Answer: Simply plug an S-video cable into your television's S-video input port and into the computer's S-video output port. If your television doesn't have an S-video input port, you can use its composite connection using the S-video-to-composite video cable that came with your PowerBook computer. Once both the television and computer are connected and turned on, choose the NTSC or PAL resolutions from the Monitor Resolution portion of the Control Strip. For more information about using a monitor or television with your PowerBook computer see:
Article 58344: "PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze keyboard and FireWire): Supported Resolutions for External Displays."
Question: Why is the image on the television fuzzy and not as sharp as the PowerBook's display?
Answer: The images on a television are of lower quality than those on a monitor, including your PowerBook computer's display. This is because most televisions have limited image quality, and not because anything is wrong with your computer.
Question: Why does my television only show images in black and white when connected to the computer with a composite cable?
Answer: This usually means you are not using the S-video-to-composite cable that came with your PowerBook computer. You are most likely using an S-Video input cable. Use the S-video-to-composite cable that came with your PowerBook computer instead.
Question: What resolutions can be used with the S-video output port?
Answer: See the following articles:
Article 58344: "PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze keyboard and FireWire): Supported Resolutions for External Displays."
Question: When I play a movie from a DVD-Video disc it always plays on the television. How can I play it on the PowerBook computer's display instead?
Answer: If a monitor or television is connected to the PowerBook computer's S-video output port when you play a movie from a DVD-Video disc, it plays on the monitor or television. Do this to play the movie on the PowerBook computer's display:
- 1. Quit the Apple DVD Player application program.
2. Put the PowerBook computer in sleep.
3. Disconnect the monitor or television from the PowerBook computer's S-video output port.
4. Wake up the PowerBook.
5. Open the Apple DVD Player program.
6. Restart the movie.
Question: Can I use the PowerBook's video mirroring feature with the S-video output port?
Answer: Yes. Click the Video Mirroring portion of the Control Strip to turn on video mirroring. See Image 1 and Image 2. You may also see a Television Mirroring portion in the Control Strip that can improve the quality of video and graphics when mirroring to a television using S-video. See Image 3.
Video Mirroring On
These options are available on the Control Strip when Video Mirroring is turned off and a television is connected. (Note: Video Mirroring has a single monitor icon when disabled.)
Video Mirroring Off
These options are available on the Control Strip when Video Mirroring is turned on and a television is connected. (Note: Video Mirroring has a dual monitor icon enabled.)
Television Mirroring
These options are available when a television is connected to the PowerBook computer's S-video output port.
Choose "Best for Video" and "Best for Graphics" when mirroring with S-video. Overscan extends the desktop video and may cause the menu bar to go outside of the television's viewable image area.
Note: If you have a monitor and a television connected to your PowerBook computer, you can switch between the two by selecting the correct resolution. (S-video resolutions have either NTSC or PAL listed after the actual resolution size.)
Question: When I try to play a movie on the television from the PowerBook's DVD drive, why do I only get a white screen in the Apple DVD Player window?
Answer: You cannot use Video Mirroring when you watch a movie from a DVD-Video disc. Turn off Video Mirroring and then open the Apple DVD Player.
Question: When I play a movie from a DVD-Video disc, why isn't it centered on the television?
Answer: Each television has its own display characteristics. You may be able to adjust the television from its controls to center the movie.
Question: Can I display external video on the S-video port and on another external video port (such as DVI) at the same time?
Answer: Most models of PowerBook do not support displaying external video on multiple video ports. If a PowerBook model does support this feature, it will be listed in the technical specifications for that model.