Macbook 5,2 video out to TV

I have a Macbook 5,2 (model A1181) with Intel core 2 Duo, Nvidia Geforce 9400M. I purchased an Apple mini-DVI (D-Shape) to video adapter. It does not work. And hey what do you know this is a know issue with this model of Crapintosh laptop! I returned the cable and got a refund.

Not to be defeated I came up with a cunning work around. If you must connect your laptop to a TV (composite) or old skool video projector (composite) -by composite I mean devices that have either S-Video or 3 phono (yellow – video, white and red – stereo audio). OK so if you’re still with me here we go.

Connections used to get TV signal out of Macbook

Connections used to get TV signal out of Macbook

1. Go to an apple store and buy the mini-DVI to VGA cable (£16).
This, on it’s own, will allow you to connect to other monitors and some projectors.

2. Go to Maplin (UK version of Radio Shack) and buy PCTOTV (made by kworld code KW-SA325) £39. This has all the cables you need to plug into the VGA end of the apple cable.

3. Plug it all in. Your Macbook ‘senses’ the Apple cable and switches resolution. You may have to go into the Displays preferences panel and tick the ‘mirror’ displays box, if you want to play out a DVD on a projector. With my TV this was not necessary.

4. Curse Apple for selling you a laptop with a graphics set-up that requires additional hardware.

5. Smile, as this cunning solution works.

I hope this is useful. Please let me know if you have any questions or other work arounds for this problem.