The Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder is a bit of an upgraded version. It's $199.95 in the Apple store. Still does not have HDMI inputs, but at least you can still play some xBox.
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27" iMac Video Input With Xbox 360?
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The Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder is a bit of an upgraded version. It's $199.95 in the Apple store. Still does not have HDMI inputs, but at least you can still play some xBox.
yes but it only accepts analogue input, and the maximum resolution it can output is 480i. Not exactly the greatest use for your new 27" high res moniter!
However as long as you set the Hybrid to the correct setting there is basically no lag, suitable for playing games.
Cheers.
Ben
As long as there isn't any lag from controller to screen, then I'm ok with 480i
As long as there isn't any lag from controller to screen, then I'm ok with 480i
I am definitely not.
Good News Gentlemen(and ladies...)
Well, I have been reading through several different forums and have been on the edge about my purchase of the new 27in iMac... this what i have determined. dual reasons for purchasing this system; want a Mac desktop and make the full switch to apple and to connect my PS3 to this through the new input. same thing everybody else is dying to do.
here is the good news... as previously mentioned the only way to functionally connect the ps3(or any other stand-alone, non-miniDP connection) to the 24in Cinema display was through the use of two different adapters. the Atlona DVI to mini DisplayPort Convertor (to change your signal) and then to deal with the difference in native resolution you needed the HDMI/DVI Scaler. this process has been confirmed to work with the 24in Apple Cinema Display... like i said... I'm sure you are all aware of this already.
Not so easy with the 27in iMac. First step would work but the second step does not because the iMac's native resolution is a staggering 2560x1440... well above the max single-link DVI connection of only 1900x1200 (basically full HD...1080p)...... drum roll please...... I just got off the phone with Atlona to address this issue and the service rep told me that....in about a weeks time.... the new model of this same scaler will come out and WILL be able to upscale to the level of 2560x1440. While there are no guarantees here and I am going off of the word of this Rep and his project manager... this is so damn exciting news, right? granted some tests would be required for the 100% compatibility and all that stuff... but if I am reading correctly this would solve the one issue everybody is having. native resolution. godspeed!
Well, I have been reading through several different forums and have been on the edge about my purchase of the new 27in iMac... this what i have determined. dual reasons for purchasing this system; want a Mac desktop and make the full switch to apple and to connect my PS3 to this through the new input. same thing everybody else is dying to do.
here is the good news... as previously mentioned the only way to functionally connect the ps3(or any other stand-alone, non-miniDP connection) to the 24in Cinema display was through the use of two different adapters. the Atlona DVI to mini DisplayPort Convertor (to change your signal) and then to deal with the difference in native resolution you needed the HDMI/DVI Scaler. this process has been confirmed to work with the 24in Apple Cinema Display... like i said... I'm sure you are all aware of this already.
Not so easy with the 27in iMac. First step would work but the second step does not because the iMac's native resolution is a staggering 2560x1440... well above the max single-link DVI connection of only 1900x1200 (basically full HD...1080p)...... drum roll please...... I just got off the phone with Atlona to address this issue and the service rep told me that....in about a weeks time.... the new model of this same scaler will come out and WILL be able to upscale to the level of 2560x1440. While there are no guarantees here and I am going off of the word of this Rep and his project manager... this is so damn exciting news, right? granted some tests would be required for the 100% compatibility and all that stuff... but if I am reading correctly this would solve the one issue everybody is having. native resolution. godspeed!
oh yeah...
he did say that it would be best to call them before you ordered... he said it was about a week and it should be the same model number. basically... just make sure you are buying the NEW one with the proper output ability.
he did say that it would be best to call them before you ordered... he said it was about a week and it should be the same model number. basically... just make sure you are buying the NEW one with the proper output ability.
A New Question.....
I have read through this post a few times, as one of the reasons i purchased my new imac was to use it as a display for my PS3.
I have a 27" imac i7 on it's way to me as i type. I am very excited as i have never owned a mac, but was VERY disheartened after reading through this post several times.
.....One thing i don't understand though....
If the mini displayport is "designed" to be used as an input for a compatible macbook, or macbook pro, that does not come close to the 27" resolution, why is a scaller necessary?
I have read through this post a few times, as one of the reasons i purchased my new imac was to use it as a display for my PS3.
I have a 27" imac i7 on it's way to me as i type. I am very excited as i have never owned a mac, but was VERY disheartened after reading through this post several times.
.....One thing i don't understand though....
