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Best way to connect MacBook to TV...

Odd problem. Could use your help

Hello,

So, I have followed the advice early in this discussion and bought A VGA mini-adaptor, and then VGA Cord for my 2006 Macbook. When I put it all together only my screensaver was appearing on the TV. I thought I might have a big problem. Then I accidentally discovered that if I move the internet window out of view to the right of my computer that it would then appear on my TV. So, in order to view things on my TV I have to move the window out of screen on my computer. Normally I would view this as a minor inconvenience but, if watching netflix or anything else, if I want to eliminate the desktop and web address and all that, when I hit fullscreen it goes to fullscreen on my computer and cannot be moved. So, I guess my question would be is there a way to make my macbook center everything or to change the settings so the tv only picks up what's on my laptop. Thanks in advance for the help.

erin
 
alias19 said:
Hello,

So, I have followed the advice early in this discussion and bought A VGA mini-adaptor, and then VGA Cord for my 2006 Macbook. When I put it all together only my screensaver was appearing on the TV. I thought I might have a big problem. Then I accidentally discovered that if I move the internet window out of view to the right of my computer that it would then appear on my TV. So, in order to view things on my TV I have to move the window out of screen on my computer. Normally I would view this as a minor inconvenience but, if watching net flix or anything else, when I hit fullscreen it goes to fullscreen on my computer and cannot be moved. So, I guess my question would be is there a way to make my macbook center everything or to change the settings so the tv only picks up what's on my laptop. Thanks in advance for the help.

erin
Click to expand...

Go to system pref.>displays and mirror the displays to show the same thing on both screens (the tv and the MB monitor)
 
yep

That was as embarrasingly simple as I figured it would be. Thank you very much for your help. Worked great!

erin
 
I do this quite often.

I have a Sony 60 in LCOS rear projection HDTV (1080P) & a white MacBook.
If I connect to the TV via VGA I get a 1024x768 resolution with (I believe) gray bars all around. So I don't get to use all the screen real estte with VGA.
If I connect using mini-DVI to DVI cable to a DVI to HDMI cable, I can goto 1920x1080. There is some control of the overscan in system preferences if I recall.
I personally prefer going the HDMI route in my case.
Hope that helps.
 
Apple Menu > System Preferences > Displays

You're currently in 'extend' mode. If you change it to Mirrored, you will see the sam thing on both your screens. If you leave it as extend, but make the TV the main monitor, your netflix will go full screen no the TV. Etc. Have a play around.

Oops too slow
 
sound

i have connected my mac to the television using the dvi to hdmi adapters, i also got the audio adapter to go to the audio in to the tv and the headphone jack on the macbook pro. i get picture but i am unable to get sound. does anyone have any suggestions?
 
volcomstn91 said:
i have connected my mac to the television using the dvi to hdmi adapters, i also got the audio adapter to go to the audio in to the tv and the headphone jack on the macbook pro. i get picture but i am unable to get sound. does anyone have any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Probably a setting on your TV somewhere - it may be expecting sound over hdmi rather than the line-in.
 
Can't get picture on TV

I'm using Dynex Mini dvi-to-videos adapter with the yellow RCA plugged into the front of my Sony HD projection TV (DLP). I cannot get any picture no matter which resolution I pick. I get an image on the screen that is wavy and squished vertically so 3-4 images appear. I've spoken to Apple care and they couldn't figure it out. Any suggestions? Thanks.
 
Lovesong said:
The best image you will get would be if you went with a miniDVI to DVI and a DVI to HDMI connectors.
So this:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=16401925&nplm=M9321

and something like this:
http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/scan/ml=6/se=DVI/se=to/se=HDMI/se=Adapters.html
Click to expand...

Yes, this is true! A pain in the rear if you wish to track down these parts in stores around town, not to mention a pain hooking them altogether. But it does offer a brilliant image.

