Link MacBook with an HDTV

[donstenk]

Besides, it's important for me to be able to choose the files on the lapscreen, before starting the movie on the HDTV. The reason is that when I sit on my desk, I have no view on the HDTV. .

Plug in your tv using either cable, plug in power, keep your mac closed and press 'menu' on the remote control. Now you get Frontrow and using Perian you can do what you like with quicktime movie size.

Works for me with a Samsung screen (nice and glossy white)

 

[MattZani]

The only way you are getting sound into that TV while using VGA is with the 3.5mm jack below the VGA.

VGA is perfectly clear for PC use on a 32", im using my PC on it now, and will use it for my MBP when im relaxing on the Internet.

When using VGA you get 2 small black bars either side of the picture, but they are tiny, probably 2mm wide each, up both sides.

Dont worry about trying to use HDMI or anything, it gets too complicated and you will not have sound.

What you need:
MacBook
Mini DVI - VGA Converter
VGA Male - Female 'X' Metres
3.5mm Male - Male 'X' Metres

Or if you have a MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro
DVI Male - Male 'X' Metres
3.5mm Male - Male 'X' Metres

 

[liquidsense]

The difference between HDMI and VGA is that HDMI is digital, VGA is analog. This does not make HDMI better. It's not like you are making copy after copy of that analog signal. It's only going from your PC to your TV. If you've got a decent cable, you aren't going to see one bit of difference in picture quality on VGA vs HDMI.

Think of it this way. Component cables are analog in the same way VGA is. This doesn't mean that the picture quality is sub par compared to HDMI. It just means you have more cables to hook up and hide.

Stick with VGA and don't worry about using HDMI. I have a Linux box hooked up to my 1080p Samsung DLP which I use to play all the bluray and hddvd sourced 720p movies I download from newsgroups. Also HDTV shows, like Dexter. They look every bit as good over the VGA connection as they do on an HDTV broadcast.

Well, just to speak from experience, the difference for me between HDMI and VGA was like night and day. I would otherwise agree with this poster. For example, the difference between HDMI out and component out on an xbox is negligible. However, for whatever reason, the difference between DVI/HDMI and VGA on my Macbook Pro is tremendous.

I have a 50" 720p Pioneer Kuro. I have two equally quality cables from Monoprice: 1) DVI to HDMI, and 2) VGA to VGA. When I plugged in the VGA to VGA (using Apple's included adapter), I could barely read any text on the screen as it was far too blurry, I had aspect ratio problems, the colors were washed out, and the detail was blurred. When I switched to the DVI/HDMI cable, it was crystal clear. The text was sharp, the colors noteably different (much more vibrant and beautiful), and most importantly, the aspect ratio was spot on. I never see any bars on any sides.

I never checked how videos looked with VGA, but when I initially tested the cables, I could tell instantly that there was no contest. Any factor alone (e.g., the washed out colors, the blurriness, the aspect ratio) would have prompted me to use DVI/HDMI over VGA. I would highly recommend DVI/HDMI.

 

[MattZani]

What you are saying sounds like the TV's VGA Chip is terrible, unable to receive signals properly, and maybe at fault, so look to see if other people owning the same model TV have similar problems.

Also if your Macbook Pro has the high res screen, or your trying to make it output at 1080p, the DVI wins hands down, as it has more bandwidth

 

[EricVT]

I either have a bit of my desktop cut off on all sides or black bars on all sides when outputting to my HDTV via DVI to HDMI, depending on whether or not overscan is checked.

Doesn't seem to be any way around it so I gave up on trying to output to an HDTV.

 

[mlb82800]

Can Not Get Sound And Display At The Same Time

Please help!

I get either display OR sound when connecting my MacBook with my HDTV, but can not seem to get both at the same time.

Any suggestions? Are there any settings I need to change to see the display and hear the sound at the same time on my TV. I have an LG 20LS7D TV, if that helps.