how do you connect macbook to a tv?

Which MacBook do you have? Which OS are you running? If it's a "Late 2009" or later you have a miniDisplay Port:

1.) miniDisplay Port to HDMI

2.) miniDisplay Port to DVI

3.) miniDisplay Port to VGA

4.) Apple TV connected with HDMI to the TV to stream movies / pictures / music to your TV wired or wireless over network.

Sound within the MiniDisplay Port is just supported by MacBook Mid 2010 and later.

If your're running 10.5.8 your MacBook is likely earlier than a 2009 model so you'd need a Mini-DVI adapter unless it's a model 5,1. We need to know which model you have. To see which model you have go to the Apple in the upper left corner and select About This Mac, then click on More Info. When System Profiler comes up check the Model Identifier.

Depends on what input plug you'll be using on your TV. VGA, DVI, Composite or HDMI.

You'll need a Mini-DVI adapter and a cable from that to your TV. Here's the various types of Mini-DVI adapters on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=min i-dvi&x=9&y=13

You'll also need audio cables to the TV for VGA, DVI or Composite. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=min i-dvi&x=9&y=13#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_19?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=macboo k+audio+cable&sprefix=macbook+audio+cable&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amacbook+audio+cable

If you connect the MacBook using a MiniDVI to HDMI adapter you will probably need to use external speakers or a stereo system for audio. The Mini-DVI to HDMI doesn't carry audio and there're no audio plugs on most TVs to work with HDMI since it's expecting audio with the HDMI.

P.S. Composite is the red, white and yellow RCA plugs on your TV or red, white and S-Video plugs.

i have a macbook 2007 (running leapord) and i cant figure out what cord to use to connect to new samsung hdtv. can you help, here is a picture of my ports...

Thank you!

The picture you show is of a MacBook Pro not a MacBook. If that is what you have you might want to post in the MacBook Pro forum https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro

The big port on the left side of the image is an DVI output. So you can just get an DVI to HDMI cable to connect your MacBook Pro to and HDMI TV.

For the audio just get another cable 3,5mm headphone to cinch, or an adapter which would grab the audio from the 3,5mm (stereo) or USB (5.1) and sends it together with the video signal over the HDMI cable (like that or that).

I have a MacBook 7,1 Os X Version 10.6.8 and am trying to connect to a Samsung TV. Would the process be the same as mentioned above for the 10.5.8 version?