[2004G4]

Is it possible to use one of these with an ibook? It doesn't seem like it since the monitor has a DVI input and the ibook has VGA out. The resolution of my month old ibook screen is too low for me at times, I'd like to be able to use an external monitor for graphics work.

[drive-thru]

I thought that Apple used to include a VGA to DVI adaptor with the Cinema Displays, but it looks like they don't anymore.
They do sell a DVI to VGA adaptor for $19 (go to the Apple Store and click 'Displays' on the left hand side) but I'm not sure if this only works as DVI-to-VGA or both ways.
If you can get a VGA-to-DVI adaptor then you shouldn't have a problem and you can apply the spanning hack (search this forum for the link) in order to span across both displays.

[tooki]

Originally posted by drive-thru:
I thought that Apple used to include a VGA to DVI adaptor with the Cinema Displays, but it looks like they don't anymore.

Nope, Apple's never sold such a thing.

VGA to DVI (or ADC) adapters cost a fortune (hundreds of dollars). You're better off just buying a non-Apple display that has a VGA input.

tooki

[2004G4]

well that's really kind of a bummer...I'm about ready to buy a display and I really like Apple's - I'm really surprised their own products are not compatible..

[Commodus]

You can use an iBook and extend the desktop (or use a higher resolution); you just need to use an unofficial (but not overly difficult) hack. I don't have the link, but a quick search for "iBook monitor spanning hack" might do the trick.

However, a Cinema Display might not be the best choice - 32 MB of video RAM may hurt Exposé performance. You'd probably be better off getting a 15" or 17" LCD with a VGA input (there's plenty of them around) and using the spanning hack.

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally posted by Commodus:
You can use an iBook and extend the desktop (or use a higher resolution); you just need to use an unofficial (but not overly difficult) hack. I don't have the link, but a quick search for "iBook monitor spanning hack" might do the trick.

However, a Cinema Display might not be the best choice - 32 MB of video RAM may hurt Exposé performance. You'd probably be better off getting a 15" or 17" LCD with a VGA input (there's plenty of them around) and using the spanning hack.

don't listen to this guy. there is no way without spending the extra money it would cost to get a PB to buy a vga-> dvi transformer instead to use a cinema with a iBook. and even then utilizing the full resolution of the cinema is pretty unlikely.

iBooks don't have dvi. prolly going to be a while before they do too.

[teknopimp]

this is what you need:

http://drbott.com/prod/db.lasso?code=0151-VGAT

not worth it in IMO. buying a cinema display for a lowly ibook is like putting spinners on a yugo. i think apple sees it that way and they keep their consumer and professional lines well gapped.

[Luca Rescigno]

Which kind of sucks, considering that LCDs with DVI inputs are not limited to overpriced Apple displays. There are 17" DVI LCDs out there that provide superior image quality to their VGA bretheren for $300-$400, but iBook users can't use them.

[d4nth3m4n]

can't let the pony outrun the horse.

[Dr.Michael]

Originally posted by 2004G4:
well that's really kind of a bummer...I'm about ready to buy a display and I really like Apple's - I'm really surprised their own products are not compatible..

iBooks are not designed for Monitor spanning. So apple decided to let them only use the internal configuration on an external display. Thus it fits into the philosophy that iBooks and cinema displays don't match because of the different sizes and pixel numbers (1024X768 vs 1600X1050).

Have a look at the display market. Samsung offers some very cute tfts that are as elegant as the new cinema displays and have vga.

[Luca Rescigno]

Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
iBooks are not designed for Monitor spanning.

They are too designed for spanning, they just removed a single hardware feature by using software. It's easily bypassed to give you a feature that is present on every single other laptop sold today - monitor spanning on the video out port. Not including spanning is like not including a hard drive - maybe it's not quite as essential, but why would they leave out a feature that is so basic to what a laptop is?

[nJm]

Are there any VGA capable widescreen LCDs? I love using our iMac 17", but would also like to have something similar for the iBook. I have discovered (for whatever silly reason) that OS X allows my 17" CRT to display 1344x1008 and 1600x1024 which appear to be widescreen aspect ratios. Everything certainly looks stretched vertically unless I shrink the picture down to a letterbox shape