______________
OS X Mac Tips & Tricks
 
Keikidoc said:
I'm using Dynex Mini dvi-to-videos adapter with the yellow RCA plugged into the front of my Sony HD projection TV (DLP). I cannot get any picture no matter which resolution I pick. I get an image on the screen that is wavy and squished vertically so 3-4 images appear. I've spoken to Apple care and they couldn't figure it out. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you are using the new macbook with DisplayPort, you need to get a PC - TV converter box in order to convert the digital signal from the DisplayPort to an analog feed for your RCA jacks.

Video Tutorial here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa1C7YLFWmw&feature=channel_page
 
alias19 said:
Hello,

So, I have followed the advice early in this discussion and bought A VGA mini-adaptor, and then VGA Cord for my 2006 Macbook. When I put it all together only my screensaver was appearing on the TV. I thought I might have a big problem. Then I accidentally discovered that if I move the internet window out of view to the right of my computer that it would then appear on my TV. So, in order to view things on my TV I have to move the window out of screen on my computer. Normally I would view this as a minor inconvenience but, if watching net flix or anything else, when I hit fullscreen it goes to fullscreen on my computer and cannot be moved. So, I guess my question would be is there a way to make my macbook center everything or to change the settings so the tv only picks up what's on my laptop. Thanks in advance for the help.

erin
Click to expand...

Hi Erin!
I am having the same EXACT problem. Did you find the answer somewhere else? And what did you use for audio?

Thanks,
cd
 
F7

To answer:
is there a way to make my macbook center everything or to change the settings so the tv only picks up what's on my laptop.
Click to expand...

I believe hitting F7 will take care of it.
 
Connect new macbook with tv

Hi guys,

I bought the new macbook and I want to connect it to my tv which has the three cables (red,white,yellow) and scart as input. I went to the apple store and wanted to buy the mini-dvi to s-video cable (I have an s-video to scart cable - this is how I used to connect my old pc with the tv) but they said that this wouldn't work because the new macbook requires mini-display and not mini-dvi. However they don't sell any mini-display to s-video cables there.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
ab2650 said:
I don't know if this works (I have no DisplayPort devices) but could you get a Mini DisplayPort to DVI cable, then a DVI to Video adapter? In theory I would expect them to work, but I don't know for sure.
Click to expand...


Yes but isn't that going to downgrade the quality of the picture? I've read about the converter but I am not sure if it's going to work. Plus I will need the converter plus wire which will cost considerably more than just using wires. Any other suggestions?
 
akm3 said:
Computer outputs don't put audio through the HDMI, you'd need a seperate audio connection (likely the optical output through the 1/8" minijack ... buy that cable at monoprice too :)
Click to expand...

I am looking for the audio cable that was described here to connect my macbook to the TV. Can anyone provide a link to one so I know what to look for? I am not sure how to search for it.. thanks!
 
Ok so I just bought a HDMI cable and hooked it up to the back of my Samsung TV and selected mirror. It's mirrored but everything on my tv is really tiny and the top bar with finder etc...is cut out completely. What resolution settings do I have to do to make my tv look like my desktop i.e. minus tiny lettering and parts of the screen being cut off? I'm soo close! Thanks guys!
 
hey, I tried to read all the previous posts, but I'm a little confused.

I just got a new TV, and I know somehow I can connect it to my Macbook, but I need some help. I saw the little white cords that I believe plug into another cord that plugs into the back of the TV (if I understand correctly) but the back of my TV has a PC connection on the back on my TV, not the red, blue, green cords.

Thanks in advance!
 
sevastemarie said:
hey, I tried to read all the previous posts, but I'm a little confused.

I just got a new TV, and I know somehow I can connect it to my Macbook, but I need some help. I saw the little white cords that I believe plug into another cord that plugs into the back of the TV (if I understand correctly) but the back of my TV has a PC connection on the back on my TV, not the red, blue, green cords.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

If its a "PC" connection that generally means its a VGA port (though not always, I have a DVI on mine so be sure to check). Depending on what video output your Macbook has, you'll need the appropriate converter, for the more current MBs it would be Mini-Display Port to VGA adapter, then a VGA cord to the TV.

