Windows and Apple compatibility

InsideInsurance

Emily_N wrote: »

Would you mind showing me a link to a converter please so that I can judge cost?
Would it be guaranteed to work then? Would hate to pay for one and then find it's not possible.

http://www.belkin.com/sg/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=515813

Belkin do one which would work as long as your laptop had a DVI-D or DVI-I port (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface). It wouldnt work with a VGA or DVI-A

There are undoubtably others but Belkin is a mainstream brand and so I would have more confidence of it working than some unbranded box

bod1467

You can also get DisplayPort-HDMI converters/adaptors too.

My previous work (Dell) laptop had a DisplayPort connector on it, so I used such an adaptor (bought from Amazon) to connect it to the TV when required. My new work (Dell) laptop has DisplayPort and HDMI connectors so I don't need to use the adaptor now.

Emily_N

InsideInsurance wrote: »

w w w.belkin.com/sg/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=515813

Belkin do one which would work as long as your laptop had a DVI-D or DVI-I port (see . wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface). It wouldnt work with a VGA or DVI-A

There are undoubtably others but Belkin is a mainstream brand and so I would have more confidence of it working than some unbranded box

Ok, I know for sure the laptop has hdmi socket so he'd just connect an hdmi lead to the item you first linked to and then connect that to the mac and that's all there is to it?

Im_just_careful

Another approach would be to run Windows remote desktop on the iMac.

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/remote-desktop-client

While technically this would work, there would be problems if the Windows machine had to be linked into a business network (VPN etc).

If you want a Mac but to be able to use the monitor with a PC laptop buy a Mac mini and any screen you like (ideally one with 2 inputs but failing that buy a KVM as well).

Owain_Moneysaver

Emily_N wrote: »

The laptop would be like a desktop going between work and home but nicer to use a large screen.

I think lots of security issues so docs can't leave the laptop? possible software implications too, not sure.
just know that it would be just for a display and nothing else as far as work was concerned.

I'm rapidly thinking it's not a good idea and stick with windows.

I take it this is a Work Windows Laptop to be used at home, and you have an iMac?

In which case you may have a problem even putting graphics drivers or teamviewer on the Laptop if Work have locked it down for security.

Second-hand 17" or even 19" monitors are pretty cheap these days.

InsideInsurance

bod1467 wrote: »

You can also get DisplayPort-HDMI converters/adaptors too.

My previous work (Dell) laptop had a DisplayPort connector on it, so I used such an adaptor (bought from Amazon) to connect it to the TV when required. My new work (Dell) laptop has DisplayPort and HDMI connectors so I don't need to use the adaptor now.

Remember you have both the SIGNAL and PORT to consider.

In many cases, including with Macs, the DisplayPort PORT outputs both a HDMI and DisplayPort SIGNAL. Therefore to connect a computer with a DisplayPort PORT to a HDMI screen it is a simple case of using an adapter that converts the shape of the port, you can even get a cable with DisplayPort at one end and HDMI at the other.

An iMac only accepts a DisplayPort SIGNAL. If you used a DisplayPort->HDMI PORT adapter/ cable backwards you would get no display as you'd still be feeding it a HDMI SIGNAL

To connect anything to the iMac or Apple Display you must feed it with a DisplayPort SIGNAL and if you dont have a device that outputs such a thing then you will need a device like the one linked to that actually changes the SIGNAL itself not just the port shape