Macbook display is displaced on monitor

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if you could help me. I've recently bought a Samsung monitor, however currently everything is seen as displaced to the right and top of the screen. Here is a pic so you can see it, look carefull.y



I was wondering that, because on the samsung monitor the only control is the power button, if there was any other way or program that can help me to shift the image which is shown on the monitor so that it is shown correctly

Thanks

Jake

Try adjusting the monitor resolution via the Mac's "System Preferences > Display's".

Adjust to the monitors "Native" resolution.

HTH,

- Nick

By Native resolution do you mean the resolution that the external monitor is supposed to be at? 1366 768 is what is says on the box, but my mac is giving me the following options:

1360 x 768 (which is what i have it on now and it looks displaced)
1280 x 720
1024 x 768
... etc

jake28 said:

By Native resolution do you mean the resolution that the external monitor is supposed to be at? 1366 768 is what is says on the box, but my mac is giving me the following options:

1360 x 768 (which is what i have it on now and it looks displaced)
1280 x 720
1024 x 768
... etc

Click to expand...

Yes.

A Native resolution of 1366 x 768 is sort of a "strange" number. Please post the model number of the display (and size) 19", 22", etc.

Thanks,

- Nick

Hi,

The model is S19A10N
Size: 18.5 inches

I've checked and it definitely is 1366

jake28 said:

Hi,

The model is S19A10N
Size: 18.5 inches

I've checked and it definitely is 1366

Click to expand...

Yes...it does appear that 1366 x 768 is this monitors Native resolution. As I mentioned...this is an unusual native resolution...AND 18.5" is an unusual size display (usually they're a full 19").

Here on Mac-Forums...Samsung monitors tend to get the most negative feedback of all monitor brands (for various reasons). I'll have to add this Samsung "quirk" (monitor size & resolution) to the list of reasons.

I'm not sure what to recommend...other than return the monitor. You could continue to use it at a non-native resolution...but then the text & images will not look as sharp as they should. Or you could keep using it with part of the desktop running off the edge of the screen.

Personally I would return the monitor...and purchase one that had a native resolution that the Macintosh supports. For example...here's a Samsung 18.5" monitor with a native resolution of 1360 x 768 (a supported resolution):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001382

...not sure if it (or something like it) is available in the UK.

HTH,

- Nick

1360x768 shouldn't look terrible (it's only six pixels off) but it is still incorrect and odd as pigoo3 noted. That said, from the picture you've provided, it looks like the picture is simply offset (and thus not specifically a resolution problem). At least that's how it looks from where I'm sitting.

Here's the user guide (I'm sure you have one though) which notes that there is an "auto adjustment" button (page 3-2). Have you tried doing as it notes by holding down that button for at least five seconds (and then releasing it)?

vansmith said:

That said, from the picture you've provided, it looks like the picture is simply offset (and thus not specifically a resolution problem). At least that's how it looks from where I'm sitting.

Click to expand...

Yeah...if the desktop is offset to the right...then an easy fix to shift it to the left (via the monitors onscreen setup controls).

I know that many Samsung monitors have a wide black bezel...it was hard for me to see in the photo where the black bezel ended & the display area started to tell if the desktop was shifted (maybe my monitor is not bright enough).

- Nick

Yeah, it's hard to tell if the problem is simply because of an offset picture or if the problem is caused by the small difference in resolution. My eyes aren't that good! Haha.

vansmith said:

Yeah, it's hard to tell if the problem is simply because of an offset picture or if the problem is caused by the small difference in resolution. My eyes aren't that good! Haha.

Click to expand...

I "blew" the photo up to it's full size...and it does look like the desktop is shifted to the right (I can see a dark gap between the display bezel & the left edge of the desktop). Looks like the top of the desktop is cut-off slightly as well (shifted up).

- Nick

Hi,

Thanks for the advice! I held down the power button for more than 5 secs and it auto adjusted itself and is now perfect!! I thought that the power button had only one function.

Thanks again,

jaKE

jake28 said:

Hi,

Thanks for the advice! I held down the power button for more than 5 secs and it auto adjusted itself and is now perfect!! I thought that the power button had only one function.

Click to expand...

Ahh...you "stink" Jake!!! You're supposed to read your manual/user guide before posting questions!!!

Just teasing! Glad you found a fix!

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

I "blew" the photo up to it's full size...and it does look like the desktop is shifted to the right (I can see a dark gap between the display bezel & the left edge of the desktop). Looks like the top of the desktop is cut-off slightly as well (shifted up).

- Nick

Click to expand...

Yeah, thats what it looked like here. I figured that such a shift wouldn't be a resolution problem. I've seen this problem happen before with resolution changes as well. I was playing a game once and the resolution was changed when the game loaded. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why I was missing part of the game. It turns out that the change in resolution had also shift the picture on the screen. A quick push of the adjust button and all was well.

Glad to hear you got it all worked out.