MacBook - as an External Screen

Neuvost · Neuvost #1 (**permalink**)

05-25-2008, 02:40 AM

Hello friends.

I'm about to finally purchase myself an Xbox 360. Trouble is, not only do I not have an HDTV, my TV is a decade old piece of crap that I can't afford to replace. I've got my nice little Macbook though, and it's screen that's about equivalent (at least in pixels) to a 720p set. What might I need to set up my Macbook as an external screen for an HDMI hookup? Specifically, what might I need that's cheep?

Thanks!

skaheadpunk · skaheadpunk #2 (**permalink**)

05-25-2008, 07:28 AM

I think my TV is more than a decade old and it doesn't bother me with my 360. I'd say a 13" screen would be a little small really.

Sorry, I know that doesn't answer your question.

D3v1L80Y · D3v1L80Y #3 (**permalink**)

05-25-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuvost

What might I need to set up my Macbook as an external screen for an HDMI hookup? Specifically, what might I need that's cheep?

Thanks!

Nothing... and certainly nothing 'cheap'. It's a notebook, not a monitor.
The cheapest thing to do is buy a small TV.

theonegod · theonegod #4 (**permalink**)

05-26-2008, 12:53 AM

You can not use your laptop as an external screen for another video source. Your video parts are out only. Not in.

Neuvost · Neuvost #5 (**permalink**)

05-26-2008, 02:14 AM

Oh. Whack. Thanks guys.

(That's silly.)

kgeier82 · kgeier82 #6 (**permalink**)

05-26-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuvost

Oh. Whack. Thanks guys.

(That's silly.)

how is it silly? its an output only setup. its not a tv

eric · eric #7 (**permalink**)

05-26-2008, 03:51 PM

it's not ideal, but you could work up something with an elgato eye tv. wouldn't be hdmi, but conceivably it should work.

kgeier82 · kgeier82 #8 (**permalink**)

05-26-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric

it's not ideal, but you could work up something with an elgato eye tv. wouldn't be hdmi, but conceivably it should work.

i thought about doing this a while back with a new PS3. I ended finding out that the usb eyetv creates all sorts of lag, which is no good for gaming.

i would just spend 200$ on a monitor, and call it a day. something with dvi/hdmi should be great.

Macintoshmad · Macintoshmad #9 (**permalink**)

05-27-2008, 05:44 AM

They do a thing called eye tv what is a usb adaptor, what lets you connect things to it, only thing is the MacBook will have to be running.

check this video out

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6FXqSz1IGjc

rich6490 · rich6490 #10 (**permalink**)

05-27-2008, 10:37 AM

Yea you could get a tv tuner and hook the xbox up through that, then go into the software and put it on channel 3 or 4 or whatever the input channel is. It in theory should work fine. Personally I would say save up for a flat panel lcd with hdmi, rgb, dvi, cable, and other inputs so you can use it for your macbook and xbox and tv, etc. Thats what I did.

mrplow · mrplow #11 (**permalink**)

05-27-2008, 01:22 PM

kgeier82 is right. TV cards aren't going to help they'll introduce a lag that's unacceptable for gaming.

eric · eric #12 (**permalink**)

05-27-2008, 02:40 PM

i wonder if that's changed...

i had an old dell xps d300 (that would be a PII 300mhz with maybe 512MB memory running win 98 at the time) that had a hauppage PCI tv tuner card.
i hooked my ps1 to it and was able to play granturismo through it pretty flawlessly, though the window was smallish, maybe 800x600 or 600x400, but part of that was probably due to the output of the ps1, there was really no need to have resolutions higher than standard tv definition.

eric #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	05-26-2008, 03:51 PM it's not ideal, but you could work up something with an elgato eye tv. wouldn't be hdmi, but conceivably it should work. Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
	QUOTE Thanks

Macintoshmad #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 30, 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 14 Mac Specs: 13'' MBP, Mac minis x3, Power Mac G4 (AGP), 13'' White MacBook, eMac	05-27-2008, 05:44 AM They do a thing called eye tv what is a usb adaptor, what lets you connect things to it, only thing is the MacBook will have to be running. check this video out http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6FXqSz1IGjc 13'' MacBook Pro 2.53Ghz, 8GB RAM / MacBook 13" 2.4ghz C2D / eMac 1.42Ghz / Power Mac G4 / 13'' / 22'' Samsung 226BW / 3x Mac minis C2D / Airport Extreme iPhone 3G 16GB / 50'' Samsung Plasma
	QUOTE Thanks

mrplow #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 01, 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,381 Mac Specs: 27" iMac i7 (2011), iPhone5, iPad3, AppleTV2	05-27-2008, 01:22 PM kgeier82 is right. TV cards aren't going to help they'll introduce a lag that's unacceptable for gaming. External hard disk acquisition addict - but admitting the problem is the first step to a robust backup Please use the reputation system if you think you've been helped - top right of this post
	QUOTE Thanks

eric #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	05-27-2008, 02:40 PM i wonder if that's changed... i had an old dell xps d300 (that would be a PII 300mhz with maybe 512MB memory running win 98 at the time) that had a hauppage PCI tv tuner card. i hooked my ps1 to it and was able to play granturismo through it pretty flawlessly, though the window was smallish, maybe 800x600 or 600x400, but part of that was probably due to the output of the ps1, there was really no need to have resolutions higher than standard tv definition. Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
	QUOTE Thanks

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Neuvost #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 25, 2008 Posts: 4	05-25-2008, 02:40 AM Hello friends. I'm about to finally purchase myself an Xbox 360. Trouble is, not only do I not have an HDTV, my TV is a decade old piece of crap that I can't afford to replace. I've got my nice little Macbook though, and it's screen that's about equivalent (at least in pixels) to a 720p set. What might I need to set up my Macbook as an external screen for an HDMI hookup? Specifically, what might I need that's cheep? Thanks!
	QUOTE Thanks

skaheadpunk #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 12, 2008 Location: Leicester, England Posts: 1,760 Mac Specs: MacBook, iPod Classic, 8GB 3G iPhone, Time Capsule	05-25-2008, 07:28 AM I think my TV is more than a decade old and it doesn't bother me with my 360. I'd say a 13" screen would be a little small really. Sorry, I know that doesn't answer your question.
	QUOTE Thanks

theonegod #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 476 Mac Specs: 24" 2.8ghz IMAC, MB Pro	05-26-2008, 12:53 AM You can not use your laptop as an external screen for another video source. Your video parts are out only. Not in.
	QUOTE Thanks

Neuvost #5 (permalink)
Member Since: May 25, 2008 Posts: 4	05-26-2008, 02:14 AM Oh. Whack. Thanks guys. (That's silly.)
	QUOTE Thanks

rich6490 #10 (permalink)
Member Since: May 27, 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 275 Mac Specs: MBP 2.5ghz, 4gb/r, 200g7.2krpm	05-27-2008, 10:37 AM Yea you could get a tv tuner and hook the xbox up through that, then go into the software and put it on channel 3 or 4 or whatever the input channel is. It in theory should work fine. Personally I would say save up for a flat panel lcd with hdmi, rgb, dvi, cable, and other inputs so you can use it for your macbook and xbox and tv, etc. Thats what I did.
	QUOTE Thanks

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