Wide screen monitor is great

[Cadenza]

Originally Posted by rhertz

Cadenza, here is a brief low down on video ports: (from worst to best)

TV's:
Composite Video - RCA jack - 2 conductors - worst choice
S-Video - mini-din jack - 5 conductors - separates color signals on same cable
Component video - RCA or BNC jacks - Separate cables for each color signal

Computers:
SVGA – D connector – the old style common monitor connector (analog)
Mac Video – various proprietary connectors but basically the same (analog)

Now comes the convergence of TV’s and Computer Interfacing:
DVI - Digital Video Interface – Video only used by computers and TV’s
HDMI – Same as DVI plus more signals for things like audio and remote control. Used mainly on new TV’s.

What cable is used with HDMI? Does the computer have to have something different from DVI to use that?

[joepole]

DVI and HDMI are electrically identical, so adapter cables are easy and cheap to make. An HDMI cable is nothing more than a digital DVI cable with a differently-shaped connector and extra pins for audio.

[rhertz]

yeah what joepole said. I just buy the DVI or HDMI cable at Best Buy or Circuit City, but you can save by ordering online. The cables and adapters cost more than they should. (as much as my DVI graphics card, LOL)

[joepole]

It you buy cables at a retail store you are a sucker. Doubly so if you buy ones with the word "Monster" anywhere on them.

[Isaac-Saxxon]

I don't know how old your are but there was a day not that long ago that
a 286 XT with a 10 meg hard drive was a real good thing. High speed has
made us into spoiled children. Rhertz must be a very young person but I
can tell you are on the cutting edge of computer age. My children have long
passed me on computers with there young minds and the fact they where
raised with a key board in there hand has been good for there education
and mine too.

[Mudbug]

welcome to the widescreen world.

I've got a pair of 20" widescreen Dell 2005fpw displays on my PowerMac and I won't give them up for anything... except maybe two 30" displays. Once you go dual and get used to it, nothing less will do. Regardless, I'm sure you'll find that the extra screen space is really handy, and almost necessary at times. You'll wonder how you lived without it before.

[Rough Rider]

Originally Posted by Mudbug

I'm sure you'll find that the extra screen space is really handy, and almost necessary at times. You'll wonder how you lived without it before.

LOL like I used to get by without a hard drive back in the day or how I used to get by without m TIVO.

"Back when I was a kid, we didn't need no stinkin' hard drive.. and we liked it !"

[Cadenza]

Originally Posted by joepole

DVI and HDMI are electrically identical, so adapter cables are easy and cheap to make. An HDMI cable is nothing more than a digital DVI cable with a differently-shaped connector and extra pins for audio.

I have few problems using technology once it is set up. But I have been struggling with getting the right equipment and connections now for three months. I finally have a new TV at work that has an S-Video port. I now have a fair (thought I'd like clearer) picture from the computer to the TV. But I don't like having to read a book to be able to work a TV...it is ridiculously complicated to me to have to program one's television. Also, I still don't have the right audio cord...have finally managed to get audio out of the tv, but it is very weak on some things, like the videos I have downloaded from iTunes...lower quality and not much more volume than the computer itself. The ones I make myself with Quicktime are much better. I've thought of just getting some speakers to hook up to the laptop. Since I teach music, the audio is especially important to me. Also, now I realize that most of my software won't work on my new Intel Mac, so I either need an Aver-Key to use the old G3 or update or get new software. As Roseann Roseanna Danna (sp) used to say, "It's always something!"

[joepole]

S-video is worthless for carrying a cmputer signal, you need something that can support better than standard TV resolution (480 vertical lines). VGA od DVI/HDMI would be acceptable.

[Cadenza]

Originally Posted by joepole

S-video is worthless for carrying a cmputer signal, you need something that can support better than standard TV resolution (480 vertical lines). VGA od DVI/HDMI would be acceptable.

I thought VGA was for projectors. But what do I know? Not much. Can you tell me exactly what cord to buy? Maybe give me a link? Thanks.

[joepole]

Depends on what inputs the monitor accepts and what inputs the computer has out.

Best would be DVI at both ends. Simply buy a DVI cable. Should be about $20 online or $150 in a Best Buy-ish store.

Second best would be HDMI in on the monitor and DVI out on the PC. DVI and HDMI are the same thing video-wise, but the cable will be more expensive.

Third best would be VGA.

[rhertz]

Originally Posted by Cadenza

I thought VGA was for projectors. But what do I know? Not much. Can you tell me exactly what cord to buy? Maybe give me a link? Thanks.

LOL, Cadenza, you are a Mac person so you are forgiven. VGA/SVGA were "PC" standards for many many years. now DVI is gaining ground.

As for a cord to buy, TV's normally have svideo but not SVGA. "Monitors" and projectors have SVGA. TV's typically aren't good as computer monitors, but DVI/HDMI is changing all that. From now on, everything I buy must have DVI or HDMI. (computer or TV) but your svideo connection might be as good as it gets if you must connect a tv to a computer. Projectors are much better for classroom work.