HOW TO HOOK UP YOUR PowerBook (17" or 15") MAC TO YOUR NEW FLATSCREEN TV

We just purchased a new flatscreen TV, and I wanted to get APPLE TV, but decided to wait. It seemed like a huge amount of money for yet another device, so I decided to see if there was a way to hook up my 17" PowerBook G4 to the new TV, so I could watch movies and TV shows I had downloaded on ITUNES. We purchased a Panasonic Viera, and even selected the model with the PC input connection (after being assured that the PC input would also work for a MAC) for that very reason. I tried to search online for what cable I would need to buy to connect the computer to the PC input on the TV, but was unsuccessful. After too much time spent researching online, I decided to head to Radio Shack, with my TV manual and my computer in hand.

Well, it turns out we didn't even need that extra pc input. The salesman at Radio Shack looked at my computer inputs and my manual, and said I needed a DVI to HDMI cable (see link below). The DVI portion plugs into my computer, and the HDMI portion plugs into the back of the TV. Because the DVI to HDMI only provides the video, I also needed another cable for the audio. The audio cable was called a Mini stereo Plug to a red & white (RCA) split audio cable (see link below). The same cable can also be used to plug an IPOD into a home theater system. I actually found the audio cable on the display with the IPOD accessories.

SUCCESS !

After plugging in the devices using the new cables, everything worked flawlessly. I was able to watch a TV show I had downloaded on ITUNES immediately.

ADAPTER NEEDED FOR OTHER MACS

I also have another MAC, a 12" MACBOOK, and the connection is different from my 17" PowerBook. Perhaps because of the smaller amount of space on the side of the 12", the port is smaller, and thus called a 'mini DVI'. You can still hook up your iMac (Intel Core Duo), MacBook, and 12-inch PowerBook, you just need an adapter that converts the Mini DVI port from the computer into the regular size DVI connection. Check the link below on Amazon for the correct adapter. There is a photo for a picture of what a Mini DVI input looks like, so you can make sure you are getting something that is compatible with your computer.