Mac to Projector...HELP!

[dmorris82]

I have a MacBook Pro running all of the latest updates. Purchased a Proxima 9260+ projector. Installed the screen and projector, installed the wiring, and used the adapter to connect my laptop to the projector.

The image that came up was stretched across both my laptop screen and the projector screen, and the Display Preferences were set to "Mirror." I fiddled around around a lot of with the resolution settings.

The online manual for the projector states that the resolution of the projector's projected image is 1024x768.

When I plug the laptop to the projector all of my open windows stretch across the screen, and I have to click and drag the top of them across the screen to make be able to see everything.

My laptop is currently set at a resolution of 1440 x 900 (the highest it can go). If I set it to 1024x768 it has black bars on the side and the screen content is not as sharp. If it is set it to 1024x768(stretched) then all of the open windows are about twice as big as they should be and I have to click and drag again to see it all. Once I plug it into the projector, it all goes haywire again.

Any advice? Thanks!

[trevor]

So, the projector's image is 1024x768, and you have the settings on "Mirrored"? Then you have to set your MacBook Pro's display at 1024x768 as well. If you do this, don't use the stretched setting, just live with the annoying black bars--it's the price you pay for mirroring.

OR, don't use the Mirrored setting, and have two distinct screens (in my opinion, this is the better solution). This is called spanning, and will allow you to have your internal monitor set to 1440 x 900.

Trevor

[dmorris82]

Thanks for the reply. I took the advice you had given me and tried both of them, but not much luck.

My computer was set to 1440x900 when I plugged the cable in from the projector. Once it detected the VGA display it comes up as being set on 1024x678 60Hz on the VGA display. Can't honestly say I know what that means (the 60HZ...refresh rat?). My other option is 1024x768 120Hz but when I select that nothing happens. In both cases the setting for "Mirror" is turned off.

The problem I encounter when both screens are set at 1024x768 is that I get the black bars on the side of my laptop screen and every window is massive and spills off both sides of the screen.

When I attempt to do the "spanning," it forces me to drag everything over onto the other screen. I just want to be able to plug my laptop in and see on the projector screen what I see on my laptop screen without the grossly over distorted images.

Any other ideas?!?

[DE9]

I agree with trevor. I use a projector multiple times a week, and it supports the same max resolution, which is much less than my MacBook can do. By unchecking the mirrored setting, you can have your normal resolution on your screen, normal resolution for the projector, and no windows will need to be stretched. The only problem is that you will have to drag whatever you want to see on the projector screen into the actual projector field, which you can set up in the Displays preference pane.

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by dmorris82 The problem I encounter when both screens are set at 1024x768 is that I get the black bars on the side of my laptop screen and every window is massive and spills off both sides of the screen.

What windows are these? What apps?
If you have your windows filling the screen on your MacBook's internal screen at 1440x900, then you obviously need to make them smaller so that they will fit on a 1024x768 screen. Clicking the green bob (top left of each window) will do this - if you can see the green blob when on the projector. Best to make the windows smaller before connecting to the projector.