Realistic options for HDMI

The realistic super-easy way is an AppleTV, no cables no fuss no mess.

also for $100 you get tons of free content, free movie previews, free podcasts, free music.......etc. on AppleTV

Also use the APP called BEAMER to wifi beam movies to the Apple TV from the computer while still using the Mac.

Just airplay, say,...YOUTUBE from the macbook AIr to the AppleTV, great fun. Best $100 of fun that can be had.

I use this setup and there is nothing that comes closer to perfection than this

😊

True, but the black hockey puck (i.e. AppleTV) is far less a burden than a mess of cables.

However of course The AppleTV has a power cord and an HDMI cord to the TV.......so...

You didnt mention if your first post that your parents would be traveling all the time for TV hookup by Airplay with the Macbook. 😊

In which case you can get a MD to HDMI cable.

back right of the machine

use one of these dongles

http://www.amazon.com/CNE11304-DisplayPort-Adapter-MacBook-Laptop/dp/B003BERYLA

see image here

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/B007B6YPAM-us age.jpg

I agree with plotinus... im am currently doing that with my monitor.

Confusing Mini DisplayPort with Thunderbolt

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20043524-263.html

The new thunderbolt port is backward compatible so it can still be used to connect to DisplayPort devices

As indicated above in the link, you cannot attach Thunderbolt DEVICES from MD connection or adapters.

displays are one thing.........Thunderbolt devices another.

LaCIe (seagate) HD, just direct connect same, but yes you can have a RAID array, etc. However I wouldnt consider doing same.

You can save yourself a lot of money and get a nice 2TB external USB3 HD for $119.

Walt_Atwood

Thunderbolt would be seen as necessary

No.

On a conventional HD, speeds are limited by platter and spindle speeds, unless its a SSD,

On a conventional hard drive, Thunderbolt is not a bit faster than USB3,...slower even

Testing:

"raw USB 3 actually beat thunderbolt in a number of places"

Thunderbolt isnt necessary at ALL, .......USB3 from USB2,....yeah. 😊

As for newer HD on older USB2,...Doesnt matter, USB3 external HD are backwards compatible (most) with USB2

You asked-- "So, you're suggesting that USB 3 would be better for connecting to the external"

I didnt so much suggest it as imply thunderbolt with conventional HD is no faster, and a hair slower than USB3.

Its "better" only in the sense that Thunderbolt drives are much more expensive.

you didnt mention which device/computer, your old one or the new one you implied on getting, i.e. the new Air.

USB3 external HD are as common as water, theres no worries of cables at all, they all come with same.

LaCie is just a Seagate drive (if a conventional LaCie), ..... there is no such entity as a "rugged hard drive" as meant a conventional HD, they all have armature bars, heads, platter, spindles and heads that hover Nm above the platters.

Theyre tougher than they used to be, but still fragile, and ANYONE that has put their faith of data in ANY single HD has always lived to regret it.

"Seems whenever I look up USB 3-anything, the search engine produces USB 2"

Thats because all the new USB3 drives are backwards capable with USB2 ports on older machines.

➕Given the second law of thermodynamics, any and all current mfg. HD will, under perfect storage conditions tend themselves to ferromagnetic layer depolarization and a point will be reached, even if the HD mechanism is perfect, that the ferromagnetic read/write surface of the platter inside the HD will entropy to the point of no return for data extraction.

HD life varies, but barring mechanical failure, 3-8 years typically.

best options for the price, and high quality HD:

Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"

Perfect 1TB for $68

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba

Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim and perfect

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb

2TB compact Toshiba 4-platter drive, very small, high quality and very cheap (have several of them) $119

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba

*This one is the BEST external HD available that money can buy:

$75

HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive

http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Touro-Mobile-External-HTOLMX3NA10001ABB/dp/B0062FZ2WS /ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379185002&sr=1-1&keywords=hitachi+extern a l+hard+drive

Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5" as "best quality that money can buy in conventional HD"