Connecting to an old projector

Question

Level 1

92 points

Connecting to an old projector

I'm trying to connect my new MacBook (13" aluminum, late 2008) to an old projector (InFocus LP755) from 1999. The projector doesn't have USB or FireWire connectors. It has:

- 15-pin VESA
- composite video
- S-video
- a 36-pin connector

Apple says that my MacBook won't connect to composite video or S-video. Apple says I can buy two adapters for my MacBook:

- mini-DVI to VGA adapter
- mini-DVI to DVI adapter

The VESA connector looks exactly like a VGA connector. Can I connect Apple's VGA adapter to the projector's VESA input?

MacBook aluminum 13" late 2008, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 27, 2009 7:57 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Thomas Kehoe Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 27, 2009 8:05 PM in response to Thomas Kehoe

Now I see that Apple also has a "Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter" that connects MacBooks made before January 2009 to S-video and composite video.

Reply

Answer 2

Waymen

Level 5

5,722 points

Apr 27, 2009 9:44 PM in response to Thomas Kehoe

That connector won't work on any of the new Aluminum MacBooks (before Jan. 2009 or not) nor on the early 2009 white MacBooks. Neither of the currently sold MacBooks support composite or s-video output with simple adapters.

I'm not certain about the VESA connection on your projector. It _may_ accept VGA as a video input with the proper cables but I don't know for sure.

In any case, if you need VGA output from your MacBook you will want to get one of Apple's $29 (U.S.) mini DisplayPort to VGA adapters. Here is the link:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB572Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=MjkyNjI0MA

If you need composite or s-video output you should look at this thread (in either case you'll need one of Apple's VGA adapters as noted above):

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8361557#8361557

Reply

Answer 3

Thomas Kehoe Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 28, 2009 5:49 AM in response to Thomas Kehoe

Thanks, I hadn't realized that my MacBook had a "Mini DisplayPort," not a "Mini DVI." I almost bought the wrong adapter!

Reply

Answer 4

Thomas Kehoe Author

Level 1

92 points

May 1, 2009 11:33 AM in response to Thomas Kehoe

I bought a mini-DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter (on eBay for $25, not made by Apple), plugged in to the VESA port, and everything worked perfectly -- for ten minutes. Then the MacBook's power saver shut down the screen and the projector went to its blue screen, and now it just says "No signal detected," no matter what I do. 😟 I'll start a new topic about this issue.

Reply

Answer 5

Thomas Kehoe Author

Level 1

92 points

May 1, 2009 12:00 PM in response to Thomas Kehoe

Everything is working now. The last problem was that the projector has a "Computer 1" and "Computer 2" toggle, and I assumed that with only one computer connected it was "Computer 1". I toggled to "Computer 2" and the message changed from "No signal detected" to "Perfecting image." Same blue screen, but I waited a bit and then the projector displayed the computer screen.

To summarize the problems, and solutions:

- VESA (the projector's input) is the same as VGA (the MacBook's output).

- The aluminum MacBooks (late 2008) don't have adapters for composite video or S-video and apparently never will.

- The MacBook has a mini-DisplayPort, not a mini-DVI. Don't buy a mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter.

- Apple sells a mini-DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter for $29, or you can get one on eBay for $25. Some of Apple's mini-DisplayPort-to-VGA adapters needed a firmware update (download from Apple) to prevent image quality problems. (The adapter I bought didn't need the firmware update, so presumably new adapters don't have this problem.)

- The projector toggles between "Video" input, "Computer 1" and "Computer 2". Don't assume that if you have only one computer it's "Computer 1". Toggle to "Computer 2" then wait a bit to see if your screen appears on the projector.

- Best advice of all: don't buy a 10-year-old projector. Look for a projector with USB or Firewire or something with fewer headaches!

Reply