MBP 13 & external monitor size/resolutions

[manni]

Hi,

I have ordered a MBP 13 - first Mac - absolutely love the OS when used on uni computers and been reading all the posts here - wonderful community.

I got the 13 because I travel a lot and wanted the portability and anyway was used to a 12.1" monitor before. At home I am planning to buy an external monitor to use with the MBP to try to have best of both worlds - but I'll confess to not being very technically minded with regards to screen sizes and the issues of screen resolution on a laptop when it is being displayed on a larger monitor; never hooked one up to another monitor.

When traveling I take hundreds of photos on my dslr and it would be nice to see them on a 20-24" screen when home as well as web browsing etc. Does it make sense to hook up a MBP 13" to such a monitor? Can it output at a higher resolution than on its own screen if selected for another? Would that be even necessary?

My Mac arrives next week so I wanted to get the monitor ordered but can't play about with the preferences to see what resolutions are offered since I don't have it yet! Anyone got any advice on the quality they've got from it and what size would be recommended? Does the 13 work well with a 24" monitor or would I be better off with a 17-19" one.

Thanks and I hope this isn't a really stupid question! I just don't want it to look like those iphone apps when doubled in size on the ipad etc!

 

[spinnerlys]

Graphics and video support

NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory5
Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors

read on http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs-13inch.html


In other words, you can connect a 30" display to it if you want, the MacBook Pro will offer you the native resolution of the external display once it is connected.



Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.

Mac OS X Basics

Switch 101 - guide with articles made by Apple on how to accustom yourself, after you switched to Mac OS X from Windows​

Mac 101 - How to get started with Mac OS X​

Find out how - tutorial videos made by Apple on how to do certain thing in Mac OS X​

Pro tips - tips made available by Apple for easier ways of doing certain tasks​

Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts - Learn about common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.​

Mac OS X Beginner's Guide by MacRumors - learn about software, media players, shortcuts and some useful tips, tricks and hints​

Mac Guides - tutorials, product guides and more​

Mac Guides - Finding Mac Software​

MRoogle - a very effective tool to search these fora using Google and made available by edesignuk, introductory threads: 1, 2 and 3​

"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" created by mad jew in 2006​

 

[manni]

Thanks for the reply.

Can't believe I missed that bit having already been on that page - kind of a lot to take in when choosing a new computer I guess; reassuring to know it can handle such resolutions