I recently ordered a gently used Mini VGA to S-video/composite video
adapter (Apple Video Adapter M8734G/A*) for about $5 from
eBay for use with my 1.42
GHz eMac G4. I must say that I was very much disappointed.
I wanted to see if it would be worth trying an S-video connection to
my old 1080i CRT HDTV. It wasn't worth it, and I wouldn't recommend
this for users considering integrating an eMac (or other device
equipped with S-video) to a TV.
The main problem is that the refresh rates (in any supported
resolution) of the eMac do not match up with the 60 Hz refresh rate of
all standard definition and most high definition TVs. The other problem
is the lack of progressive resolution selections - only interlaced
resolutions are selectable.
When the S-video adapter is connected, the eMac uses its native
selectable resolutions and refresh rates (138 Hz at 640 x 480, 89 Hz at
1024 x 768 and 72 Hz at 1280 x 960) and synchs this to the TV at 60 Hz.
None of these refresh rates match closely, and once again the output is
limited to interlaced images. The result is a grainy picture with
visible scan lines regardless of the settings.
The strangest thing I have found with this S-video/composite video
adapter (similar to an anomaly I discovered when the Mini VGA to VGA
adapter was not connected to a display) was the fact that the eMac
behaved as an independent display, rather than an integrated display,
and had different selectable resolutions than usual.
In the case of the Mini VGA to S-video/Composite Video adapter, you
didn't see near the quality compared to the mini VGA to VGA
adapter.
With that final thought in mind, I would like to finalize this by
recommending readers to stick with the Mini VGA to VGA adapter (Apple
VGA Display Adapter M8639G/A]) when using an eMac connected to an
external display. The resolutions and picture quality are much
better.
Other Options
There are other options: You could upgrade to a flat panel TV with
VGA for a very nice, high quality (high definition) direct connection,
or you could get a 2 Way VGA to Component Video/Component Video to VGA
Converter/Scaler, such as the one available from Startech or other various solutions
found on eBay or Amazon.com.
Startech sells its own units for $215, but I have found them for
around $160 on Amazon.com and eBay. There's also the Multi 6
DVI/VGA/Component to DVI/VGA/Component converter/scaler for $199 on
eBay. These devices seem to be useful, but I don't feel that their cost
is justified.
You can buy a nice 32" flat panel for $300 to $400. You're halfway
there at the price of one of those converters. Why waste the money if
there is not enough justified use for a converter? Get better tech for
just a little more (in the case of the 32" flat panel), and if you
don't need your old TV, sell it, and you'll have effectively upgraded
for even less.
In today's economy, it's can be smart to repurpose older equipment,
but in some situations it makes better sense financially to upgrade to
more capable technology. You'll gain much more utility out of that
decision. 
Dan Bashur lives in central Ohio with his wife and children. He uses various PowerPC G3 and G4 Macs running Tiger and Leopard. Besides finding new uses for Macs and other tech, Dan enjoys writing (fantasy novel series in the works), is an avid gamer, and a member of Sony's Gamer Advisor Panel. You can read more of Dan Bashur's work on ProjectGamers.com, where he contributes regular articles about the PSP, classic gaming, and ways you can use Sony gaming hardware with your Mac.
