Im keen to connect a touchscreen LCD to a current model Intel Mac mini while having the option of viewing vodcasts on a DVI TV screen. I really dont want to unplug/replug between the two screens each time. Ideally I want to be able to split the mini DVI-I video to both DVI and VGA at the same time (without the expensive hardware boxes you can buy). Im not after a multi-monitor extended desktop, just the same screen at a VGA (1024x768) and a DVI screen (1366x768) simultaneously.

Will this simple cable (URL) do the trick?
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3342
"...the DVI port must be capable in outputing a digital and an analog signal SIMULTANEOUSLY to get two active displays."

Is there an alternative?

Thanks

about the only way i could think of doing it would be to get a DVI splitter, plug the dvi monitor into 1 and a dvi to vga adaptor on the other

Trying to get 2 different resolutions at the same time may be problematic.

afrancoi: what you want is not possible with the Mini -- it is not cabale of generating two disparate videosignals. As far as OS X is concerned the mini has one 'screen' only -- even if you tried to use a Matrox DualHead2Go adaptor, you would have one 'screen' spread across two displays.


Brains

What about the same resolution? ie, 1024x768 on both? Doesn't DVI-I carry both digital and analogue signals?

On another note: You can get a USB to VGA Adapter for Windows. IS there one for Mac? With one of these I could mirror to separate screens, one VGA and the other DVI off the DVI port.

Although splitting DVI/VGA is the best option for my purposes (1x7" VGA screen + 32"LCD TV) I guess the next best option would be to send VGA to both. DVI splitters are more expensive than VGA splitters. Id use the DVI-VGA adapter on the Mini since watching iTunes vodcasts at 1024x768 VGA on the TV shoukld be fine (right!?), and take it from there...
http://www.uniclass.com.tw/eng/produ...s/UVS-002E.htm

In any case, Id be happy with a simple switch box to send VGA to one or the other (I dont really need to see the same image on both at once). Is there a simple, cheap and UNPOWERED VGA switch box?

Slightly more expensive is http://www.uniclass.com.tw/eng/produ...rs/UDS-002.htm but I would get DVI for the TV. Yet Im still limited to the same resolution for both screens and thats 1024x768 because of the VGA monitor Im using. Would I really notice any difference in quality between VGA and DVI for my casual purposes here?

BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POST...

Why wouldn't this cable work if the screen size is set at 1024x768 for both screens?
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3342
"...the DVI port must be capable in outputing a digital and an analog signal SIMULTANEOUSLY to get two active displays." and isn't that what the DVI-I port does?

There will be almost no discernible difference between VGA and DVI until you get up to around 1920x1200.

A simple splitter cable may work.
http://www.hboutlet.com.au/catalog/p...ucts_id=177409
http://www.adelaideonlinecomputers.c...845&type=group