Macbook pro as a screen

Hey,

Im getting a mbp in a couple of months, i am wondering if i can hook up my dell pc tower to the laptop and use the mbp as a moniter for it.


Thanks.

Big D

 

Not that I know of.

 

use the dell as a headless (monitor less) server, and use a VNC system to monitor the dell when you need to, from your MacBook Pro.

this is pretty complicated to get setup but there are many guides out there.

especially if you just want to access the PC over your home network.

and actually if you are using Leopard, and don't actually need to see what is going on with the PC, you just want to access the files, just use the normal filesharing system through your MacBook Pro. if you set your PC up to share certain folders, or even the entire HDD, you can easily access it all through your MacBook Pro.

if you need to use the PC for PC specific or somewhat intensive things, just buy a monitor.

 

You can use a program such as MaxiVista which allows you to either extend the desktop of the main computer (your dell pc) to another computer (in this case your MBP) through the network. Actually, now that I think about it, I think the equivalent of MaxiVista for Macs is called ScreenRecycler, but I've never used that one before. Also the program (MaxiVista) also has a remote control mode which is not really extending your desktop space but just letting you control the mouse and keyboard of multiple computers using just one set of mouse+kb.

 

not directly,

 

i cant imagine using an entire PC as just a Hard drive enclosure. What im saying is, that just seems like a waste of power/resources.

if you dont need to see whats happening on the PC side, nor use windows ever, i would just invest in some HD enclosures? unless of course you just wanna use the PC you own for this, but again, that just saves you a little $ up front.

 

thanks guys, what about veiwing tv on it? like using a sling box. how well does that work?

 

Viewing TV on a mbp/ any mac you need a usb tv tuner. EyeTV has a pretty good program, and you can get it bundled with a tuner.

 

I use Microsoft's remote desktop for my headless pc box, and I use Pinnacle's HDTV Pro stick which is for pc but works with Eye TV for mac. Both work great.