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Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Great adapter for my MacBook

Written by DT from Glastonbury

Jul 15, 2006

I picked this adapter up for watching iTunes TV and DVD movies shows via Front Row on my TV from my MacBook. It works well along with my minijack-to-stereo RCA audio adapter; it's just like having a DVD player with the MacBook's included remote control. Regarding the complaints about low quality such as fuzziness and hard-to-read text, that's a given. A regular TV is NOT a high-resolution monitor. The maximum resolution a standard NTSC TV can have is 720x486, while even the cheapest monitors display at least 800x600, if not 1024x768. If you want crystal-clear text on your TV, you're going to need to pick up a high-definition set or a projector with VGA or DVI input; composite or s-video just isn't going to cut it. With that said, I'm very please with this sub-$20 video adapter.

1366 of 1958 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Works with my 13.3" MacBook Intel

Written by WJ from Buffalo

Jul 13, 2006

I just picked this up to use with my MacBook Intel, so that I can hook into a large video display at a place where I teach.

I tested it at home on a small TV and it works fine. So far I've tested only the composite video output, since I don't have a display with an S-video input at home. Since I am in video production I know that an interlaced video image will never look as good as the image on a good computer monitor, especially if the image has thin lines in it where the interlace will dance. But this looks surprisingly good to me.

I looked at both photographs and DVD outputs and the quality is pretty good. Quality might suffer more with displays of graphics, especially of tables with horizontal and vertical lines, so to check this I fired up Excel to display a grid. Surprisingly, the fine lines that form the cels don't look too bad, though they'd look worse if the grid lines were darker. The print inside the cels is unreadable, but no one in their right mind would try to display such small print to an audience.

By the way, if you want to show DVDs, you'll have to use preferences to put the display into mirror mode.

So far looks like a good solution for me, and I'm anxious to test it on a large display with an S-video input.

1271 of 1803 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Yes - you can watch full screen streaming video on your TV

Written by SB from Derwood

Dec 3, 2008

and here is how:
1) Before connecting to the cable to the TV, open up the web browser window and re-size it so it is small (about one quarter of you desktop)
2) Then connect the video cable to you TV
3) Change the resolution under your computer's display settings
4) re-size the browser window to fit the screen, or click on full screen option
It works perfectly with HULU on full screen, so don't listen to other reviewers who don't know how to change the display resolution on thier computers.

103 of 110 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Not for Mac Mini (early 2009)

Written by KC from Ann Arbor

May 10, 2009

I bought a Mac Mini (May 2009) and this Mini-DVI to Video adapter with plans to use it to send an S-video signal to an analog TV. Though the sales staff at the Apple store said it should work, it does not. The graphics card apparently should support it, and it may be addressed with a future driver update, but as of now this does not work. I have used a mini-DVI to VGA adapter and monitor to verify that the port is working, and also verified that the S-video cable and TV input work. There are third party VGA to S-video/RCA adapters available so I plan to use one of those for my purposes. This is probably a 5-star product when used with the right Mac; however, Apple should have made it clear that having a mini-DVI port on your Mac is necessary but not sufficient for this to work - hence the 3 stars.

94 of 103 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Fragile!

Written by JS

Sep 11, 2008

This adapter does what it promises but it is very fragile. I have gone through 2 in 2 years. I have learned to treat it very gently and to never bend the cord. When the picture starts to go it's time to order a new adapter. I would like to see this product improved because replacing it isn't cheap.

90 of 99 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Getting rid of the black bars when using this product

Written by TH from Chicago

Oct 4, 2006

Noticed that some people were bothered by the black bars around the edges of the TV screen when using this product. That's because the signals your TV usually gets, from cable, antenna DVD player, etc, are different from the one your computer is sending out.

Simply go to System Preferences > Display and hit the "Options" tab - you will see a checkbox marked "Overscan" or "Overscan Mode" - check this box. There you go! Now it fills the screen. Bad thing is, now the dock is out of sight, as is the menu bar.

What Apple needs to do here is create a new mode where the Display is overscanned like this, but the Dock and menu bar are moved in so that they can still be accessed without having to hunt around for them... are you listening, Apple?

84 of 98 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Does not work with 2009 mini

Written by TB from Tewksbury

Apr 4, 2009

I just bought a mini and was told this would work to connect my TV. I also got a mini display port to VGA adapter so I could use a monitor.

The Mini sees the VGA fine, but nothing on the TV.
I'll be trying a VGA to svideo analog converter (not just an adapter).

I'll be taking this back to the store for a refund. I'm hoping this post will lead to Apple getting some info to the stores.

I'm disappointed that Apple has dropped the analog signal from DVI in the 2009 Mini. Lots of people still have S-Video and do not care to buy $500 TV that's smaller then the one they paid $200 for 5 years ago. Failing that, Apple should be selling a solution for connecting the 2009 Mini to a standard definition TV even if it's 3rd party.

Not angry, just trying to get definite information out there.
FWIW, the rating is because the information should be there

78 of 90 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

i couldn't live without this adapter!

