A Second Screen

fangpyre · 19th January 2008, 10:03

A second screen, be it a TV, monitor, or projector. Enables many great features. In PowerPoint and Keynote give you a "Presenter's screen" which gives you an index of the slides, timer, and the notes related to the slide.

Keep in mind some may not find TVs to be comfortable for computing. It is best used for video and presentation. And it beats the hell out of watching a movie off your Mac's screen. But give it a try and see what your comfortable with.

Once you get used to a second screen, you can't switch back. My colleagues used to mock me for using 2 monitors, now it is a company standard.

Ok.
Your iMac has the following ports:
1- S-Video
2- DVI - mini DVI - VGA (depending on which Mac u have)

First try to get the second port working. If all else fails try the S-Video, it will not be good for computing.

The DVI and the Mini DVD are the same, but the mini DVI requires a connector you can get from iStyle.

You will have to get one of these cables.
VGA <> VGA
DVI <> VGA
DVI <> HDMI (I haven't tried this one)
DVI <> DVI

note: try to avoid multiple connectors and cables to avoid loss of quality. These cables can be found in most computer stores or hypermarkets (they keep them with the electronics, with the rest of the TV cables). All of these cables (including the S-video) are video only. You need to work out the sound separately.

Connect the respective ports, and thats about it.
If your Mac and TV are compatible, the picture will simply show up on the TV. As far as the Mac is concerned it is a second monitor, regardless of how it is connected.

You can do one of the following:
Mirror: to have an exact copy on both screens.
Extend: it makes both screens act like one big one. You can move applications between the screens, and if you close an application it remembers where it was closed and will open back in the same screen.

To control how they interact and how they are positioned next to each other (above, below, right, left) go to "System Preferences" > Displays.

Magnus · 19th January 2008, 10:14

With some more work and nice pictures that'd be a great article for Shuffle

fangpyre · 19th January 2008, 10:19

Ok.
Consider it so.

Marchies · 19th January 2008, 16:30

Thank you so much.. What I will need to do is get a DVI-VGA cable..? Or is it a tiny adapter..?

fangpyre · 19th January 2008, 17:14

it can be either one.
I recommend the cable, and bypass the adapters to reduce connections.

Also make sure if the DVI cable is the one you need.
You may also require a mini DVI adapter.

What Mac do you use?

Marchies · 19th January 2008, 23:37

The white Macbook.

fangpyre · 20th January 2008, 09:48

You need to get the mini DVI adaptor from iStyle and a DVI - VGA cable.

There is a mini DVI - VGA adaptor, but you will still need a VGA cable, so I recommend the above.

Marchies · 20th January 2008, 12:36

Okay..Thanks I would prefer getting the mini DVI to VGA adapter..Thanks.

Marchies · 1st April 2008, 22:11

I spoke to a sales person at iSTYLE today and she said it's not possible to connect it to the LCD TV because the mini-DVI to VGA is for Projectors only..I don't get it.. I really need to connect my laptop to the tv.. I spent so much money on my LCD TV.. So what do I do..? Sigh...

fangpyre · 2nd April 2008, 01:35

From the Mac's point of view, its just another connection.
What connectors do you have on your LCD?
You may run into the Mac's ability to handle the LCD's resolution (for TV LCDs it is unlikely).

19th January 2008, 10:03	#1 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	A Second Screen A second screen, be it a TV, monitor, or projector. Enables many great features. In PowerPoint and Keynote give you a "Presenter's screen" which gives you an index of the slides, timer, and the notes related to the slide. Keep in mind some may not find TVs to be comfortable for computing. It is best used for video and presentation. And it beats the hell out of watching a movie off your Mac's screen. But give it a try and see what your comfortable with. Once you get used to a second screen, you can't switch back. My colleagues used to mock me for using 2 monitors, now it is a company standard. Ok. Your iMac has the following ports: 1- S-Video 2- DVI - mini DVI - VGA (depending on which Mac u have) First try to get the second port working. If all else fails try the S-Video, it will not be good for computing. The DVI and the Mini DVD are the same, but the mini DVI requires a connector you can get from iStyle. You will have to get one of these cables. VGA <> VGA DVI <> VGA DVI <> HDMI (I haven't tried this one) DVI <> DVI note: try to avoid multiple connectors and cables to avoid loss of quality. These cables can be found in most computer stores or hypermarkets (they keep them with the electronics, with the rest of the TV cables). All of these cables (including the S-video) are video only. You need to work out the sound separately. Connect the respective ports, and thats about it. If your Mac and TV are compatible, the picture will simply show up on the TV. As far as the Mac is concerned it is a second monitor, regardless of how it is connected. You can do one of the following: Mirror: to have an exact copy on both screens. Extend: it makes both screens act like one big one. You can move applications between the screens, and if you close an application it remembers where it was closed and will open back in the same screen. To control how they interact and how they are positioned next to each other (above, below, right, left) go to "System Preferences" > Displays.

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19th January 2008, 10:14	#2 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,397	With some more work and nice pictures that'd be a great article for Shuffle

19th January 2008, 10:19	#3 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	Ok. Consider it so.

19th January 2008, 16:30	#4 (permalink)
Marchies Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 543	Thank you so much.. What I will need to do is get a DVI-VGA cable..? Or is it a tiny adapter..?

19th January 2008, 17:14	#5 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	it can be either one. I recommend the cable, and bypass the adapters to reduce connections. Also make sure if the DVI cable is the one you need. You may also require a mini DVI adapter. What Mac do you use?

19th January 2008, 23:37	#6 (permalink)
Marchies Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 543	The white Macbook.

20th January 2008, 09:48	#7 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	You need to get the mini DVI adaptor from iStyle and a DVI - VGA cable. There is a mini DVI - VGA adaptor, but you will still need a VGA cable, so I recommend the above.

20th January 2008, 12:36	#8 (permalink)
Marchies Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 543	Okay..Thanks I would prefer getting the mini DVI to VGA adapter..Thanks.

1st April 2008, 22:11	#9 (permalink)
Marchies Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 543	I spoke to a sales person at iSTYLE today and she said it's not possible to connect it to the LCD TV because the mini-DVI to VGA is for Projectors only..I don't get it.. I really need to connect my laptop to the tv.. I spent so much money on my LCD TV.. So what do I do..? Sigh...

2nd April 2008, 01:35	#10 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	From the Mac's point of view, its just another connection. What connectors do you have on your LCD? You may run into the Mac's ability to handle the LCD's resolution (for TV LCDs it is unlikely).