If the mini displayport is "designed" to be used as an input for a compatible macbook, or macbook pro, that does not come close to the 27" resolution, why is a scaller necessary?
as far as i am aware the output devices(apple products your specified) will scale it... example, my unibody 15in Macbook Pro will output to the 27in's native.... even though it doesn't produce that for its own display (not necessary)
All Mac's with a mini-displayport are capable of at least 2560x1600 output. More than the 27" iMac.
how much is the scaler? 200 bucks??
arggggg i just cant wrap my mind around why apple would chose not to allow inputs from blu-ray devices natively when apples have been known for their multimedia functionality, even if thats just a myth since hardware wise they are pc's.
anyway.... on the topic of the Atlona convector/scaler unit.... im assuming since the new imac has a 16X9 aspect ratio, there shouldnt be any stretching since the ps3 outputs aspect ratio is 16X9 as well... am i correct? i cant stand image stretching...
arggggg i just cant wrap my mind around why apple would chose not to allow inputs from blu-ray devices natively when apples have been known for their multimedia functionality, even if thats just a myth since hardware wise they are pc's.
anyway.... on the topic of the Atlona convector/scaler unit.... im assuming since the new imac has a 16X9 aspect ratio, there shouldnt be any stretching since the ps3 outputs aspect ratio is 16X9 as well... am i correct? i cant stand image stretching...
hmmm i was checking out there website again and it looks like id need to buy the dvi-mini display port converter, and a hdmi-dvi scaler... totaling a whopping 500+ dollars....
There has got to be a cheaper solution...
Sorry to be repedative...ELGATO! I know, I know, not full HD...I just want to play...
i dont want to be repetitive either but it would be a shame to play ps3 on the 27" imac at 480p WITH lag....
haha hope it works out for you though!
I just don't get the fascination with playing a ps3 or xbox360 on a 27" iMac other than the uniqueness of doing it. I would much rather play on my 50" hdtv, which I expect most of you that have all of these toys owns (or something similar).
I will be using the iMac to replace the 42" tube TV in my room. That thing is a BEAST! The Elgato EyeTV will allow me to watch my regular cable TV on it. Sure I like the fact that it's unique, but also that is will give me much more desk room that a 42" tube. Eventually I will find an alternative to the Elgato (something with HDMI), but untill that is released, I'm just gonna sit it out with 480p.
I am also interested in external input as I am currently deciding if I want to use a 27" iMac as my TV/DVR (with Elgato) in my new apartment. Much less messy than separate components and no monthly fees for anything (I'll use over the air HD TV). By the time you add up what you might spend on cable, TiVo, TiVo service, etc. I can do it all on the iMac, except hook anything else much up to it. Would love to use a Blu-Ray with it. I'm following this thread and waiting to see what comes out.
for me it has nothing to do with uniqueness... the iMac display is one of the best looking LCD panels ive seen in a while and i would just love to watch blu ray movies on it with my ps3. Its all about functionality for me.
Since the iMac would be in my room, i dont want to have to have a TV in my room and a giant computer display.
I can understand it if it is in a second room like in your case, but I have my computer and my tv both in the living room, and they each have their purpose. I would never want to watch movies on a small (relatively speaking) 27" display no matter how good it is. And if I wanted to use Elgato as a dvr I would hook my iMac to my tv, or else re-encode the recorded shows for my
TV and watch on the big screen. Even with the advent of digital tv and very good computer displays, it still remains true that even the best computer display can't compare (not favorably at least) to a good tv for movies. Go with the tool that best fits the job at hand, not a compromise.I can understand it if it is in a second room like in your case, but I have my computer and my tv both in the living room, and they each have their purpose. I would never want to watch movies on a small (relatively speaking) 27" display no matter how good it is. And if I wanted to use Elgato as a dvr I would hook my iMac to my tv, or else re-encode the recorded shows for my
i definitely understand your reasoning. You would be surprised though... a lot of TV's use cheaper LCD components to make the display which is why you can get a 1080P 40+ inch tv for right around 600 dollars while some much smaller computer monitors can cost over 1000 bucks.
Some people chose quantity over quality... in my case because i would be the only one watching, i would much rather take quality first.
I can certainly agree on the cheaper displays, but even some of them look better on movie material because of the wide array of adjustments that a computer display (particularly an AIO like the iMac) simply lack. And I haven't seen an lcd yet no matter the cost that can outperform a plasma for movies when appropriately adjusted. Certainly no iMac is going to come close.
Well, I happen to have a big plasma for my ps3 in the living room. But that doesn't preclude interest in this solution. I'm not sure about the others, but I'm more interested in hooking up a dtv sat box via hdmi and using an imac as a tv in my bedroom or office.
I do agree that 27" is far, far too small for any viewing distance greater than 4 feet and absurd in a living room as a main set. But in the applications I'm thinking, viewing distance would be acceptable ( <4').
true, plasma TV's have great colors and contrast but most consumers and most tvs these days only use LCD panels... Plasmas are a dying breed because most people cant tell the difference anyway... Heck, ive met people who couldnt tell the difference between blu ray and standard DVD.
