s-video + external display on 15 cMBP

[EwanMcTeagle]

Hi,
I have or rather will be having a bit complicated s-video issue.
I'm planning to buy the classic "15 MBP and I have one issue hovering over me.
In my current setup I have a hackintosh desktop PC (with Nvidia Geforce 7300) running Snow Leopard plugged into my TV via s-video. It doesn't work as nicely as it did under Windows XP - the S Video cable can't be plugged into the computer when starting up, because the graphics won't work. But it works overall which is brilliant considering I was pretty sure it wouldn't. So as it’s not as convenient as it was under the XP, still it's just sticking the s video cable into the computer whenever I want to watch a movie.
Anyways I plan to buy the MBP and I‘m not willing to get rid of my CRT TV just yet (it has worked and still works flawlessly, while the hackintosh is quite luggish on Creative Suite, plus two additonal HDDs keep disconnecting randomly).
Anyways I will be using the MBP as my desktop replacement and I would like to plug into my 23“ external monitor and to the TV to "keep" the comfort of watching my videos, movies etc. on my TV set, so that I don’t have to unplug everything when I want to watch a movie.
Thus I want to ask you Guys is there any way to get both displays working – the monitor via miniDisplay>Display port on the external monitor and minidisplay or anything else > S-Video - with the MBP? By working I mean that I can keep the MBP connected to my external monitor and to the TV at the same time, so that I can just turn on the TV and set it as another display to watch a movie. Alternatively: that I could just to plug in one cable to get the TV working, not having to take the MBP out of the docking station, unplug the monitor cable, plug in the “TV cable” and so on?

Do you know of any solution?
I suppose a simple dongle will be just one way solution – either the monitor or the TV. Maybe an external graphics card? Would that work? If so then do you know of any specific model?
Really need and will appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rocky244]

Hi,
I have or rather will be having a bit complicated s-video issue.
I'm planning to buy the classic "15 MBP and I have one issue hovering over me.
In my current setup I have a hackintosh desktop PC (with Nvidia Geforce 7300) running Snow Leopard plugged into my TV via s-video. It doesn't work as nicely as it did under Windows XP - the S Video cable can't be plugged into the computer when starting up, because the graphics won't work. But it works overall which is brilliant considering I was pretty sure it wouldn't. So as it’s not as convenient as it was under the XP, still it's just sticking the s video cable into the computer whenever I want to watch a movie.
Anyways I plan to buy the MBP and I‘m not willing to get rid of my CRT TV just yet (it has worked and still works flawlessly, while the hackintosh is quite luggish on Creative Suite, plus two additonal HDDs keep disconnecting randomly).
Anyways I will be using the MBP as my desktop replacement and I would like to plug into my 23“ external monitor and to the TV to "keep" the comfort of watching my videos, movies etc. on my TV set, so that I don’t have to unplug everything when I want to watch a movie.
Thus I want to ask you Guys is there any way to get both displays working – the monitor via miniDisplay>Display port on the external monitor and minidisplay or anything else > S-Video - with the MBP? By working I mean that I can keep the MBP connected to my external monitor and to the TV at the same time, so that I can just turn on the TV and set it as another display to watch a movie. Alternatively: that I could just to plug in one cable to get the TV working, not having to take the MBP out of the docking station, unplug the monitor cable, plug in the “TV cable” and so on?

Do you know of any solution?
I suppose a simple dongle will be just one way solution – either the monitor or the TV. Maybe an external graphics card? Would that work? If so then do you know of any specific model?
Really need and will appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance.

s-video? really?

......

really?

 

[pgiguere1]

S-video is not exactly a common standard anymore (has it ever been?) and Apple stopped making S-video adapters when they introduced mini DisplayPort. Before that you could buy a mini DVI adapter like that:

Now for mini DisplayPort there are still third party alternatives like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Composite-Video-S-Video-Converter/dp/B004VV8R86

 

[EwanMcTeagle]

Yes, I saw them. The second one would be a solution, but not a very convenient one.

I know the S-Video is an "exotic" standard, but it works really well and the image is much better than the VGA - connecting the computer to VGA in the TV changes the resolution on the computer (I can reset later, but icons still get tossed all over the desktop). I'll probably end with the second dongle you've suggested and will have to connect/disconnect the MBP.

Was hoping there's a more convenient solution.

Nevertheless thanks for your input.