Mac Mini video question

[baby duck monge]

Hey guys -
I was thinking about turning my Mac Mini into more of a media device, but I still have to use it as my main computer. With this in mind, is there anything out there like a source switcher that would let me have the mini plugged in to both my monitor and tv at the same time, and then switch between them with the flip of a switch? I know KVM switches are kinda like that, but they seem to all work with two inputs and one video out. Also, it would be awesome if this little device weren't hundreds of dollars (I can manage to change the plugs myself if that's the case). Thanks for any help!

 

[Unorthodox]

Kinda expensive, but this should do it.

 

[mcmillan]

Just a note: remember that you need to send audio to your TV too. If you have the audio output permanently connected to your TV, then everythig that comes out of your Mac will sound in the TV, and vice-versa.

 

[baby duck monge]

Thanks for your replies. I think that box is a bit more than I would like to spend, so if I can't find anything else I will just continue swapping the plugs by hand. As for the audio, the mini is hooked up the the stereo already, so that's taken care of

 

[LethalWolfe]

What about a Y/splitter cable?


Lethal

 

[baby duck monge]

Unfortunately, the only inputs are s-video and component video. If it were a nice tv with, say, DVI in, it would probably be a bit easier, but for now I have to make do with a pretty lame tv

I have the DVI -> component cable that Apple sells, but I have not seen any cheap solutions to help me turn my single DVI output into two separate pictures.

Edit: Did I mean composite or component? I never can remember. It's whichever one comes through the single yellow cable where the red and white are for audio. Smarter folk than me know for sure.

 

[jkieffer72]

Unfortunately, the only inputs are s-video and component video. If it were a nice tv with, say, DVI in, it would probably be a bit easier, but for now I have to make do with a pretty lame tv

I have the DVI -> component cable that Apple sells, but I have not seen any cheap solutions to help me turn my single DVI output into two separate pictures.

Edit: Did I mean composite or component? I never can remember. It's whichever one comes through the single yellow cable where the red and white are for audio. Smarter folk than me know for sure.

A single yellow cable would be composite.