Written by LR from Louisville

Feb 28, 2008

i initially bought this adapter to watch movies on my tv, but it has proved even more useful.

i've been able to introduce powerpoint and other multimedia projects into my classroom--my school is pretty low-tech, but all i need now is a tv.

i've been able to experiment with vjing at the parties i throw.

my only complaint with this product is that the connection is a bit wobbly. it's not so bad at home, but in a classroom or a club, things sometimes get bumped.

otherwise, i love it.

157 of 248 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

NOTE: Does NOT work with new 2009 Mini

Written by HS from Pflugerville

Oct 10, 2009

This adapter is incompatible with Macintosh models which use the NVIDIA 9400m graphics chips. That includes any new 2009 MacBooks and Minis. Apple needs to update the information on this page.

It works fine with older MacBooks and Minis based on Intel integrated graphics.

68 of 75 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Pretty awesome.

Written by PD from San Diego

Jan 7, 2007

This thing does exactly what it's supposed to. I don't know why some people are having trouble with it. It fits perfectly into the Mini-DVI port.

Remember: make sure to pick up a video RCA cable and 3.5mm to RCA audio cable (only if you want sound, which you probably do).

102 of 144 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Why in the world doesn't this work with the new Macbook?

Written by SR from Raleigh

Mar 11, 2009

As a first time Mac purchaser, with a primary purpose of purchasing a Mac being to connect to my TV, this is a poor experience. It would have been nice if the Mac "genius" mentioned that this adapter would not work on a new 09 Macbook when we were purchasing the Mac at the store. We even specifically asked what we would need to connect it to our TV and he handed us this adapter. If anyone has any ideas for workarounds or another adapter that might work with the 09 Macbook, please let me know. Why in the world would this adapter only NOT work with the exact Mac we purchased? Luck of the draw, I guess.

84 of 115 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Works great, but it seems to mess up my monitors resolution.

Written by JH from Campbell River

Jun 27, 2006

I have a Imac Intel Core Duo 17". I bought this adapter so that I could hook this up to my TV or other video sources. It looks really good on my TV considering it's interlaced. Just a side note for one of the reviewers up near the top. The fuzzyness of your TV is due to the fact that it is an interlaced screen and your Computer monitor is a progressive. Your TV screen is a much lower resolution which = fuzzy. You don't notice it as much during commercials or regular TV because you have probably grown up watching it that way.

Anyways My problem is that when I plug this in no matter what I set my built in monitors resolution to, it likes to put big black bars on the left and right side of the screen. I think this is due to me plugging it in to a 4:3 aspect ratio screen. This is the only problem I found with the adapter.

The nice thing about this adapter is the second you plug it in, the mac typically can figure it out and it works. Unlike a PC where you have to install drivers or fritter around in the control panel.

Great product, little pricey but still good product.

63 of 73 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Strongly recommend for watching movies

Written by RW

Jan 30, 2008

It's great i have an older 19" t.v. and a 52" hd t.v. works great on both strongly recommend. The only thing i have to complain about is the length its tiny but if you have a long cable that'll do. You also have to play through the sound on the computer unless you have an adapter for your sound. I purchased one for 25 dollars. Its an amazing product and again strongly recommend

83 of 114 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Not compatible

Written by AP from Chicago

Aug 18, 2009

This cable does not work with the macs from the fall of 2008 either (they say not compatible with white Jan 2009). I bought it because of all the great reviews, but when I got it, the DVI plug does not fit my fall 2008 macbook (the aluminum one). FYI.

Apple: Please be more specific in your descriptions!

67 of 83 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Does exactly what it was intended to do

Written by EM from Chicago

May 30, 2009

Just like a few others here, I bought this cable so my husband and I could watch streaming Netflix on our LCD TV. So far, it's been working perfectly. We connected it between our MacBooks with an S-video cable and now we're happily streaming away. The video is a little fuzzy but nothing disruptive, and I imagine that considering the discrepancy between the resolution on the MacBook and our TV, this is fairly unavoidable. A great solution, no complaints!

46 of 47 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Adapter for Sound

Written by SS from DEKALB

Feb 1, 2008

I'm loving this product. It works really well for playing YouTube videos. Anyways, I was hoping someone could help me with the sound problem. I want the sound to come from the t.v. rather than the computer. What kind of an adapter would I purchase?

93 of 142 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Sweet!!!!

Written by RR

Dec 27, 2007

I bought this for my 20" Intel based iMac to connect to my very old (1990's old) Television through my stereo receiver. I even got an adapter for the sound. So far it works just great and has a surprisingly crisp and clear picture on the t.v. All I had to do was plug it in and adjust some of the video settings. I highly suggest this product.

183 of 324 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

Works great in OS X...Not for Windows

Written by JB from Winooski

Mar 27, 2008

This cable is great is you want to play QuickTime movies in full-screen (well, close to it--there's always a black border) on your TV. However, it doesn't work at all if you're running Windows on your Intel Mac--a huge disappointment, considering you can only watch Netflix movies in Windows currently.

168 of 295 people found this useful