External Monitor for MBPro 2010 13" (7,1) Advice and Info, Please

[rsmmac]

Long story short - 2010 iMac 20" hard drive died last week, the cost to get new drive installed was absurd. There wasn't warning, it was a bit slow for a couple of hours, I thought it was internet speed.

I'm using my MBP which has to become main computer, I need to add external monitor, this screen is small for all day use! I think I want 22 (or 24) inch, no bigger than that. Cost is a factor - I want to upgrade RAM from 4gb, and may need to get bigger (this is 250gb) hard drive. I want a little future proofing, in case anything happens to this MPB.

I've been reading and researching...

I understand I'd need a mini display port out adapter/cable. I think I understand that based on what the monitor has, I can use DVI, VGA or HDMI. I'm trying (HA!) to ignore bells and whistles such as webcam (I can buy separate one), USB ports (I can buy hub), ability to more than tilt (iMac couldn't, it was on a stand). I'm happy with the speakers I have, I have my old keyboard and mouse plugged in.

(For some reason, I think Viewsonic or Dell might be best options, maybe, but I don't know why I think that!)

It is mostly documents, spreadsheets, web work, email, photo editing, internet surfing, etc. OS is 10.9.5, can't upgrade because I need iWeb to work on friend's site.

I went to a Big Box store, and sales guy said few if any monitors are compatible with Apple computers. That HDMI won't work, because all now are HDMI 1.4, and it's not backwards compatible, and I must use VGA. And that an adapter must be used, it can't be port to port via cable.

I ended up here, knowing he has to be wrong.

Can I use mini display port to display port, if monitor has it? (Or mini to mini?) Can it be port to port via cable? Should I stay away from TN, and go with IPS? Does it really matter if 16:10 or 16:9? (Does any of this matter?)

Any advice or recommendations or suggestions? Or, even more, anything to stay away from? If I narrow it down, is it okay to link to them, here?

I very, very, gratefully appreciate anything you can share. Thank you!! Thank you!!

 

[pm-r]

I went to a Big Box store, and sales guy said few if any monitors are compatible with Apple computers.

First thing, avoid that salesperson and find a store with a salesperson that knows what they're talking about with some accuracy.

Or even, do some online shopping comparison and research.






- Patrick
======

 

[Slydude]

The guy at the big box store either
a. Doesn't know what he is talking about
b. Hasn't followed Macs for a very long time.
c. Was hoping to sell you something you did not need.

Also, you are not limited to VGA monitors. I'm currently using a Samsung monitor (almost 10 years old) connected to a Mac via an HDMI cable and it works quite well. I've had that monitor in use with two different Macs going back to 2008 (DVI and VGA). In that time I've connected the same monitor via VGA, DVI, and HDMI with the appropriate adapter. The current connection on the 2015 Mac is by HDMI. I currently use a miniDisplayport to HDMI connector.

If the monitor is for general purpose use most monitors should work without issue. Others can probably suggest specific monitors. I haven't followed that market much but I think you would want IPS for that. BTW One day, in real bind, I connected the 2015 iMac to a 23 or 24" TV via a miniDisplayPort/Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter and HDMI cable.

 

[pigoo3]

I went to a Big Box store, and sales guy said few if any monitors are compatible with Apple computers. That HDMI won't work, because all now are HDMI 1.4, and it's not backwards compatible, and I must use VGA. And that an adapter must be used, it can't be port to port via cable.

If this is what this salesperson told you...this has got to be one of the most inaccurate statements I've heard in a long time. If the manager of this store heard this person say this...this employee should be immediately reassigned to cleaning the bathrooms & vacuuming the floor...and if this employee wishes to return to interacting with customers...they should be send to some sort of remedial training course.

And secondly...maybe the manager of the store should also be demoted to cleaning the bathrooms & vacuuming the floor and sent to retraining...for not properly insuring that the store salesperson's are properly skilled & trained to deal with customers!!!

