What's the optimal way of playing (SD and HD) video from a unibody MacBook to an HDTV set?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$7 Answers
The only think I could ADD would be, that the current offered solution requires more than one cable to the TV. If you're anything like me, you want the cleanest install you can get.
You could use a converter box (similar to the one linked below) to convert the DVI and audio to a single HDMI output for the TV. This would mean you only have a single connection into the TV.
http://www.directron.com/hdmicvdvi.html
I am aware that this device can only take audio from SPDIF audio outputs to convert into the HDMI, I have no clue if the MacBook has such an output, but I imagine there are similar devices that might accept analog audio direct from the 3.5mm (headphone jack) output on the MacBook.
EDIT: There are definately ways to take the analog audio + the dvi out and convert to HDMI. More links:
http://sewelldirect.com/Component-VGA-to-HDMI-Scaler-720p.asp?ad_source=GoogleAdWords&ad_medium=PPC&ad_term=vga%20audio%20hdmi%20converter&ad_campaign=14682543&ad_group=521034483&ad_network=search&ad_creative=1733520693&gclid=CN71r_zyypcCFQRkswod7WFBSQ
http://sewelldirect.com/Audio-Authority-DVI-to-HDMI-Converter-With-Audio.asp
Oooooo.... with a DVI --VGA adapter this one looks good:
http://www.optimization-world.com/details/prodid/244.html
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$HDMI offers a few benefits to DVI (it supports HDCP, and audio over the same cable) but as far as video quality/resolution you shouldn't notice a difference since.
I have had a similar setup on a PowerBook (With DVI output) as well as a PC with dual video outputs. Both setups can work to mirror your laptop screen (Same output on the laptop and TV) as well as extending your desktop.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
That's exactly my feeling. I run the audio right into my stereo (I bypass the TV entirely) and have yet to find anything that requires HDCP to play correctly. If your TV takes a DVI cable you can skip the HDMI, but otherwise just grab the cable I mentioned above (I think it's $8) and plug right into the TVs HDMI. There is not conversion necessary. (Other than your mini-Display port --> DVI.)
Thank you for your answer. Audio over HDMI cannot happen since I'd be using the mini DisplayPort which only outputs audio (and would have to have a different cable for audio) and I don't think HDCP is really useful, so if these are the only advantages over DVI then I guess I'd stick with DVI (cables are less expensive too, I think).
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570
Its $29.99. If that is out of your budget you have a few options. Do you have a playstation 3 or an xbox 360. If so you can stream media from the mac to the tv. If you have a dvd player on the tv you can always burn content to dvd and then play it in the tv.
Apple.com
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
HDMI is no different from DVI, quality wise. In fact, they are the same when it comes to image quality. It's the exact same signal and data, just being moved in a different form factor, and HDMI supports using HDCP which can lock you out of seeing HD content if the device so desires, whereas DVI does not.
Unfortunately, the Macbook's output does not support HDCP, so you may eventually run in to things that will not play over it.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can also buy an Apple TV, but that is limited to MP4 720p content.
You can also get an Apple TV and hack it with Boxee so you can watch any content, but limited to 720p.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
HDMI does deliver better quality. However, Apple, nor anyone else for that matter, have created a dongle that will go from mini displayport to HDMI. Until apple adds an HDMI port on the MACs, this is the best way. Hopefully apple will add the HDMI input in the future....
But isn't HDMI supposed to deliver better quality than DVI? Can I play HD video via DVI? On what resolution?
Personal experience,
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Canopus-HD-Storm-HDMI-based-Editing-PCI-E-x1
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
