RogerS
Established Member
I see some tablets featuring an HDMI connector. Is this HDMI out or in? Or both? I'm looking for a cheap HDMI display that I can plug into a Mac Mini.
TIA
TIA
Tablets as an HDMI display
- Thread starter RogerS
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dm65
Established Member
I would expect this to be out as usual
Which tablets are you referring to ?
Which tablets are you referring to ?
RogerS
Established Member
None in particular. I have been thinking of setting up an old Mac as an iTunes store for all my CDs and so be able to access them from the workshop via the iPod Touch. I have an old G4 and although perfectly capable of doing the job, it IS a bit noisy to have on all the time in my study plus it is a bit of a power hungry beast. So I was toying with the idea of a Mac Mini but that needs a display. I can't use the display that comes with the G4 as I'd have to buy a load of adapters etc and could easily spend £100+ and so I thought maybe a cheap tablet would work (plus give me an operational tablet to boot).
Hence the question. I believe that you can use some software (VNC?) to get a tablet to work as a second display but I need the first!
I have had a thought since posting and that is to simply buy an oldish Apple MacBook and use that.
Hence the question. I believe that you can use some software (VNC?) to get a tablet to work as a second display but I need the first!
I have had a thought since posting and that is to simply buy an oldish Apple MacBook and use that.
cambournepete
Established Member
Check the specs, but I'd expect them to be just HDMI out, so you can connect an external display to them.
Small HMI tvs aren't expensive though...
Small HMI tvs aren't expensive though...
petermillard
Established Member
If you have another Mac, then could you just use 'screen sharinig' to set up the Mini as an iTunes server? If you absolutely had to have another screen on it, then Air Display is a handy app that makes a second display out of e.g. the iPad you haven't bought yet - again, you could use screen sharing to set it up.
Edited to add - can't remember if new Macs have sharing enabled by fault - probably not, in which case you'd still need to hook the Mini up to a monitor I order to see what you're doing...
That said, the old MacBook idea is pretty sound; I sold a 2006-vintage shiny white MacBook with a knackered battery but otherwise in sound condition for £120 recently, that would have made an ideal self-contained iTunes server - I would have kept it as one, but I already have an old iMac in that role...
Otherwise, a cheap used HDMI monitor off eBay?
HTH Pete
Edited to add - can't remember if new Macs have sharing enabled by fault - probably not, in which case you'd still need to hook the Mini up to a monitor I order to see what you're doing...
That said, the old MacBook idea is pretty sound; I sold a 2006-vintage shiny white MacBook with a knackered battery but otherwise in sound condition for £120 recently, that would have made an ideal self-contained iTunes server - I would have kept it as one, but I already have an old iMac in that role...
Otherwise, a cheap used HDMI monitor off eBay?
HTH Pete
dm65
Established Member
I don't do Apple, i'm a Windows man myself, and my servers in my loft are 'headless' - ie no monitor, keyboard or mouse and use remote desktop to administer them
Gives me full access to the computer, without the noise or hassle of going to stand in front of them
Remote desktop is built into Windows - do macs have anything like that ? If so, get your mini mac if it can act as a file or server
If not, there are so many alternatives on the web - teamviewer, logmein, freevnc to name just 3 - another advantage of remote desktop is that it is behind your firewall and therefore not exposed in any way to all those menaces on the web
Gives me full access to the computer, without the noise or hassle of going to stand in front of them
Remote desktop is built into Windows - do macs have anything like that ? If so, get your mini mac if it can act as a file or server
If not, there are so many alternatives on the web - teamviewer, logmein, freevnc to name just 3 - another advantage of remote desktop is that it is behind your firewall and therefore not exposed in any way to all those menaces on the web
petermillard
Established Member
Yep, they call it 'screen sharing' (see my post above) 'cos 'remote desktop' was just too geeky, lol!dm65":1lpyrn9h said:
I know a few guys who run Mac Minis as headless servers without any problems - just the initial setup that I think may need a monitor connected...Pete
nev
Established Member
RogerS
Established Member
Catch 22, nev. You'd need a screen connected to the Mac Mini in order to get that all set up!
Going off the idea of a Mac Mini.
Going off the idea of a Mac Mini.
nev
Established Member
RogerS
Established Member
Always forget Gumtree....so thanks for the suggestion....Catch33 ...Mac Mini's have HDMI out ...maybe DVI not sure.
Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter, £16, plus any old VGA monitor (like those in the gumtree link).
RogerS
Established Member
nanscombe":25mwdv1k said:
Sadly the Mac Mini doesn't support DVI but this will work - Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adaptor - so many thanks for the suggestion. Shame I dumped my old monitor a few months back
Sorry, I should have said mini display port.
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adaptor £21.
Don't forget, some televisions have VGA or HDMI input.
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adaptor £21.
Don't forget, some televisions have VGA or HDMI input.
