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Connecting MacBook Pro to HDTV

I have a 4 year old 15" MacBook Pro, model.........MacBookPro4,1. I want to connect to my Panasonic HDTV. The TV has open HDMI port and open USB port.


I connect regularly to Apple Cinema Display that is also 4 years old, at about 22" size. This connection is from the port on the right labeled;


£ DVI (external display) port

Connect to an external display, projection device, or TV that uses a DVI connector, or use

the included DVI to VGA adapter to connect a VGA monitor.



I do have an adaptor cable for DVI port to VGA and an extension cable for MacBook to digital projector (VGA).



There is also a FireWire 800 connection on the MacBook Pro.


I'm looking for a connection for both video/audio from the MacBook Pro to my Panasonic 50" plasma HDTV, that is about 18 mo. old. Ideally I would have full functionality for audio and sound driven by the MacBook Pro to view content from hard drive and from Safari browser.


What ports on the MacBook should I be using?


Is the HDMI the best choice on the TV?


Where might I look either locally or on line for cable/adaptor? I went to local Best Buy who could not help. Nearest Apple Store is about 40 miles away.


Appreciate advice on this.........thanks


Don

Aperture 3, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 25, 2012 9:48 PM

Reply
4 replies

Oct 25, 2012 11:22 PM in response to Pmk4343

Pmk4343; Sorry........hope I didn't confuse, TV has: HDMI, 1 USB open and pin terminals 2 audio/1 video.


I'm under impression that HDMI will accommodate both video and audio from MacBook to HDTV.......need to confirm this and locate proper cable/adaptors.


Or, will my Mac Fire Wire 800 port provide output to HDMI video/audio?


Lastly, would the USB 2.0 work for this?


Not familiar with "3.5mm cable?

Oct 25, 2012 11:48 PM in response to nikondon

This is the Apple tech note that will tell you if your MacBook Pro is new enough to send both video and audio through HDMI. If it's too early, it only sends video through HDMI.

About Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters


A 3.5" stereo cable is basically a cable that fits a common headphone jack that you find in iPods, Sony Walkman, etc. One end goes in the audio-out port in the MacBook Pro, the other end needs a cable or adapter to go into the audio-in port that corresponds to the HDMI port you are using on the TV, only if your MacBook Pro is too old to move the audio through HDMI.


nikondon wrote:


What ports on the MacBook should I be using?


Is the HDMI the best choice on the TV?


Where might I look either locally or on line for cable/adaptor? I went to local Best Buy who could not help. Nearest Apple Store is about 40 miles away.


Use the DVI or Mini DisplayPort on the MacBook Pro, whichever it has. On the other end of the cable, use HDMI on the TV.


Even if you lived near a Best Buy, these cables are always totally overpriced at walk-in stores. Order them from monoprice.com, or if unavailable there, Amazon.com or Apple.com. I live near lots of stores that carry cables but I still order online to save tons of money.

Connecting MacBook Pro to HDTV

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