Maxent isn't the solution

Question

Level 2

238 points

Maxent isn't the solution

I just purchased a refurb Mac Mini and a large external Maxtor FW drive with the intention of using it as a music server using my standard old TV for a display. As it sits in the living room next to my sound system and TV it all made sense though I wish the Mini had a digital audio output.

After a couple of days the TV began to show its limitations as a computer display. I looked into the Apple displays, but without having the ability to use it as a TV monitor that idea was out.

So I was at Costco and I fell for it. There was a very nice-looking Maxent MX-26X3 screaming out Buy me, buy me. The salesman told me that, although the blurb sign said DVI input and not for MAC[sic], their marketing guys dont know what theyre talking about. He said it would probably work with DVI on my Mac.

Not!

I tried both the RGB (with the Apple DVIRGB converter) and the DVI (with an AR DVI cable) inputs with both my Mac Mini and my less than two-year-old PB G4 (both running OS X 10.4.2). Nothing worked.

I finally spoke with a support person at Maxent who clearly stated that the machine does not work with Macs. Period.

Ill be returning the Maxent later in the week.

Its a nice looking TV, but if you want a simple solution for both TV and LCD Mac Mini monitor this isnt the one.

Maybe Im asking for too much in the $700 - $900 price range. Any good ideas for a reasonably priced, 26 LCD that would work as both a TV, a Mac Mini monitor and have HDTV capability?

Posted on Nov 2, 2005 10:10 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Fussy

Level 3

540 points

Nov 3, 2005 1:06 AM in response to BflatBlues

Curious but when you attached it to the PB and thus had a second display to work with, e.g. the PB's display, if you go into Display preferences does the Maxent even show up as being an attached display device? If so, are you given any choices of suggested resolutions? And if so, don't any of them give a display on the Maxent? Seems you ought to be able to get something to come out the darn thing.

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Answer 2

Nov 3, 2005 6:20 AM in response to BflatBlues

Bflat-

I just purchased a Sharp AQUOS 32" display (not sure of the exact model but I could find it if needed) and it works like a champ with my Mini. I actually bought the monitor first for my entertainment system and added the mini later.

When I bought it, they were out of "this year's" model, as the salesman put it, but they had "last year's" in stock (my son works at this outfit and I know most of the kids that work there and I get a hefty discount so he was not pulling my leg), and he was sorry.

But the only difference was that "last year's model" was 50 bucks cheaper AND had a DVI input. Bonus! In fact, I think I decided to buy the mini that day but had to wait for funds to do so.

Now, I did purchase the unit at the time using my son's discount, but I have seen the same model for $1200 clearance in stores.

With that said, I know this is above your price range and a little larger than you wanted, but perhaps if you go shopping hard enough and are savvy you may be able to find "last year's model" (with the DVI input) in a smaller size and at a better price.

BTW...turns out Sharp is one of the few actual manufacturers of LCD flat-panel displays.

Anyway, that is my two cents.

Good Luck!

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Answer 3

BflatBlues Author

Level 2

238 points

Nov 4, 2005 1:23 AM in response to BflatBlues

Tom, even when I connected it to the PBs DVI output the Maxent told me the same thing as the Mini: No Support. I returned the thing today.

Daddy, when I returned the Maxent Costco had two Sharp LCD TVs with DVI inputs. One was a 26 model (LCG5C26V) and the other was 32 (two model numbers: LCG5C32U and LC32GA5V). They are $1100 and $1500 respectively.

When I have the time I hope to contact Sharp to see if they know whether these are Mac (Mini) friendly.

Having been burned by buy.com recently regarding a return, I really appreciated Costcos no-questions-asked full refund today. If I can get some confirmation that the Sharp works with Macs I may jump into a new ballpark, though at more than $1,000 I wonder if/what other options I should be comparing.

Thank you both for your useful suggestions.

Blfat

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Answer 4

Nov 4, 2005 5:29 AM in response to BflatBlues

All I know is that my Sharp does work.

It is a model LC32GA5U.

If you type the word AQUOS in the search area for this forum you will see a few pop up. Some folks had to use the SwitchResX program to adjust it correctly, however I was able to adjust mine through the display and everything looks fine.

It is large for a computer monitor, and the working distance is 4-5 feet away. I have bluetooth keyboard and mouse and that is sweet. It is my main screen in my media room, but it is nice to have the ability to use it for the computer as well.

Sharp is a major manufacturer of flat panel LCD displays. I would have rather had a model that I could remove the speakers, but all in all I am extremely satisfied with the unit.

Good Luck!

Edit: Oh, and I use the DVI input of the AQUOS.

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Answer 5

minifan

Level 1

0 points

Jan 4, 2006 7:57 AM in response to BflatBlues

I can't believe you actually got in touch with anyone representing Maxent.
I am trying to use a Maxent plasma with my mini as well.
Mine is the EDTV model. MX-42VM11. It works fine with my PC.

The mini actually displays the gray startup screen just fine but the monitor display goes blank when it tries to display the desktop.
Also, I can make it work by the following method:
Let the mini boot completely while hooked to a standard monitor. Then simply unplug the cable from the mini and hook to the plasma. It then works fine until the next reboot.
So, the Maxent will work with the Maxent plasma.

This is where I don't really know enough about how the Mac works as I am much better with the PC.
I am still trying to define exactly what is happening when the failure occurs and what the differences are when using the DVI input vs the RGB input of the Maxent.

I briefly tried DisplayConfigX one evening but saw no improvement or change in behavior. I must play with it more and also plan on trying SwitchResX for comparison sake.
I read in one forum that the two apps behave a bit differently.

At this point, I have to believe that my Maxent will work with the mini unless someone can tell me specifically why it won't.

Craig

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Answer 6

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 4, 2006 9:19 AM in response to minifan

If you see the gray start-up screen, then I agree that is a good sign that the Maxent should ultimately be able to work from the mini.

Macs, like PCs, rely on a driver being installed to properly use a monitor. The main difference is that, for the Mac, the driver is expected to be contained within the monitor and delivered automatically over the video cable (DDC2). I suspect the Maxent lacks having any EDID data, which is the driver data delivered via DDC.

In the absence of such data, you will need to configure a timing using DisplayConfigX or SwitchRes X. When it works from the PC, is it possible to capture the timing details to a text file that can be used to enter timing details on the Mac? That's what I'd do.

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