Mini-Display Port>>VGA>>TV

All those adapters are on apple's store, or much cheaper somewhere else online.
 
jacob2342 said:
Ok so I just bought a HDMI cable and hooked it up to the back of my Samsung TV and selected mirror. It's mirrored but everything on my tv is really tiny and the top bar with finder etc...is cut out completely. What resolution settings do I have to do to make my tv look like my desktop i.e. minus tiny lettering and parts of the screen being cut off? I'm soo close! Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

Your TV and computer are different aspect ratios...and personally I wouldn't use mirroring, if you are trying to work on both computer and screen because the one image will be distorted.

Go to displays when plugged in and try out some different resolutions to find which is best. Personally I use dual screen so I can run my TV at 1920x1080 and my computer at 1440x900.

16:9 TV Resolutions:
1920x1080 (1080p)
1366x768 (standard TV resolution for advertised 720p TVs)
1280x720 (720p)
 
spinnerex said:
I am looking for the audio cable that was described here to connect my macbook to the TV. Can anyone provide a link to one so I know what to look for? I am not sure how to search for it.. thanks!
Click to expand...

3.5mm to RCA (red/white)...

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=5598&seq=1&format=2

p.cotsios said:
Yes but isn't that going to downgrade the quality of the picture? I've read about the converter but I am not sure if it's going to work. Plus I will need the converter plus wire which will cost considerably more than just using wires. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

Well going through composite or s-video is going to downgrade your quality anyway considering it doesn't go above 480p/i (840x480?) which is a downgrade from your computers screen. Your TV will scale it but its still a downgrade. Not sure about scart's resolution limit.

Search monoprice.com for wires/converters, everything is cheap there, but they have a lifetime warranty on cables I'm pretty sure.
 
help!

Hi all,

I have bought a "Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter" and put it into my Macbook 2.1

I have also bought an "HDMI>DVI" wire which I have then put into the HDMI (DVI) port in the back of my Samsung TV

I then pressed "Source" on the remote and select HDMI/DVI but it then says "No Signal"

????

As you may have guessed I'm pretty clueless when it comes to this kind of thing. Do I need to do anything else to my Macbook? Or my TV? I'd have thought it would have been automatic :(

hope some good soul can help me out

cheers in advance
 
i recently tried connecting my macbook to my tv using a mini-dvi to video adapter and there is no picture showing up on my av mode on my tv, does anyone have any idea how to correct this problem?.

thanks!
 
hi,

I don't really know how to explain my problem and my english isn't very good but I'll try my best.

okay, I went to the store yesterday ask the guy for some help about the cords (I kinda know i need to get something like dvi). he help me grab 2 things and explain to me how to put them together (not hard, he even ask me if i want a audio cords... so i got three cords in total, the audio cords was just fine) anyway, he grabed a mini-dvi to dvi adapter and a dvi to hdmi. it work out fine last night when i plug it into the tv and connect my macbook to it/\... but it does shows a bit of 'oversize', i assume, i can only see 1/3 of my dock and menu bar on the top.

now, i turn on my macbook again today... i can't even find my dock or menu bar on the top. i tried to look up for some shortcut to get me into my system preference it doesn't seem like it work. so right now i'm having my macbook's lidd down hopefully it'll go to sleep mode or something (another my macbook lcd broke that's why i'm connecting my macbook to the tv) and see if it's anybetter later.

what i'm wondering is... did i get the right cords or do i need a vga? or do i just need to do some properties change on my mac?

i live with my parent so we have two tv at home and when i tried both it, i got the same result...
tv1: sony bravia http://callhart.com/crazy/wp-content/sony-bravia-KLV-40S200A-1.jpg

tv2: panasonic http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvpics/plasmatv/panasonic_th42pd60u.jpg

thanks in advance first

both of them have hdmi
 
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