Macbook Air display options

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Discussion

audi321

Original Poster:

5,156 posts

212 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
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Hi all, the maximum resolution I can get from my MBA is 1440x900 (which I use all the time).

However, when I connect it to my 1080p tv with the appropriate cable, the MBA screen goes to a much smaller (it's on Mirroring setting). It's almost like I have 1080p on my MBA screen too (I realise that I don't) but as soon as I unplug the tv cable it goes back to the normal size.

Is there a way I can get this smaller screen icons and text on my MBA screen without plugging in the tv cable? When I go into the display settings, all I have is 1440x900?

Thanks in advance!

audi321

Original Poster:

5,156 posts

212 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Sorted it. Spoken to Applecare on Chat and she said that when I connect the thunderbolt cable it forces the graphics card to display 1080p which in turn changes my Air screen to that resolution. She said it's not something she can tell me how to do as it's making the machine do something it isn't supposed to do, but to google Mac display manager, which I did, and found a suitable program which allows me to choose more resolutions that the standard display ones.

Sorted, and I now have a much nicer look to my Air than the 1440 x 900 standard smile

hajaba123

1,302 posts

174 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
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I don't really understand what you're saying yet I like the sound of it!

Are you saying I can make it look better than it normally does and if so what do I do?

audi321

Original Poster:

5,156 posts

212 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Well, despite the screen actually only being 900 (as opposed to 1080p or 720p etc) you can 'force' the machine to display a higher resolution. It won't actually be any clearer/sharper, as the most the physical screen can do is 900 and you do need to get the ratio right or it won't fit the screen properly, but I've found that 1920 x 1200 is a nice compromise and it makes everything a little more smaller and fits the screen better.

Hard to explain without seeing it! But after using it for 30 minutes and then going back down to the native 1440 x 900 it is much nicer than the old res.

Edited by audi321 on Saturday 28th February 23:03

mojitomax

1,874 posts

191 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
audi321 said:
Hi all, the maximum resolution I can get from my MBA is 1440x900 (which I use all the time).

However, when I connect it to my 1080p tv with the appropriate cable, the MBA screen goes to a much smaller (it's on Mirroring setting). It's almost like I have 1080p on my MBA screen too (I realise that I don't) but as soon as I unplug the tv cable it goes back to the normal size.

Is there a way I can get this smaller screen icons and text on my MBA screen without plugging in the tv cable? When I go into the display settings, all I have is 1440x900?

Thanks in advance!
If you take it off mirroring then the mba should display it's normal setting and the TV should be 1080p and working as an extended desktop