To clear up some confusion, when you say TV that implies different things depending on the model. Basic TV hookups are NTSC (US) or PAL (Euro) sometimes called SD or standard definition as opposed to HD or high definition. NTSC is commonly connected via an Composite or SVideo connector. The composite video is a standard RCA connection much like audio inputs on most stereos. SVideo is a four-wire setup that separates the color and luminance onto separate pins which gives higher quality. Those cables are the exact same as the old Apple ADB cables (and I've used them in a pinch). In either of these cases you'll need a mini-DVI to s-video or composite converter like Apple's $19 dealie here:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9319G/A Moving to more modern setups your screen might have VGA, DVI or HDMI inputs. There are adapters for each of these as well. VGA is much higher resolution but still analog so prone to fuzzier pictures and interference from other cable signals. DVI and HDMI are both digital so you get digital signal all the way from your mini to your tv. My parents got a HDTV for christmas and bought a DVI to HDMI cable which plugged into my MacBook Pro just fine. Showed up as a second display which I could mirror my desktop to or whatever. Hope this helps. CB Blake Sinnett wrote: > Hello, > > It is possible to send signals to a tv with a composite or S-Video > input. It's just not as straight forward. What you need to do is > purchase a Mini-DVI to VGA adapter. You could also purchase a Mini > DisplayPort to VGA adapter and have two monitors connected at the same > time. You then need to purchase a VGA to Composite / S-Video converter > to convert the VGA signal to Composite. This converter requires power > and takes up one USB port on the mini. I think the only adapter > rendered useless is the Mini-DVI to video adapter. The other various > adapters should work fine. > > I prefer to get my adapters from monoprice.com since they're cheaper > than apple's, and you'll need to purchase the VGA to RCA Composite > S-Video converter (linked below) from there depending on whether or > not you want to hook up a TV with a composite input. I haven't found > any other place for this converter. When you try and use the Mini-DVI > to video adapter, you get weird lines scrolling down the screen.. > > Here are the MonoPrice links to the Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, the Mini > DisplayPort to VGA adapter and VGA to RCA Composite / S-Video > converter respectively. If anyone has any questions about this, feel > free to ask. > > http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4850&seq=1&format=2 > > <http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4850&seq=1&format=2> > > http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2 > > <http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2> > > http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2 > > <http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2> > > HTH, > Blake > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: mac mini without monitor and set up > Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:50:09 -1000 > > Hi Blake, > > Thanks for checking. The Mini-DVI to video adapter sounds as though > it's the one we identified in the "Slow Mac Mini" thread in the list > archive: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries%40googlegroups.com/msg02152.html > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg02152.html> > > I've linked to the post that gives Apple Store links to the connector > used for both the older Mac minis with the DVI to video adapter and > the Mini-DVI to video adapter used for the Mac minis made after March > 2009 (new version link appears first). > > Do you know whether it's possible to send output to a TV with any > connector or combination of connectors on the new Mac Minis (or any > Apple device which has a mini-DVI output instead of the older DVI > output)? As far as I know, that may not be possible. Sending video > output to a TV is something that the older Mac Minis and MacBooks can > do, but I'm not sure I've read anywhere that it's possible through a > Mini-DVI connector. > > Cheers, > > Esther > > Blake Sinnett wrote: > > I've done some further testing. Using the new 2009 model Mac Mini, > I hooked up the Mini-DVI to video adapter and launched Safari and > browsed a few pages. Then, I unplugged the adapter and restarted > the Mini. Once again, I launched Safari. It was quite > unresponsive. It appears this adapter still works on the new Mac > Minis. > > > From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > To: [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> > > Subject: Re: mac mini without monitor and set up > > Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:25:47 -1000 > > > > > > Hi, > > > > Marie, you might want to check whether running without a monitor > will > > present a problem for the current generation Mac Mini and whether > > using an adapter helps at all in this case. The reason for > exercising > > some care here is that after the last round of discussions, where we > > hypothesized which new connector would work with the new model mini, > > additional information came to light that not only was the form > factor > > of the video connector plug different, but it also passed signals > in a > > different fashion. Previously, the connector passed analog signals, > > and it was not possible for your computer to check via the feedback > > whether or not your computer was connected to a monitor via that > > connector. In the video out port connections of the new model mini, > > no analog signal gets passed and it's all digital. That means it's > > possible for the system to check whether there is a monitor > present at > > the other end. Other features dependent on the connector have also > > changed, and I don't think you can play movies on a TV from your > > computer if you are using the new digital only video connector > ports. > > That's not true of the older model Macs (or the older MacBooks). > > > > So far I don't think we have any users who report they're using the > > new Mini without a monitor (with or without an adapter at the end). > > > > HTH > > > > Cheers, > > > > Esther > > > > On Jul 27, 2009, at 13:10, Dan wrote: > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > When you start the machine for the first time, you will hear the > > > music. Then an announcement about if you already know how to use > > > VoiceOver, just press Command F5 to start VO. You can set it up > > > yourself. I have set up my different Macs without sighted > assistance. > > > Dan > > > On Jul 27, 2009, at 4:02 PM, Marie Howarth wrote: > > > > > >> > > >> Hey, > > >> I already have a macbook and I'm thinking of getting a mac mini. I > > >> know if you don't have the monitor you need the adapter to > make the > > >> mini think there is one to prevent sluggish behaviour. My > question > > >> is, > > >> how would you set up the mac independently without sighted > > >> assistance? > > >> I had to have someone hit the start voice over assistive set > up thing > > >> on my mac book when I got it. but if you don't have a monitor, can > > >> this be achieved some way? I've never reinstalled my leopard yet, > > >> although I understand it can be done. simply, can I set up my mac > > >> mini > > >> without sighted assistance? > > >> thanks Marie > > >> > > >> > > >>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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