External Monitor Issues - MacBook Pro +Acer

Question

Hello Everyone!!
I currently have my new Macbook Pro hooked up to a Thunderbolt display and all is running well!  BUT, I also have a mid 2009 MBP that I am setting up with a new ACER S271HL monitor (one of their newer models) and I am having some "quality" issues.  The MBP is utilizing 8G of RAM with a 500G HD: approximately 400G available, running the most current version of LION with all updates and runs nicely.  I didn't have any connectivity issues using a new Startech mini-display port to HDMI adapter and a new Monster HDMI cable. The ACER monitor is one of the newest models with resolution of 1920x1080 and the MBP did not have any issues recognizing it and I have not had any problems with "setting it up"- all resolutions are supported and recognized and everything seems ok.  I began by using MAC's Color Sync Utility and customized the monitor profile.  Then I did some fine tweaking with the monitor controls themselves - no issues.  The PROBLEM is that it just doesn't look good!!!! The text is not sharp in any document, browser tabs, content, etc. - the whole thing is kind of dull?! Video is ok at best - but again, not sharp.  So, I tried the Color Synch Utility again and had a second person set up a profile just to make sure I'm not going crazy?! - same result?!  I tried a different HDMI cable (new) - same result.  I tried a different mini-display to HDMI adapter - same result.  I reset the SMC and the PRAM - same result?!?!  I tried moving the monitor to another location to see if it was just the light and my eyes - no good.  I switched to a mini-display to DVI adapter/cable - same result. NOW, the thing that is really bothering me here is that my office uses older ACER monitors - discontinued V213H - I have three set up with an "older" DELL PC (no hot- rodded graphics/video card - standard, boring, office PC) and they LOOK GREAT?!?! So, I hooked my office laptop up to the new ACER monitor I bought and it LOOKED GREAT!?!?!  (with NO CONFIGURATION) I even used an old ratty VGA cable and it looked SO much better!?!?  I took the MBP to the office and hooked it up the work monitors and it only looked ok - better than on the new display, but still not sharp!?  
So then I tried the driver route...ACER actually has a specific APPLE disclaimer of sorts on their support page indicating, that although their monitors are configured to work with all current computer models, that are tested in a PC environment and you may encounter issues that should be addressed with APPLE?!  Even though the monitor drivers I had are listed as the most current, I tried downloading them anyway - the MBP downloads them, but cannot install them because they are not recognized?!?  (All the support documentation, installation CD, etc. that came with the monitor was not recognizable by the MAC either)
SO - does anyone else have similar issues with ACER monitors?? Know of anyone else that might???  I can't hook up the MBP to the Thunderbolt display to really rule out a problem - but I'm confident this is not a hardware issue with any of the components.
I hate to give up on this because I'm setting it up for a friend so I figure I'll give it a few more days and see what kinds of ideas others might come up with before I throw in the towel and take this sucker back!
Thanks for reading my 'novel' of a post - any ideas are greatly appreciated!!!
TL

Answer 1

i had the same problem, i solved it by buying a more higher end "hdmi to vga" wire, i 1st bought a cheap conversion wire "hdmi to vga" from a slow boat from china via Amazon and it didn't work on my macbook but seems to be working well on my windows laptop.
so i bought another conversion wire via Amozon "hdmi to vga" from a company called Sewell Quirts in a 10' version.... now my mac mirrors or extend my laptop monitor, hope this helps.
and its not a "file" issue like everyone else says in here.
and my acer monitor is an older one with only a dvi and vga inputs.... using it to extend my 2014 macbook pro retina.