How to connect Macbook to the TV?

padocon · 26-09-2010 2:26pm #1

How to connect Macbook to the TV?

Can it be done? How easy is it? What do I need? Where do I get it?
I dont want to spend loads of money on the apple tv thing, just want a lead or something to connect the macbook to the tv.

Thanks in advance fir your help.

aidan_walsh · 26-09-2010 2:29pm

You need a converter cable for the output on your Macbook to the input on your TV. What that will be spends on the inputs and outputs available.

What model Macbook do you have?

padocon · 26-09-2010 2:39pm

Inputs and outputs. I have the following headphone, microphone, usb, firewire, ethernet and something else that I don't know what it is. The macbook is 3 years old and its a 13" 2.4ghz.

Any ideas?

drunkmonkey · 26-09-2010 2:51pm

The port you don't know is a mini display port, you'll need one of these http://store.apple.com/ie/product/MB572Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MTA4NDU0NjA and a Standard VGA cable, you'll get no advantage sending the signal through the HDMI port so VGA will do and save one of your HDMI connections for something else.

padocon · 26-09-2010 3:17pm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

HDMI port so VGA will do and save one of your HDMI connections for something else.

I don't understand this. And where does that lead that have in the link fit into the tv and the macbook? Confused

Thanks for the help so far

Sad Professor · 26-09-2010 6:45pm

What input ports do you have on the television?

padocon · 26-09-2010 7:57pm

I have the yellow, white and red holes also an S Video and scarts.

barryj · 26-09-2010 8:22pm

If you've a three year old MacBook - I think the port is Mini DVI and not Mini Display Port. So you'll need one of these:

http://store.apple.com/ie/product/M9319G/A

If you're unsure, you can find the specs of your machine here:

http://support.apple.com/specs/#macbook

- barry

Sad Professor · 26-09-2010 8:47pm

Is your Macbook plastic or aluminium? If it's plastic it's probably mini-DVI, if it's aluminium it's probably mini Displayport. But you said there's a Firewire port there, so it's probably the earlier mini-DVI model. Look at pictures of the respective ports and make sure.

If it is Displayport you are gonna have a bit of a problem since it doesn't support composite/s-video signals. You'd need a video convertor which is a lot of hassle.

It's a standard def television so quality is going to be crap either way. Personally I wouldn't bother, but video will be perfectly watchable. Maybe consider getting a cheap media player, such as the WDTV, instead.

padocon · 26-09-2010 10:07pm

If it is Displayport you are gonna have a bit of a problem since it doesn't support composite/s-video signals. You'd need a video convertor which is a lot of hassle.

What does this mean?

And yes it is for watching videos for the laptop on tv.

padocon · 26-09-2010 10:08pm

Oh ya it is the plastic MB

barryj · 26-09-2010 10:32pm

padocon wrote: »

What does this mean?
.

The DVI port outputs both an analog and a digital signal. The newer Display Port has no analog component being pure digital. Newer TVs support digital inputs - typically via HDMI ports, but your TV from your description is an old model with only analog inputs.

So sending a digital only signal to an analog input requires a converter.

- barry

How to connect Macbook to the TV?

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