Apple TV and SD TV Questions From a Newbie

[cfitz7111]

Hi
I tried searching the forums, but could not find anything that would answer my questions. If they have, I apologize in advance and would appreciate any links.

I am considering buying my wife an Apple TV for Christmas, she loves my brother in laws, and she is hardly a tech person.

I currently have a 32" Toshiba 32A33 SD CRT Television in my living room, where I would like to put the TV.

The Toshiba has ColorStream Component Video In.

I have read that as long as you have component in, ATV will work. I have also read you have to kind of hack it when switching resolutions, unplugging and replugging, etc, or readjusting the screen size setting on the TV itself, I would have to look to see if there is a letter box option on the TV itself.

Before I buy this I just would like to know if it will work, not too much to ask

Thanks

 

[sandman42]

You should be able to make it work, though the TV is intended for use specifically with widescreen TVs (though not necessarily, as is popularly believed, only with HD TVs). From Apple's 'tech specs' page for the TV:

Compatible with enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen TVs capable of 1080p/1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz, including popular models from these manufacturers: HP, Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse

Since you have component inputs you will be able to connect the two, though the default 16:9 output of the TV would be compressed horizontally to fit your screen and the image would be distorted. I wouldn't be surprised if your TV has a '16:9 mode' that will display the TV content, though it would be letterboxed and might look too small on your TV. Further, if you were to watch 4:3 content this way, it would be both letterboxed and pillarboxed, so there would be a small image in the center with a black border all around. I believe there is a way, through a combination of keypresses on the remote, to put the TV into a 4:3 mode. Someone posted that recently, but I've never tried it. I'll see if I can find it and post it here.

Edit: Check out this thread. There's a lot emphasis on how to hook up the TV using composite input, which doesn't apply to you since you have component, but buried in there is also info on how to get the TV to play nice with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Good luck!