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Just picked up a Mac Mini and need a screen for it. The smaller PC monitors I've seem don't seem to have HDMI inputs and a shop assistant suggested using a TV - the TV option was also cheaper!
Should I go for a specific monitor or will a TV be as good?
Depends which Mini and what you want to achieve with the machine/screen?
When I picked up my 09 last year I ended up calling Apple to get the part codes of cable options. It's easy to spend £10-25 on the wrong cables/adapters and achieve nothing. I'd give them a call just to be sure. Or post your spec here and no doubt some Mac monkeys will be along to help ...
EDIT: I might have misinterpreted your question ... I'm using a VGA screen with mine and it works perfectly. I'd even say it's clearer than the 6870 powered HDMI screen on my PC. No idea what a TV will achieve.
I have a 2008 plugged into a standard Samsung TV, and another into a proper monitor. Both work fine.
If your minimac has a DVI output you will need a DVI to HDMI converter or lead and to run the sound separately into the TVs audio input which may require a jack to double phono lead as DVI does not include sound.
If it has an HDMI output there should be no problems at all other than getting the right display settings.
How long is a piece of string?
You've got far too many variables involved still to say one is going to be better than the other or not...
Many TV's though, like my 23" Samsung 2333SW are essentially the same screen as a monitor within their range, just with a few extra connections and freebies built in on top... Some Cheaper TV's are crap though also, but then again so are some cheaper computer monitors.
That still as clear as mud for you? 😉
On a slightly more helpful note, how do you intend to playback audio from the Mac Mini? If you want to play it back through the inbuilt speakers in a TV or monitor, you'll need to buy something with HDMI and speakers built in. If you're gonna play it back over external speakers, doesn't matter what connection your screen has.
Don't know your budget, but if you get a 23" screen of sorts, it's likely to be 1080HD, which I'd recommend, and if you go for a decent make like Samsung it's hard to buy a turkey. TV rather than monitor usually means just more connections, speakers built in, and higher price, though not always.
thanks for the advice so far. It's a current 2011 spec Mac Mini with a HDMI output so I'm just pondering which option is best. ATM a "branded" budget TV - Samsung, Toshiba etc is looking like the best option.
Current ones have a HDMI output, and have a HDMI to DVI adaptor in the box which should cover you for any vaguely recent LCD monitor unless it's a super-budget one with VGA input only. A quick look on ebuyer shows loads from £70 up that have DVI or HDMI.
Plenty of monitors these days have HDMI in - if they have built-in speakers then they should work over that too. As said, there are lots of TVs around that size anyway, so if a tuner and/or analogue inputs might come in handy then a TV makes sense.
Some TVs are crap for displaying text on. It sometimes looks a bit pixelated or blurry which makes it hard to read. I had a monitor that was meant to double up as a tv and that was also really bad for text. So I would say get a monitor if you want to read text on it, or at least test it out beforehand. If you're only really using it to watch stuff then you'll get away with a telly.
We use one of our minimacs in a kitchen, and the tv spends half it's time as a monitor, and half it's time as a tv. With a wireless mouse and keyboard this works very well as a multi-media system.
just picked up a 19inch Novatech monitor - looked pretty good in the shop so we'll see how that works out
I've got one of the new mini macs connected via the hdmi to a 42" plasma. Works a treat!
I can't believe nobody has suggested the obvious solution:
[url= http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC914B/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ ]http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC914B/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ[/url]
Back in the real world, I picked up one of these last week:
[url= http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-s22a350h-22-full-hd-led-backlit-monitor-10452200-pdt.html ]http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-s22a350h-22-full-hd-led-backlit-monitor-10452200-pdt.html[/url]
which I plug into my (Thunderbolt-equipped) MacBook Air using one of these:
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004M1PI6E ]http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004M1PI6E[/url]
No sound though, but it's just an interim solution until next year's bonus buys me the aforementioned Thunderbolt Display.
