the TV? Thanks.

Which cable are you using exactly? I don't know of any single cable from the computer that will split into red/yellow/white

[balamw]

Originally Posted by NicP

Which cable are you using exactly? I don't know of any single cable from the computer that will split into red/yellow/white

Sounds like Composite, but you're right. You need two cables to do that. One for the yellow and red and white from the headphone jack.

ST8D, are you perhaps outputting NTSC to a PAL TV or vice-versa?

B

[jonnylink]

Originally Posted by balamw

Sounds like Composite, but you're right. You need two cables to do that. One for the yellow and red and white from the headphone jack.

ST8D, are you perhaps outputting NTSC to a PAL TV or vice-versa?

B

in another thread someone is considering using this cable which is probably the type of thing the original poster is using

[balamw]

Originally Posted by jonnylink

in another thread someone is considering using this cable which is probably the type of thing the original poster is using

ST8D certainly wasn't looking for that cable since he describes yellow red and white plugs.

Note that the DVI-> HDMI solution you linked to still won't carry video and audio on one cable.

B

[jonnylink]

Originally Posted by balamw

ST8D certainly wasn't looking for that cable since he describes yellow red and white plugs.

Note that the DVI-> HDMI solution you linked to still won't carry video and audio on one cable.

B

Yikes, I have to read more carefully. I totally misread the question. And you are right, about the audio. Another person had picked that cable. Looks like a "monster cable" version would work for audio and video, no?

Still doesn't apply to the post I was trying to apply it to though... which only the poster could have answered anyway.

[balamw]

Originally Posted by jonnylink

Looks like a "monster cable" version would work for audio and video, no?

Nah. There's no audio on the DVI connector, so if you convert that to HDMI you still need audio from somewhere...

B

[Everingham.Curt]

will a DVI to composite video cable work for connecting a macbook pro to a TV? (my TV has YPbPr-type composite video input)

[obes469]

hey can someone give me the link to a site where I can get Mini DVI to HDMI? I accidentally bought a Mini DVI to HDMI to a macbook...which is larger port then a macbook pro haha. I would love to buy another just would like a trusted site.