connecting macbook to CRT TV

Question

Level 2

396 points

connecting macbook to CRT TV

can i connect my macbook to my crt tv (just scart, s-video and phono connections)?

im assuming that if i can then i can playback dvds from the macbook.. but can i playback quicktime movies from it and through the tv? what about stuff in imovie etc?

thanks

MacBook 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.2), 2GB RAM - 500GB external HD

Posted on Apr 4, 2008 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

rvaro

Level 3

860 points

Apr 4, 2008 11:55 AM in response to wob

as long as you have some sort of video and audio connection to the tv then you can do thoes things.. (the tv will act like your monitor)

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Answer 2

rvaro

Level 3

860 points

Apr 4, 2008 1:29 PM in response to wob

I believe that you will need to have the [Mini DVI to Video adapter|http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLI D?mco=A9ADA2DA&fnode=home/shop mac/macaccessories/cables&nplm=M9319G/A] in order to have video...
For audio i think the best solution is a product like [this|http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpN o=775579&CatId=449] one end (red and white) connect to the tv and the other end connects to your audio port on your laptop..

There may be another way but thats the way i think i would do it

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Answer 3

wob Author

Level 2

396 points

Apr 5, 2008 11:40 AM in response to wob

is it the same thing as you suggested but audio and video signal in one long lead?

i think it'll be cheaper to get things separately as i already have a video composite and s-video leads somewhere.. i think i might have a mini jack to left & right composite lead too... so id only need to buy the mini dvi adaptor...

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Answer 4

Apr 13, 2008 11:20 AM in response to wob

Hi Wob,

I am in a similar predicament to you. I saw the Monster iTV link cable that goes from mini-DVI to composite video (yellow) and a audio (headphone jack to Left and Right) all moulded into 1 cable. But it seems that this product isn't available anymore. Did you get separate cables in the end ? I can see a Mini-DVI to video adapter where you'd need to supply your own leads for audio and video.

I was wondering what the quality is like ? I want to listen to my iTunz and watch DVD's on my CRT TV too.

Cheers

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Answer 5

wob Author

Level 2

396 points

Apr 14, 2008 7:12 AM in response to Rusty-Roo

Hi,

Yeah, I got the mini-dvi to video adaptor as I found I already had a mini jack to red and white audio lead so it was the cheapest option... the audio quality is pretty great.. the video is a little softer than i thought it would be (but a crt is bound to soften a little) but pretty good... ive got a 16:9 crt and a widescreen 13" macbook but trying to get these widescreen QT files i have to play back in the right format with out losing too much off the edges was a bit tricky.. quite a lot of trial and error before i got the settings right...

i got it to playback QT movies and stuff directly from a slideshow or from imovie... if you want to watch dvd's id just get a cheap dvd player.. the scart input on a basic dvd player will give you better quality and much less fiddling than going via your mac to a CRT...

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Answer 6

Daibidoo

Level 1

0 points

Jun 26, 2008 5:06 AM in response to wob

Hey Wob,

I'd appreciate benefiting from your trial and error. I'm trying to hook up my Macbook to my Loewe 16:9 CRT. The only resolutions I can see for the CRT display are 4:3 options.

I'm using the Apple Mini-DVI to Video adaptor and an S-Video cable to the front panel.

TIA
David

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Answer 7

wob Author

Level 2

396 points

Apr 5, 2008 2:09 AM in response to rvaro

that seems like it'll work... but what about this..?

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=7E4F2D7D&nplm=T C012

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Answer 8

wob Author

Level 2

396 points

Apr 4, 2008 12:15 PM in response to rvaro

but what audio / video connections do i need?

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Answer 9

rvaro

Level 3

860 points

Apr 4, 2008 12:17 PM in response to wob

can you list all the connections you have on the back of your tv?
then a list of all the add-on connections you may have purchased for your computer?

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Answer 10

wob Author

Level 2

396 points

Apr 4, 2008 1:22 PM in response to rvaro

on tv:
scart, s-video, phonos (yellow, red and white)

for macbook ive already bought a mini dvi to dvi adaptor so i can use my macbook with a monitor

thats all ive got.. any tips?

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Answer 11

rvaro

Level 3

860 points

Apr 5, 2008 8:56 PM in response to wob

yes your right... that should work

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Answer 12

Apr 14, 2008 11:49 AM in response to wob

Thanks for getting back.

I think I may do the same as you rather than forking out £30+ for a specific adapter.

Thanks again.

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