Using Visio 37" HDTV (not monitor) as Display for mini

I really WANT to buy my FIRST Apple mini as my only computer! Will it work with my Visio 37" HDTV? I want to buy a cable that has the HDMI connector at one end for the TV and DVI on the other for the mini. Can it be that simple???

Thanks for input. I want to go to the Apple Store Friday!!!

mac mini, Mac OS X (10.5), looking to buy a mini

Posted on Mar 5, 2008 3:33 PM

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7 replies

Mar 10, 2008 3:21 PM in response to aboardduet

I was in the same "boat" about wanting to use an LCD for a monitor. But, due to the higher resolution of a dedicated computer LCD vs a TV/LCD I opted for a Dell 24" Ultra Sharp W2408WFP to get the maximum capabilities out of my Mac Mini. Yes, the monitor is expensive, for me about $599 plus $45 shipping but included a 3 year warranty. However, unlike a traditional TV/LCD's resolution of approx. 1366 x 768 you will get the full 1900 x 1200 with the Dell 24" monitor (as with most other quality 22"-24" computer monitor's.

Now that is important if you are going to use this display hooked up to your Mac as a desktop, i.e. web browsing, various app's etc. The higher resolution will make the fonts and fine details of what you are looking at much clearer than what you are looking at with a TV/LCD. PLus, with a 32" LCD you will need to sit that bad boy a good 3 to 4 feet from your face in order to focus properly. However, if like many users of Mini's you will use it mainly as an entertainment hub for movies and itunes than I believe the TV/LCD such as the 32" Vizio (I have one in fact) would make for a better investment.

Mar 15, 2008 11:23 PM in response to aboardduet

Been there done that... I did this very thing and it looks great. Connected with the VGA instead of HDMI. HDMI will only allow 640X480 and VGA will allow many more. I use 1280X768. I also have a KVM switch so both my G4 mini and Intel mini share the Vizio...
FWIW, I would go with the Vizio VX37L instead of the VW37L. I emailed vizio to see how they were different. they are pretty close, but the VW models are usually sold in wal mart. I went with the VX as it has a couple more input options and the price difference was very small.

Computer: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1366x768 thru VGA/RGB or 640x480 thru HDMI

Mar 22, 2008 12:42 PM in response to aboardduet

Thanks, all for your input. I WENT to the Apple Store, and I BOUGHT my mini, and I hooked it up using the DVI-HTML connection. Can't really complain, but would only go to the 740 (I think) resolution without cropping the top and edges of the image. Are you saying I'll get better resolution/image using the VGA adapter? Will I suffer the "overscan/unserscan" borders or lose the top of the page in my image? Thanks again.

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Using Visio 37" HDTV (not monitor) as Display for mini

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