Thread: Please Talk Me Into Using the Mac!

Well,I have yet to use any computer gps software,multiple monitors on my mac are a snap,plug it in,set its location in preferences and im done.Custom boot screen is possible in osx at the moment,im sure someone will figure out tiger when it comes out too.Check out resexcellence.com for os mods and such.Most important of all,windows is no fun

Sorry, when I say "extra monitors," what I mean is "cheap monitors" (like back-seat LCD screens for the kids). I know that I can use VGA splitters and hook up more VGA monitors, but I was hoping to use inexpensive LCD monitors with only RCA Video hookups. Although, maybe I can just get away with having a single overhead in the center... hmmm... that Xenarc overhead isn't that much more expensive, is it?

You can convert DVI to S-Video for $19. http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nMore=M9267G/A

You can split DVI with...are you ready....a DVI splitter. I found one for $24.95 here: DVI Splitter

The boot screen can be taken care of, I'm sure. I can't answer for GPS because you got me there.

Front ends will come along. MMC is supposed to be released for the Mac and others are at work as well. By the time you're up and running, these will be available.

I believe there is one report on this forum by someone who has run virtual pc with a GPS program and gotten it to work without it being too slow.

Plus, going with a CarMac is ground-breaking stuff!

Bugbyte, you're the man! I found the DVI to S-Video, but not the DVI splitter. I was just now working on a complex chain of adapters to get what I'm going for, but you might have saved the day...

edit: Wait a minute - are you sure that will split DVI? It looks like it's only for certain Matrox cards... maybe we can find out which splitters like this will work with the Mac Mini?

I guess I'll just have to jump in and prepare to wait for a good GPS system. For the time being I can always use my iQue.

Because of the "digital-ness" of DVI these splitters are a bit more complicated (read: expensive) than a regular "Y-cable" type deal.
The cheapest I found was at shopperwiz.com via froogle search for $121.00

I think it could be done cheaper though. The apple "dvi to svid/composite video adapter" is probably pretty simple. I imagine that it just grabs the video signals off of unused pins in the dvi port and it might short two other pins so the mac mini can "sense" that particular adapter is being used. You could figure this out with a meter if you had the adapter on hand and *possibly* grab those pins without obstructing the port (maybe from inside the mini).

Alternatively, and decidedly less involved and risky, would be to use the included adapter to get to a vga signal. Then using one of these (http://www.thenerds.net/productpage.asp?un=164214&s=1) to split the signal - one for the main high quality screen. And finally one of these (http://www.thenerds.net/productpage.asp?un=294481&s=1) to convert the remaining vga line to composite/svideo for your cheaper lcd monitor.

I hope this helps
walky_talky20

only downside to a mini is its not set up to run dual screens is it?

Originally Posted by spdfrek

only downside to a mini is its not set up to run dual screens is it?

Stereo sound only. No 5.1 channel audio.

And some have noticed brightness problems (dim output) when using *some* dvi-vga adapters with *some* monitors. Others have no problems. Not sure where this stands now.

Walky_Talky20:
That second product looks like a simple scan converter. If it is, don't they usually have a VGA pass-through for the main monitor? I'm thinking that may be the best way to go for me so far.