Andrew Pratt

Sorry brain fart on my part...mini DVI is what you need.

__________________
His: 13" MacBook Pro 2.3GHz i5, 16 GB Ram, dual 1TB drives in RAID 0 & iPhone5
Hers: 13" MacBook Pro 2.3GHz i5, 8GB Ram & iPhone5
Family: iMac 20", iPad2, AppleTV3, Airport Extreme & Express

pm-r

Just to add to all the confusing DVI and terminology of the various and appropriate required adapters, I recall a neighbour a few years ago got a high-end monitor to use with his MBPro and used the Apple supplied DVI adapter with horrible results. And as I recall it had something to do with the DVI adapter not having the full number of connections needed to drive the monitor correctly or something.

I think my daughter may be having a similar problem with her ViewSonic VX2235wm connected to her MB, and even though it's set to the default resolution, everything is fuzzy and out of focus, but we'll try setting the monitors settings when I see her again in a week.

krs

I decided a while back to no longer use adapters at all.
The extra two connectors are just two more potential trouble spots in the cable that I can do without.

I used to use a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter and then a DVI cable to connect one of my Minis,
But I had to prop theend of the adapter with the large DVI connector up so the adapter wouldn't loose the connection at the Mini-DVI port.

Instead of an adapter, I think the best way is to get a single cable with the appropriate connectors on each end.
For the scenario in this thread a Mini-DVI to DVI cable 3 to 6 ft long would be the right one (assuming the monitor has a regular DVI port, not a MIni-DVI port.
When I was googling to a cable like that I camer across an old thread on ehMac where I was looking for exactly that
Mini-DVI male to DVI male cable - 3 or 6ft long?

I received the cable but forgot to post a review or comments about it.
Well, there is really nothing to review - build quality was excellent, the white colour matches the Mini nicely, connectors fit nice and tight and I have been using it for two years it seems looking at the date of that thread and there is no problem - it just works like it should.

As far as I know, te cabling berween a Mini-DVI port and a DVI port is just wire, no signal conversion required.
The difference between Mini-DVI and DVI other than size is that Mini-DVI does not supprt dual link - thus the resolution limit I mentioned earlier.

pm-r

An excellent suggestion and method to use, but.... sometimes there's a gotcha, like when one purchases a monitor and its video cable and whatever its moulded connection is on the end is also hardwired into the monitor.

krs

I did avoid those in the past
But I think the monitors where the video cable is permanently attached are the really cheap and small ones - I haven't come across one of those for years.

ldphoto

Absolutely agree. And with the new Retina MacBook Pros faster than any Mac Pro under ~3500$, it makes little sense to get a desktop anymore, even if buying new. I got the retina and I'm not regretting selling my 2008 8-core Mac Pro at all. I use an NEC 25.5" monitor and it works like a charm.

VNJ85

I currently use a 17" MBP and have an external monitor (21") in use.

I need lots of screen real estate space…

__________________
‎"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you can't be sure they're genuine." - Abraham Lincoln

DEWLine

I know that feeling too well.

__________________
Yours,
Dwight

Biti

I agree. I'm heading toward the idea of a Retina MacBook Pro with an external monitor.

__________________
17" MacBook Pro • iPhone 5

DEWLine

Not sure that I need/want the Retina option just yet. Still getting comfy with earlier models of MBP, although the external monitor's coming in handy again to extend the usable lifetime of the MBP's onboard monitor (among other good things).

__________________
Yours,
Dwight