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Jon Noble · Oct 12, 2008, 05:17 AM

Hi ... greetings from a new member on this forum.

I have a white Macbook, bought this year. I am wanting to hook it up to a large LCD display ... I tried a Sansung and an HP, 22" and 19" types no less than 3 stores ... BUT could not get any of them to work correctly.

The problem is that if I select the maximum resolution (1680x1050), and use the 'mirror display' option (which is the way I wish to work), then the image appears small on the large screen, with a fairly big black border all around. None of the salesmen where able to get rid of the border effect ... we tried EVERYTHING!

The only way we could get my Macbook to drive the full extent of the screen was to use a lower resolution (1200x800 or thereabouts) ... but with this resolution on screen graphics are not sharp ... I was very unhappy with this option!

Any assistance would be most appreciated??

Please note, I was using a mini DVI to VGA adaptor that came with my laptop ... is this the problem? ... Do I need to use the mini DIV to DVI adaptor for a high res screen?? (the salesmen did not believe this to be the reason).

Lastly ... will my white Macbook work with a Mac 20 inch screen? ... I think the image quality on the MAc screen is really EXCELLENT ... but price is fairly high ... so ! ...?

Thanks
Jon Noble

analogika · Oct 12, 2008, 05:45 AM

"Mirror" means just that.

When you "mirror", the smaller screen (apparently not-quite-so-) obviously determines the resolution, since the smaller screen is kind of unable to mirror the contents of a higher-resolution display.

You want SPANNING, not MIRRORing. In spanning, both monitors are treated as one large desktop made up of two areas. The external monitor will run at full resolution.

Or - the only other option - use the MacBook in clamshell mode: close it, so it goes into sleep mode, then hook up external keyboard and mouse and the display, and then wake it up. It will use the external display at full resolution, with the internal display switched off entirely.

OreoCookie · Oct 12, 2008, 06:50 AM

All current displays with DVI/VGA input and resolutions up to 1920x1200 pixels are supported. My best friend runs an Apple Cinema HD display off it. Currently, only the 30" ACD does not work with it (it requires dual-link DVI which the MacBook doesn't have).

Jon Noble · Oct 12, 2008, 02:33 PM

Thanks for the helpful replies!! ... and most helpful too!!

One more question ...

I am a bit confused about the 'extended display' option ... as explained, the Macbook does indeed seem to be able to drive the big LCD when in the dual display (extended display) configuration ... so this mode does work ... and without the need for a new keyboard ...

BUT with this dual arrangement ... the dock, and the top of screen menu bar stay on the small screen ... BUT, I want to work with the menu and the dock on the big screen ... otherwise one is forced to keep going between the two screens, which is a terrible way to work ... well i terms of how I work anyways ...

OK ... here is my question ... is it possible to move the dock and the menu to the big screen, when working with in the dual screen mode?

Yours
Jon noble

analogika · Oct 12, 2008, 02:49 PM

Apple menu --> system Preferences --> Monitors --> Arrangement (or whatever it's labelled in English).

Just drag the little menu bar to the appropriate monitor. If no external monitor is connected, it will default back to the internal one. No need to restart or even sleep the machine for that, either. Just plug in/pull out the monitor cable while the machine is running.

In that preference pane, you can just drag around the monitors to rearrange them, as well, btw.

Jon Noble · Oct 13, 2008, 01:22 PM

WOW ... Thanks ... your help is much appreciated !!! I Will go back to the store to try this out!!! ... and will fopllow up once my new 22" LCD ia up and running ...

Note ... No one at my local Mac shop was able to help ... all idiots that side ...

Best Wishes
Jon Noble
PS ... been useing Pc's my entire life, untill now, that is ... actually, I started with DOS! ... BUT have to say I love my new Macbook ... its FAB ... no more PC's for me.

analogika · Oct 13, 2008, 02:10 PM

Welcome to Macintosh.™

Enjoy your stay.

Jon Noble · Oct 14, 2008, 05:11 AM

Hi Analogica

I went back to the LCD store ... but am still struggling.

I cant get the 'Clamshell' mode to work ... no matter what we do, it wont work ... tried external mouse and keyboard, exactly as explained ... with everything connected when Mac asleep ... but as soon as Macbook is awake both keyboards, both mice, and both screens work ... and the screen resolution thing is not resolved.

I also cannot drag the top menu (the one at the top of the screen ... which goes to finder, or safari, depending upon what one is working on) ... in expanded screen mode, I just cant drag this menu to the bigger screen.

So my only option is to work in extended screen mode ... and then keep bouncing between the two screen ... which seems crazy ... but I guess I might get used to this way or working, in time ...

Am I doing something wrong?

Best Wishes
Jon Noble

Love Calm Quiet · Oct 14, 2008, 07:50 AM

I've forgotten for sure how it works (since I use 'spanning' and don't have my ACD with me), but did you plug in the external display while Mac was awake first - so that it "recognizes" it? then close its lid & awaken via external keyboard?

Jon Noble · Oct 14, 2008, 11:17 AM

OK ... got the first bit right ... but how do a re-awaken the Mac via the external keyboard? ... I dont know how to awaken via the keyboard ... I merely reopened the Mac up, so I guess thats why it never went into clam mode ...

SO ... how to re-awaken via the external keynoard (whilst the Mac remains closed)?

Many thanks ...

J

OreoCookie · Oct 14, 2008, 11:27 AM

Press any key. (Oh, yeah, don't go looking for the Any key, though

)
This wakes your Mac.

anthology123 · Oct 14, 2008, 11:57 AM

Just to make things clearer, make sure when you hook up the large LCD, that you do not have Mirror mode checked off in the Displays in System Preferences. Then under Arrangement, make sure you move the little white bar from the MacBook to the LCD screen instead. The nice thing is when you detach the LCD, the menu bar will appear back on the MacBook, but when you connect it back it should be back on the LCD automatically.
One note: the VGA adapter should work fine at the resolution stated, but for better quality, and future upgrades, you should buy the DVI adapter, too.

analogika · Oct 14, 2008, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Jon Noble

I also cannot drag the top menu (the one at the top of the screen ... which goes to finder, or safari, depending upon what one is working on) ... in expanded screen mode, I just cant drag this menu to the bigger screen.

you drag the LITTLE menu bar IN THE SYSTEM PREFERENCES' MONITOR PANE from one of the little monitor representations to the other to make that your main monitor.

You can't drag the actual menu bar.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.