MBPro17 and Mac mini desktop display resolutions via home-theater projector (Optoma HD73)

[Kevin Callahan]

I'm looking at building a home-theatre using the Optoma HD73  
projector system (haven't bought the PJ yet, but I may buy one today).

I plan to buy a Mac mini if/when Apple releases an update and make it  
my media center.

The system won't be used for "media" only -  I will use it to hold  
master classes and music workshops where I'll be displaying a desktop  
along with apps such as GB, Sibelius, Logic Pro, my music theory app  
etc.

I'm confused as to the best resolution I'll be able to get from my  
MBPro17 (Core 2 Duo) or from a Mac mini (not knowing what the next  
rev will have for a video card). It looks the HD73 supports WXGA 1280  
x 768, but the MBPro supports 1280 x 800, 1280 x 1024, 1280 x 1024  
stretched.  If I can't find a match, how does scaling work?  will  
parts of the desktop be missing? or will the image be crap? or?

Here are the spec for the HD73:
<http://www.optomausa.com/PDFs/brochures/Optoma_HD73_Brochure.pdf>


and here are the specs for the MBPro17
<http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs.html>

17-inch (diagonal) TFT display, support for millions of colors;  
optional glossy widescreen display
Supported resolutions: 1680 by 1050 (native), 1280 by 800, 1152 by  
720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1280 by 1024  
at 5:4 aspect ratio; 1280 by 1024 at 5:4 aspect ratio stretched; 1024  
by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768,  
800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480  
at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched


Specs for the 950 (current mini video)

<http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/>
Up to 2048x1536 resolution for both analog and digital displays
HDTV 480i/p, 576i/p, 720i/p and 1080i/p display resolution support
16x9 and 16x10 Aspect Ratio for widescreen displays

GMA965:

<http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/mainboard/i965-chipset.html>



Thanks in advance.

Kevin Callahan
http://www.kevincallahan.org/
http://www.kevincallahan.org/software/accessorizer.html