Reading through this thread the conclusion I am reaching is that it is impossible to simply 'Plug and Play' an Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or even a Blu-Ray device straight into the Mini Display Port (MDP) via a conversion cable because the graphics card in the iMac only supports MDP, due to the fact that this file transfer system is much better suited to LCD screens and their pixel based infrastructure. Therefore HDMI will not work on the iMac unless some third-party manufacturer come up with a complicated and expensive piece of kit that will convert, change the data-type and also up-scale the resolution?!
Now I am known to be a sceptical hearted sod but that sounds like something that won't really be happening anytime soon. And if we do see it in the virtual shelves before our new systems are outdated - and when MDP is standard anyway - it sounds a complicated enough undertaking to be inefficient and unsuitable for lag-free gaming.
From what I can understand from this thread Apple didn't include an HDMI input into the new range of iMac because of the expense. Now there isn't really much I can do about this as I already own one of the new 27 inch iMacs; however, I must say I find this design decision baffling, extraordinary and incredibly annoying. Baffling and extraordinary because simply including one HDMI input would have increased the perceived value of the system - to many people - by a considerable and doubtlessly noticeable margin. And annoying because I have a beautiful 27 inch high-definition LCD monitor right here that could be blasting out Live but for no apparently decent reason: can't!
In fact, Apple wouldn't have needed to charge extra to cover the expense of installing HDMI on the system as they would have sold that many more iMacs by doubtlessly marketing it as a truly 'All In One' system. Actually any sort of HDMI marketing would have been pointless - word of mouth would have sufficed!
Any way, if this is a graphics card issue as I have read, whereby the outputting device needs to be sending a signal in MDP, is it not possible for the 360 (let's say) to have a driver update, thereby allowing it to send in MDP through the HDMI connector if there is a MDP to HDMI conversion cable?
Another question: previously when I owned a MacBook Pro I remember reading from various sources that one could purchase an external Blu-Ray player to watch and record Blu-Ray on the MBP. If I am correct in reading/assuming this, why is it not possible on the iMac?
Furthermore, why is there a problem with the iMac and the resolution? Why can't it just display in 1080p, why can't it downgrade the resolution?
Thanks,
Sacha
Now I am known to be a sceptical hearted sod but that sounds like something that won't really be happening anytime soon. And if we do see it in the virtual shelves before our new systems are outdated - and when MDP is standard anyway - it sounds a complicated enough undertaking to be inefficient and unsuitable for lag-free gaming.
From what I can understand from this thread Apple didn't include an HDMI input into the new range of iMac because of the expense. Now there isn't really much I can do about this as I already own one of the new 27 inch iMacs; however, I must say I find this design decision baffling, extraordinary and incredibly annoying. Baffling and extraordinary because simply including one HDMI input would have increased the perceived value of the system - to many people - by a considerable and doubtlessly noticeable margin. And annoying because I have a beautiful 27 inch high-definition LCD monitor right here that could be blasting out Live but for no apparently decent reason: can't!
In fact, Apple wouldn't have needed to charge extra to cover the expense of installing HDMI on the system as they would have sold that many more iMacs by doubtlessly marketing it as a truly 'All In One' system. Actually any sort of HDMI marketing would have been pointless - word of mouth would have sufficed!
Any way, if this is a graphics card issue as I have read, whereby the outputting device needs to be sending a signal in MDP, is it not possible for the 360 (let's say) to have a driver update, thereby allowing it to send in MDP through the HDMI connector if there is a MDP to HDMI conversion cable?
Another question: previously when I owned a MacBook Pro I remember reading from various sources that one could purchase an external Blu-Ray player to watch and record Blu-Ray on the MBP. If I am correct in reading/assuming this, why is it not possible on the iMac?
Furthermore, why is there a problem with the iMac and the resolution? Why can't it just display in 1080p, why can't it downgrade the resolution?
Thanks,
Sacha
As far as I know it is possible for a MDP to send a HDMI signal, but because of the way HDMI works, not possible for an HDMI port to output a MDP signal. So no its not possible through a driver update, it would have to be in future versions of the 360 which have DP or MDP connectors.
You can connect a bluray drive to your Mac and use it to rip bluray and burn bluray data disks, but OS X does not have to software to allow playback of commercial copyprotected discs. Windows does, tho, so there is nothing stopping you booting up bootcamp or parallels and doing it.
That i do not know, its just seems that the resolution must be the only thing stopping the existing atlona converter which works for the cinema display from working in the iMac.
Cheers.
Ben