Fruns Dimerik wrote:
> Thanks, but my question was about the Mac Mini rather than a possible
> solution for hooking up an iBook, which indeed mirrors its desktop to the
> LCD. I just wondered if I get a better resolution using a Mini Mac (without
> using a patch).
>
>
> "Bob Harris" <nospam.News.Bob@remove.Smith-Harris.us> wrote in message
> news:nospam.News.Bob-BA71C6.18412030012005@news.verizon.net...
>
>>In article <ctjj1f$7nk$1@reader10.wxs.nl>,
>>"Fruns Dimerik" <bosschurch@planet.nl> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have a Dell 20 inch LCD screen (24-Pin DVI-D / S-Video as well as 15
>>>Pin
>>>D-Sub), which I use for my pc, and may want to buy a Mac Mini.
>>>
>>>My guess is that hooking up the Mac Mini to the LCD monitor is exactly
>>>like
>>>hooking up an iBook. Of course, instead of the VGA adapter I use for the
>>>iBook, I could probably use the 24 Pin DVI-D, as the Mac Mini comes with
>>>a
>>>DVI connector.
>>>
>>>Right now, I can connect an iBook to both Dell monitor and the Dell
>>>stereo
>>>loudspeaker system. The only thing I would need to replace is the PC
>>>keyboard, which has no USB.
>>>
>>>However, I'm somewhat disappointed with the screen resolution. I won't
>>>give
>>>my anything higher than 1024 x 768, like with the Pc. In other words, I
>>>can't enlarge the desktop, and it is not as sharp as I would like to. Can
>>>I
>>>expect the same thing with the MacMini, or is this because I'm hooking up
>>>a
>>>iBook?
>>
>>Using "Screen Spanning Doctor", you can enable iBook firmware support
>>for a higher resolution 2nd monitor and the 2nd monitor does not need to
>>mirror your iBook screen.
>>
>> http://www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/ibook_e.html
>>
>>I ran "Screen Spanning Doctor" this week on my 14" iBook G4/1GHz and
>>attached a samsung 18" LCD monitor and ran it as a 2nd monitor at a much
>>higher resolution.
>>
>>As for the Mac mini, this is from
>>http://www.apple.com/macmini/graphics.html
>>
>>"The Mac mini provides big screen resolutions whether you use a DVI or
>>VGA monitor. For digital connections, you can set your display up to a
>>widescreen resolution of 1920 by 1200. For VGA, see up to 1920 by 1080.
>>So you have more space to work and play."
>>
>> Bob Harris
>
>
>
Yeah - you don't need the patch for the high resolution - just for the
screen spanning. The full specs (including max dvi resolution) are
listed here:

http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html

Also - you can get a ps/2 to usb adapter for pretty cheap - but your
best "bang for the buck" is the USB Apple Keyboard. Mostly because it
has all the right keys (including the volume keys and cd eject key)
which is nice.

HTH
Anthony