Connecting Macbook via mini-dvi to vga (s-video) to Dell 24 inch monitor

I'm connected but, the screen does not look good at all. I can barely read the text.
I tried connecting via the rca cable and the s-video cable - but both are blurry. I checked the settings, but the maximum setting doesn't even go to 1920x.... at all.
Another option on the monitor is a DVI cable. Do I need a mini-DVI to DVI adapter instead? Or is there a setting somehow to make the s-video connection much better.
My monitor is a Dell 2405FPW.

Tele is right. If you are mirroring the same image on both displays, you will never get more resolution than the lower resolution display.
If you instead create an extended desktop where you can view different content on both your MacBook screen and the external monitor, then you CAN set different resolutions for both screens. The MacBook's internal LCD is only 1280x800, but the MacBook can do 1920x1200 resolution on an external monitor per the specs here: http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs.html
If you're doing this right, the display should be sharp and crisp. But you definitely want to be using a DVI or VGA cable, and NOT s-video or RCA/composite. Do you have a mini-DVI to DVI cable? Here it is: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M93 21G/B
DVI is sharper than VGA is sharper than S-video is sharper than RCA/composite.
Message was edited by: barndoor34

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