Mac Monitor

[Cody0103]

Im buying a mac book soon and i was wondering if it is possible to plug a mac Monitor into the macbook. Im not even sure if Mac makes just monitors alone with no built in computer, if so i could just get a different monitor. Any ways, can this be done?

 

[lumstar]

Mac makes monitors yes. Mac uses display port as their interface ofr monitors on their laptops, I assume they use DVI on mac pros but I'm not 100% on that one. Basically, you can use a mac screen with a pc or a normal monitor with a mac but you may need a converter cable depending on the monitor and the mac you choose. Sorry if that gave you more questions than answers.

 

[Cody0103]

Haha. well you answerd a couple and created a couple. Ill just run down to the mac store and ask. I didnt want to go in sounding clueless. even though i kinda am. thanks for the help too

 

[dgatwood]

If you're buying a MacBook for recording purposes, I'd strongly suggest either the MacBook Pro or the white MacBook. The unibody (metal) MacBook (non-Pro) does not have FireWire, and I'm not particularly thrilled about USB-based audio interfaces.... If you're not buying it for recording, then feel free to disregard.

 

[Cody0103]

Yea im not a fan of usb recording either. im geting the white macbook, not the white macbook pro. im on a budget sorta. (im getting it for recording). and when i went down to the apple store i noticed that it did have a firewire port.

 

[KineticSound]

Yep. Just need one of these:

Mac Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter

FWIW, The Apple displays are quite expensive. You get what you pay for (they're amazing), but they're expensive nonetheless. One of my Mac's has a Dell 20" Widescreen LCD that attaches just fine & was completely plug-n-play for less than half the price of an Apple Cinema Display.

 

[Adam P]

If you're on a budget I'd definitely look elsewhere than Apple for a monitor. They're pretty nice, but you don't need out of this world graphic response to use a DAW. I'd look at a Samsung LCD or something along those lines. If you have or are getting the white Macbook, you'll need a Mini-DVI to DVI or a Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, depending on the input of the monitor.

 

[Cody0103]

Thanks for the help..on the subject, i noticed the white mace book on the apple site says USB 2.0, but i could swear when i went into the store to look at it there was a firewire port. Im not a computer wiz, so for all i know USB 2.0 and fire wire are the same thing haha.

 

[KineticSound]

Thanks for the help..on the subject, i noticed the white mace book on the apple site says USB 2.0, but i could swear when i went into the store to look at it there was a firewire port. Im not a computer wiz, so for all i know USB 2.0 and fire wire are the same thing haha.

White MacBook: Both FireWire and USB
Aluminum MacBook: Only USB

 

[dgatwood]

If you're on a budget I'd definitely look elsewhere than Apple for a monitor. They're pretty nice, but you don't need out of this world graphic response to use a DAW. I'd look at a Samsung LCD or something along those lines. If you have or are getting the white Macbook, you'll need a Mini-DVI to DVI or a Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, depending on the input of the monitor.

Seconded. Samsung makes great panels in reasonable sizes at great prices. I bought one a few months ago and liked it so much that I bought one of their LCD TVs. I'm actually a little ashamed to keep the Samsung panel locked up in a closet. Maybe I'll move one of my old 13" panels back there and move the Samsung to the studio one of these days....

 

[dgatwood]

Thanks for the help..on the subject, i noticed the white mace book on the apple site says USB 2.0, but i could swear when i went into the store to look at it there was a firewire port. Im not a computer wiz, so for all i know USB 2.0 and fire wire are the same thing haha.

White MacBook specs:

http://www.apple.com/macbook/white/specs.html

Yes, it has FireWire. You're probably seeing the specs on the Aluminum version.