external monitor vs TV?

[conqueror]

i've had a 13" MBA for almost 2 years now, would it be better/easier to buy an external monitor and hook that up via HDMI or buy a small TV + apple TV? the second option is considerably more expensive but i'm not sure which would be more useful.

[herpsky]

depends on what you are tryna to do? i have a mbp hooked up to a 24 but i also have a tv for watching shows and etc

[dimmak]

Yeah, it totally depends on what you're trying to do. If you're only going to be watching at your desk (which it seems like bc you said a small monitor) then just go with HDMI. It's easy to just plug in and mirror your display. If you're using it in a bigger room, go with Apple TV and Airplay. 

 

I personally have both. In my room I have a 27" HDMI monitor I hook up to my MBP for when I'm working, and in our living room the TV is hooked up to an Apple TV, so if I want to watch TV and be on my laptop on the couch I can do that too. It's also better since I don't have to worry about a cable going all the way across the room from the TV.

[conqueror]

yeah, i'd just be using it to watch torrented stuff in my room really; i have an older LCD monitor but unfortunately it doesn't have HDMI. i guess i still don't really 'get' apple tv, it's just used to wirelessly stream stuff from your mac right? i haven't owned a tv in almost a decade, i'm worried i'll be tempted to buy a ps4 if i get one now haha.

Edited November 17, 2014 by conqueror

[herpsky]

can't you do just do minidisplay to DVI? that's what i do. it's "basically" the same as hdmi

[conqueror]

can't you do just do minidisplay to DVI? that's what i do. it's "basically" the same as hdmi

 

potentially, but my LCD monitor is really old and i wasn't sure if it would work from what i've read. i guess it could be worth a $35 gamble.

[skeetinmynose]

if your monitor has a dvi port you can just buy one of these. 

 

if you have a ps3 you can hook it up to your monitor and use ps3 media server to stream to the ps3.

[conqueror]

i haven't owned a console in a decade, but i'll dig up the monitor at my parents' house and see what it's like. thanks for the help.

[Warakia]

If streaming/watching local files is what you're after a Chromecast might work for you as well, and it's dirt cheap to boost.