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Apple LED Cinema Displays

B

Bigsy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 3, 2009
24
0
Hi,

I have a 15-inch MacBook Pro, and was thinking about getting a Apple Display to connect it to for watching DVDs and etc. on.

However, would it be possible to use it as a tv?

Googling this resulted in loads of stuff about DVI ports and the like I didn't really understand so just wondering if somebody would please explain whether this was possible or not?

Thanks in advance
 
Bigsy said:
Hi,

I have a 15-inch MacBook Pro, and was thinking about getting a Apple Display to connect it to for watching DVDs and etc. on.

However, would it be possible to use it as a tv?

Googling this resulted in loads of stuff about DVI ports and the like I didn't really understand so just wondering if somebody would please explain whether this was possible or not?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Yes, I think all (if not all, then most) LCD's and plasma's have dvi/hdmi/vga inputs that will allow you to connect to the tv (with the proper adapter) as easy as it is to hook up a dvd player to the tv.
 
SDLSteve said:
Yes, I think all (if not all, then most) LCD's and plasma's have dvi/hdmi/vga inputs that will allow you to connect to the tv (with the proper adapter) as easy as it is to hook up a dvd player to the tv.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply, and what sort of adapter would i need? I'm clueless :p
 
Using the LED Display as a TV? For what watching cable TV? I don't think that would be possible. You can hook your laptop to the display and playback videos with it.
 
The Apple Cinema Display only has Mini DisplayPort so you won't be able to connect anything else.

Check out EyeTV - really good TV tuners for your Mac and the software is fantastic. Also a recorder too.
 
I'd look at alternatives to the cinema display. Its very limited in the number of uses it has and the glassy screen is more annoying on the desktop monitor than the laptops imo.
 
SDLSteve said:
Yes, I think all (if not all, then most) LCD's and plasma's have dvi/hdmi/vga inputs that will allow you to connect to the tv (with the proper adapter) as easy as it is to hook up a dvd player to the tv.
Click to expand...

That's not at ALL what he's asking. You can't connect a Cinema Display to anything but a Mac, and you CAN'T connect one to a TV.
 
Okay, thank you everyone for replying!

But, can I use Eye TV on my MBP and then connect it to the display and watch it on that?
 
Bigsy said:
Okay, thank you everyone for replying!

But, can I use Eye TV on my MBP and then connect it to the display and watch it on that?
Click to expand...

Yes.. anything that appears on your MacBook Pro will appear on the display. It is just an external monitor! Common sense.....!
 
I'm SO sorry that I'm not the most tech-savvy person and that I wanted to check some things before spending £700 on new stuff.
 
Also, can i connect a separate wireless keyboard and mighty mouse and use them with the display?
 
Kilamite said:
Yes.. anything that appears on your MacBook Pro will appear on the display. It is just an external monitor! Common sense.....!
Click to expand...

Nothing related to computers is 'common sense'. Don't be elitist.

To answer your question. You can choose to either have the monitor mirror what is on your Macbook, you can have it extend your display so you have two displays one on the macbook and one on the monitor, or you can close the lid of the macbook and have it display ONLY on the external monitor. This will be true for any external monitor, not just the Apple display.

Keep in mind the Apple display has a connector that will only work with Apple laptops at this time, no other computers can use it. Also, you must have a unibody style macbook with Mini DisplayPort to use it.

If you get a different external monitor (which can save you some money) you will require an adapter or dongle to get a picture on it.

I hope this helped!
 
Bigsy said:
Also, can i connect a separate wireless keyboard and mighty mouse and use them with the display?
Click to expand...

Yes, and the monitor has a built in USB hub to help do this. You'll plug your keyboard and mouse into the monitor, then from the monitor are three cables, power, usb and mini-displayport. Once connected, your external keyboard and mouse will control your computer.

Those also don't have to be apple keyboard or mice; essentially any USB device will work.

I hope this was helpful,

-Allen
 
akm3 said:
Also, you must have a unibody style macbook with Mini DisplayPort to use it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I bought one earlier this year (as in May 2009) so am I right in thinking this is the newest one? A little confused seeing as all of the ports on the side of mine don't match those on this one. Which port is the Mini Display Port?

Thanks :)
 
Bigsy said:
Thanks, I bought one earlier this year (as in May 2009) so am I right in thinking this is the newest one? A little confused seeing as all of the ports on the side of mine don't match those on this one. Which port is the Mini Display Port?

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

If it an aluminium macbook from earlier this year, you are good to go.

They just did an update turning unibody macbooks into macbook pros, and changed the ports around slightly,
The minidisplay port port is a rectangle with the lower two ends rounded off, and the symbol looks like this |[]|

I hope that helps!
 
Okay, yeah it's cool i have that :)

Only £635 to go :D

Thanks everyone for your help!
 
Bigsy said:
Okay, yeah it's cool i have that :)

Only £635 to go :D

Thanks everyone for your help!
Click to expand...

Just in case you are - there's student discounts available through Apple.

Also, check the refurbished store, might get a good deal on the display (save £50 or so).
 
Kilamite said:
Also, check the refurbished store, might get a good deal on the display (save £50 or so).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply but I checked the refurb pages on the apple store already and there were no displays available.

Also, could I use the display for playing games? I appreciate that my video card might not be able to drive both displays simultaneously but if I close my MBP, is that possible?
 
Bigsy said:
Thanks for the reply but I checked the refurb pages on the apple store already and there were no displays available.

Also, could I use the display for playing games? I appreciate that my video card might not be able to drive both displays simultaneously but if I close my MBP, is that possible?
Click to expand...

Yes BUT: the g9400 isn't going to set any records and that resolution is pretty high. So, latest/greatest games won't give too good of an experience.
 
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