TV as a monitor for mac?

**sascoordinator** · 01-24-2005, 03:22 PM

Guys,

Have ever tried using a TV as a monitor for mac? I've tried it on a pc. It's really cool considering a shuttle xpc, 30" TV, plus 5.1 speakers.

It may seem like a home theater but just asking if you'd already tried it on a mac?

Regards,
Carlo

**Sponsor** · 01-24-2005 03:22 PM

**weremermaid** · 01-24-2005, 05:04 PM

If you can afford to blow cash on a 30" TV, do you suppose a higher resolution LCD monitor will be sharper and kinder to your eyes in the long run, considering you are already spending many hours with your computer? I'm not sold on TVs as a monitor for professional work (graphics NO!!! Video editing NOOOOOO! Video playback YES) unless it's an HDTV.

jakcfrost · 01-24-2005, 05:24 PM

never tried using a tv as a monitor but i've used a tv to watch dvd discs, using an av cable, pretty good quality but not as good as the dvd players with progressive scans.

**soulblighter** · 01-24-2005, 05:32 PM

I use a TV on my Nitro when watching VCDs or recordings from my videocam.

**peter_ob** · 01-24-2005, 07:31 PM

We use a TV monitor only to check video output from our edits. That way we can check how the final output would look.

[Edited on 1-24-2005 by peter_ob]

**lamb8192** · 01-24-2005, 07:43 PM

Typing off the top of my head here, but from what I know there is a definite signal loss when using a [standard CRT] TV to view computer output--much lower resolution, plus the odd/even field encoding of TV signals means that the image will shimmer/flicker. Standard text becomes pretty much unreadable for me on the TV. If all you're doing is watching video it might be ok.

This is my experience/understanding of CRT TVs, not sure how (1) LCD/Plasma/HDTVs will fare, and (2) using component cables (the three video cables) instead of the single yellow RCA cable will make a difference.

**Maccess** · 01-24-2005, 10:26 PM

Plus you won't even be able to see the menu bar!

Most TVs overscan, i.e. chop off the edges of the pictures, while computer CRTs underscan so you can see the whole desktop.

Also TVs have horible resolution and dot pitch compared to computer CRTs. (.67 vs. .27 or better). Also, the TVs picture shimmies a lot.

but, the mac mini would make a great DVD player hooked up to a TV.

**peter_ob** · 01-25-2005, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by Maccess
Plus you won't even be able to see the menu bar!

Most TVs overscan, i.e. chop off the edges of the pictures, while computer CRTs underscan so you can see the whole desktop.

Also TVs have horible resolution and dot pitch compared to computer CRTs. (.67 vs. .27 or better). Also, the TVs picture shimmies a lot.

but, the mac mini would make a great DVD player hooked up to a TV.

That is why the TV monotor is helpful in video editing.