As far as a monitor for your MBP. Almost any current monitor being sold today will work. You should first decide on your maximum budget...and what size monitor you would like. Depending on exactly what video ports the monitor has (and video cable)...you may need an adapter to plug it into your MBP. One thing I would advise...DO NOT get any monitor that only has a single VGA video port. You DON'T want this...and very very likely you won't run into any modern monitors with only ONLY a VGA port (it may have at least two video ports)...and one of them may be VGA and the other HDMI, DVI, mini-displayport, etc.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[rsmmac]

First thing, avoid that salesperson and find a store with a salesperson that knows what they're talking about with some accuracy.

Or even, do some online shopping comparison and research.

- Patrick
======

I agree, though we're sort of limited here, with store options. The one I went to (whose initials begin with BB) is pretty much it in terms of electronics "specialists".

I've been researching and comparing online, and thought seeing some in person might help. I'll go back to that, it was so much better than that store!

 

[rsmmac]

The guy at the big box store either
a. Doesn't know what he is talking about
b. Hasn't followed Macs for a very long time.
c. Was hoping to sell you something you did not need.

Also, you are not limited to VGA monitors. I'm currently using a Samsung monitor (almost 10 years old) connected to a Mac via an HDMI cable and it works quite well. I've had that monitor in use with two different Macs going back to 2008 (DVI and VGA). In that time I've connected the same monitor via VGA, DVI, and HDMI with the appropriate adapter. The current connection on the 2015 Mac is by HDMI. I currently use a miniDisplayport to HDMI connector.

If the monitor is for general purpose use most monitors should work without issue. Others can probably suggest specific monitors. I haven't followed that market much but I think you would want IPS for that. BTW One day, in real bind, I connected the 2015 iMac to a 23 or 24" TV via a miniDisplayPort/Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter and HDMI cable.

I think it was a, b, AND c.

Thank you for the info and suggestions!

 

[rsmmac]

If this is what this salesperson told you...this has got to be one of the most inaccurate statements I've heard in a long time. If the manager of this store heard this person say this...this employee should be immediately reassigned to cleaning the bathrooms & vacuuming the floor...and if this employee wishes to return to interacting with customers...they should be send to some sort of remedial training course.

And secondly...maybe the manager of the store should also be demoted to cleaning the bathrooms & vacuuming the floor and sent to retraining...for not properly insuring that the store salesperson's are properly skilled & trained to deal with customers!!!

As far as a monitor for your MBP. Almost any current monitor being sold today will work. You should first decide on your maximum budget...and what size monitor you would like. Depending on exactly what video ports the monitor has (and video cable)...you may need an adapter to plug it into your MBP. One thing I would advise...DO NOT get any monitor that only has a single VGA video port. You DON'T want this...and very very likely you won't run into any modern monitors with only ONLY a VGA port (it may have at least two video ports)...and one of them may be VGA and the other HDMI, DVI, mini-displayport, etc.

HTH,

- Nick

It does help, thank you! I was on the right track with what I thought I had learned from online research, which is comforting. It was what the sales guy said that had me spinning; though I found this site, so in the long run maybe it was good I went in there! Thank you!

 

[Slydude]

If you don't have a lot of options locally, and there are many of us in a similar boat, take a look at some of the online vendors or Amazon.com. Since the monitor does not need to be Mac specific that will give you many options so you're down to price and which options you need.

I would suggest making sure that you find out the vendor's return policy just in cast you get a monitor you do not like.

 

[pm-r]

If you don't have a lot of options locally, and there are many of us in a similar boat

And one can always go another day and/or talk to a more knowledgable salesperson who would be working that day .

(And maybe mention the lack of knowledge the previous person had.)






- Patrick
======

 

[rsmmac]

If you don't have a lot of options locally, and there are many of us in a similar boat, take a look at some of the online vendors or Amazon.com. Since the monitor does not need to be Mac specific that will give you many options so you're down to price and which options you need.

I would suggest making sure that you find out the vendor's return policy just in cast you get a monitor you do not like.

Thank you! I had been checking Amazon, etc. originally and will stick to that and purchase that way.