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?

Fruns Dimerik 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?
>
>
From the web site:

DVI video output for digital resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels;
supports 20-inch Apple Cinema display and 23-inch Apple Cinema HD
display; supports coherent digital displays up to 154MHz; supports
non-coherent digital displays up to 135MHz
VGA video output (using included adapter) to support analog resolutions
up to 1920 x 1080 pixels
S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or
projector (requires Apple DVI to Video Adapter, sold separately)

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

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

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

"Fruns Dimerik" <bosschurch@planet.nl> writes:
>
> 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.

Sounds like fun. Go for it.

> 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.

Correct. The mini comes with a DVI-I connector. It can drive a DVI-D
monitor if you have the appropriate cable. It comes with an adapter to
drive an analog monitor using a VGA-style connector. You can buy an
optional adapter to get composite and S-video output.

> 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.

Fortunately, the mini (and all modern Macs) can use any USB keyboard
and mouse you like.

And if you want to share everything (perhaps with a KVM switch), most
USB keyboards will work with modern PCs. Windows XP has built-in
support for USB keyboards, and the ROM setup software of most recent
systems (possibly including your Dell) will too, eliminating the need
for a PS/2-style keyboard.

> 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?

The mini should be able to drive your monitor to any resolution it
supports. Your iBook is limited by the fact that Apple only supports
its external video as a mirror of the internal display (whis tops out
at 1024x768). A mini has no such restriction (and with a software
hack, neither does your iBook.)

-- David

On 2/1/05 4:56 PM, in article m2r7k00wsb.fsf@qqqq.invalid, "David C."
<shamino@techie.com> wrote:

> "Fruns Dimerik" <bosschurch@planet.nl> writes:
>>
>> 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.
>
> Fortunately, the mini (and all modern Macs) can use any USB keyboard
> and mouse you like.

I don't think the PC keyboards include keys like the volume controls or CD
eject button normally found on an Apple keyboard. If you decide to buy a
new keyboard I think the Bluetooth wireless keyboard would be a smart choice
for the Mini--you could hide all the cables and the computer out of sight.

- Mike

"M. Pender" <mpender********.com> writes:
>
> I don't think the PC keyboards include keys like the volume controls
> or CD eject button normally found on an Apple keyboard. If you decide
> to buy a new keyboard I think the Bluetooth wireless keyboard would be
> a smart choice for the Mini--you could hide all the cables and the
> computer out of sight.

F12 will work as an eject button for keyboards that don't have one.

As for the volume controls, you can use the menu-bar control if the
keys aren't on the keyboard.

The Apple Bluetooth keyboard is nice, but telling someone looking for a
cheap computer that he has to mail-order his mini with the BT interface
and keyboard in order to have a usable system is telling someone to
spend money that he doesn't have to spend.

-- David

On 2/13/05 8:48 PM, in article m2hdkfkj28.fsf@qqqq.invalid, "David C."
<shamino@techie.com> wrote:

> "M. Pender" <mpender********.com> writes:
>>
>> I don't think the PC keyboards include keys like the volume controls
>> or CD eject button normally found on an Apple keyboard. If you decide
>> to buy a new keyboard I think the Bluetooth wireless keyboard would be
>> a smart choice for the Mini--you could hide all the cables and the
>> computer out of sight.
>
> F12 will work as an eject button for keyboards that don't have one.
>
> As for the volume controls, you can use the menu-bar control if the
> keys aren't on the keyboard.
>
> The Apple Bluetooth keyboard is nice, but telling someone looking for a
> cheap computer that he has to mail-order his mini with the BT interface
> and keyboard in order to have a usable system is telling someone to
> spend money that he doesn't have to spend.
>
> -- David

Nice to know about the other keys, but I think you may be assuming too much
about the person buying the Mini and the cost of a Bluetooth adapter,
keyboard and mouse.

I thought about buying one to use with an HDTV. Its small and can hide out
of the way and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse would be ideal for use more
than 6' from the television screen. I was considering the D-Link USB
adapter ($30) with the Apple keyboard ($57) and a Kensington mouse ($50).
If you have to buy them anyway, you might as well get one you like.

People buy computers for at least as many different reasons as there are
computers.

- Mike