MBP (Unibody) - Dual Screen Question

I have searched the forums and google'd this question all today and have not really found a clear answer...

Basically, I just want to be able to have two screens (1 monitor, the other my MBP screen) going at the same time and all that good stuff...

What I am looking for, if someone is willing, is for a specific list of hardware and software that I will need to do this (if possible). And in case it matters, no I do not have Windows installed via Boot Camp or anything like that.

The sites I have been looking at today are somewhat confusing even when it comes to what hardware to buy. I am in no way new to computers, so I have a general understanding of the components, but I just really need someone who has done this or knows how to do this, to basically just list everything I need.

Thanks a lot guys for the help.

 

running an external monitor is pretty basic..

you need a monitor.. then a Mini-DP adapter.. to go to DVI or VGA depending what you want to use on your monitor....

thats basically all there is to it...

its designed to do what you want, there is no other software is needed

 

most monitors and TVs you buy today will have an HDMI port meant to accept input video from some external device (in this case your laptop).

so you want an HDMI cable.

http://www.cablesforless.com/c-292-value-hdmi-cables-good.aspx?gclid=CKjLtJGzxp8CFRyfnAod_BUo0Q&

they are all the same, don't spend extra on "performance cables"

then, since your laptop doesn't have an HDMI port, you need an adapter to plug into the HDMI cable.

The video out port on your laptop is called mini-Displayport. So you want a miniDisplayport to HDMI adapter:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

The software you want to use is under "System Preferences -> Displays" in the Mac OS.