using an external screen with a macbook

[Osarkon]

With a brand new monitor sitting on my floor and the mini-dvi to vga adaptor on it's way to me, a thought just struck. The macbook's monitor is widescreen, but the monitor isn't.

Is this going to play merry hell with my resolutions, or is the system clever enough to deal with it? Basically, is the resolution on my macbook's screen going to have to change so that it has too black bars on each side, or will it work alright?

 

[tipdrill407]

If you're going to do desktop spanning than it will be perfectly fine, but if u plan to use the external monitor in mirror mode than you will have problems with the resolution.

 

[Osarkon]

If you're going to do desktop spanning than it will be perfectly fine, but if u plan to use the external monitor in mirror mode than you will have problems with the resolution.

I'm guessing mirroring is when the monitor displays a copy of what's on the laptop's screen? So desktop spanning is just basically extending the screen space? First time i'm trying to do something like this, but I won't be using any mirroring if I'm right as to what it is

 

[EricNau]

I'm guessing mirroring is when the monitor displays a copy of what's on the laptop's screen? So desktop spanning is just basically extending the screen space? First time i'm trying to do something like this, but I won't be using any mirroring if I'm right as to what it is

You are correct.

For screen spanning it will work just fine. Once you connect the monitor it will show up in the display preferences, and from there you can change the resolution. (Also make sure you have the right mode selected.)

 

[Osarkon]

You are correct.

For screen spanning it will work just fine. Once you connect the monitor it will show up in the display preferences, and from there you can change the resolution. (Also make sure you have the right mode selected.)

Brilliant, thanks very much!