Question: Virtual 2nd display in Mac Mini ?

[Bob Stern]

A few days ago I bought the new Mac Mini, which has both HDMI and Mini Display ports. I intend to use it mostly as a headless music server, remotely controlled via screen sharing, hence the Mini is not connected to a keyboard, and it usually is not connected to a display.

 

Occasionally I do connect the HDMI output to a TV to watch a musical performance on DVD. In this situation, how can I trick the Mini into acting as if it were connected to 2 displays, so I can display the DVD Player output on the TV while simultaneously displaying other software on a virtual 2nd display that I can observe via VNC (Screen Sharing)?

 

Would a Mini Display Port to DVI adapter solve my problem? That is, will plugging the adapter into the Mini without connecting it to a DVI display cause the Mini to think it is connected to a 2nd display?