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    Has anyone tried using this on a MB

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by SP Forsythe, Mar 24, 2011.

  1. SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe Notebook Evangelist

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    Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor

    I notice that it specifically indicates compatibility with PC Win OS's, but does not mention OSX.

    If it works as a fully functional extension screen, I can think of some uses for my MBA.

    edit: I called Toshiba, and the person to whom I spoke indicated that it would work with OS X, but were unsure as to any limitations as to the monitor options within OS X (i.e. Mirroring versus desktop extension)
     
    SP Forsythe, Mar 24, 2011
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  2. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    Not exactly an answer to your question, but I know several people that use the Mimo USB monitors with Macs.
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 24, 2011
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  3. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    OSX does support some USB graphics cards. This is a USB graphics card plus external monitor.

    One thing I would be worried about is how much power this draws from the USB. Toshiba does not mention this at all. Cant imagine that it runs on the 500mA. The Air's super drive also requires more power than 500mA so the Air should be able to handle it.
     
    wave, Mar 24, 2011
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  4. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    It mentions a 'USB y cable' on that Toshiba page, which will be for power reasons, same as the 2.5" HDDs that have them.

    I think the Mimos come with the same deal, so I assume the Toshiba is the same as those in that if enough power is available from a single port it would be fine just plugged into one.

    Mac laptops generally have decent USB power rails.
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 24, 2011
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  5. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    It is really hard to use the a Y cable with a macbook air since it only has a single usb port on each of the sides. Most y cables I have seen are not long enough to reach all the way around.
     
    wave, Mar 24, 2011
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  6. SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, it is odd that they don't show the power requirement.
    In the demo video, they are "obvious" in that they stress that only one of the Y-cable connectors is required for operation. But that then leads to the obvious question, that they don't answer...why in the heck do you have a Y-Cable then?
     
    SP Forsythe, Mar 24, 2011
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  7. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh right (I don't have a MBA).

    So it's either use an extension for one leg of it, or hope it's one of those y cables you can sorta peel apart.

    Or, hopefully the Mac will power it off one USB port.


    Laptops vary in how much current they will supply out of the USB port. One cable is power + data, the other will only have the power rail connected. It's a bit of a hack but often better than having to take another PSU.

    Also, it has the option of an external adapter, so you could use that along with a single USB cable (although I appreciate this means carting round more stuff, which is presumably what you're trying to avoid since you bought an Air!). But they're technically within their rights to say it.

    Edit: I found this, although I'm not sure how much use it is.
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 24, 2011
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  8. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    wave, Mar 24, 2011
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