VLC/Macbook Pro/Remote display question.
 

I am trying to play a video on my folks TV with VLC from my macbook. I have the TV plugged in with SVGA to the Mini display port, and the laptop is recognizing it like an extended desktop. When I tell VLC to go full screen it blacks out the laptop display. Can I make it not do this? I'd like to still have functionality of the laptop while the video is playing.

Try mirroring instead of extending.

What's the format of the video?

Might be you can use a different player.

Video is AVI, didn't have any problems doing this on my dell...
If I mirror won't it make them exactly the same?

Get in the "displays" prefs and mess with 'arrangement', and 'mirror', as stomachmonkey suggested.

I click the mirror box on and it makes the displays the same.... It wants to use the lower res on both screens.... I want to watch the video on the TV in fullscreen, while I browse, chat, etc on the laptop

AVI is what we call a container and what's inside could be a variety of audio/video codecs.

Try Mplayer or Windows Media Player for Mac.

You should go load up on co/decs.

Get,

Perian

DivX

Flip4Mac (should already be there but check it anyway)

FFMPEG is a must have.

Also recommend paying the $29 upgrade for Quicktime Pro and then find the QTPro mpeg co/decs.

A favorite stripped down free tool that works great when you get all the codecs is Mpeg Streamclip.

Perian did the trick. Thanks Monkey!


I may be in the area in the next week, I'll let you know if I am, I owe ya one.

My office is right outside DFW.

If you are in Dallas the beers on me.

Once you load up on co/decs you'll find Quicktime will handle most of your needs.

Oh yeah, you're in OK.

House is 30 minutes south of the OK/TX border via 35 E or W.

We'll drag the LubeMaster out, he lives around the corner from me.

Hell I've been a lot closer to your house than I thought.... We have highway signs clear down at exit 1. We have to enter TX to get turned around to work on the northbound ones...