MacBook to TV

[voodoopenguin]

Number two daughter has asked how to link her MacBook 2.4 to her TV so she can view downloaded TV shows on a bigger screen. Is there a suitable output from her MacBook so is it just a cable she needs or is it more complicated?

Thanks for any help

Paul

[Gareth]

The adapters and cables she needs depends on the MacBook (plastic or unibody) and the TV's inputs. If its a modern TV with either VGA, DVI or HDMI you just need the appropriate adapter and cable. If it's a 1080p set, that's better. If it's a 720p set, you might need a software solution (like SwitchResX) to set an appropriate resolution (or deal with the odd resolutions that are often the default when hooking a Mac up to a 720p set).

If it's an older set with only video (i.e. composite and/or S-Video) she's still ok if it's a plastic MacBook with the mini-DVI to Video adapter, but it gets more complicated if she has a unibody MacBook and an older TV.

[Mac1337]

I have used a min DVI to composite like this,




For my newer MacBook with the mini displayport, I am getting a mini displayport to HDMI.

[michaelb]

In addition to getting the right cable and adapter to hook it up, there is the user interface question: what program/software does she want to use to view the content on the TV. Assuming she doesn't want to do mirroring (because that will result in messed up and inconsistent screen resolutions), she will need to play the content on the TV as her second display.

iTunes does not do this easily (maybe it does, and I am an idiot); front row will though with itunes stuff. So I use plex, which is free and a bit geeky. But I like the simple interface and the easy way to switch screens with a keystroke (shift-alt-arrows, I think) now that I am used to it. Plex will play most anything. She may like boxee better, and I think boxee also switches screens easily.

[evilrobot]

i did the same thing for a few years (hooking the MB to the tv).

i recently purchased a $40 dvd player with a USB on the front. i put the .avi files on a flash drive and it plays without issue and saves a lot of plugging/unplugging hassles.

if you stay with the MB in to the tv, VLC handled 99% of all the files i threw at it.

[voodoopenguin]

Many thanks to all you kind people. I will seek out a cable for her.

Paul

[Tofer]

To elaborate on the responses so far:

1. Definitely check the TV inputs. Getting an S-video or composite cable (as shown in Dakota's post above) for an HDTV (either 720p or 1080p) would deliver terrible output. I have a mini-dvi to HDMI cable for my macbook, and the output looks amazing.

2. Make sure you get the right connector for the Macbook, regardless what the TV side is! Until recently, Macbooks used mini-DVI cables, but the new ones use mini-display port cables. The older iBooks used another, entirely different cable. Trust me, it is annoying when you get a cable that doesn't even plug correctly into your Macbook.

3. You will need an audio cable as well! This cable will go from the headphone jack on the Macbook to the TV. The best bet is probably one with a headphone jack on one side, and red/white RCA connectors on the other side, like this:


Cheers!

[silvarios]

I concur with both making sure you have the right cable for the MacBook AND the TV.

Tofer makes a good point. Your daughter probably wants an audio cable to connect the MacBook to the TV (or sound system).

Monoprice has good prices for the correct dongles, adapters, and cables.

Remember, use clamshell mode. Connect the video cable to the MacBook and TV, connect a keyboard and mouse, close the lid of the MacBook, and then wake the computer with the keyboard or mouse. Or you can use the Apple remote to wake the computer.