[Macworld]

Post your comments for Apple licenses Mini DisplayPort for free here

[heisetax]

Apple has to do something to get somebody to support this connecto. Because Apple wants to be more mainstream they must have more than just their displays & their computers use this connector. With a $99 price tag on the dual link adapters Apple needs some companies to use this connector.
At the present time all of my video cards use the dual link dvi-d connectors. My displays have a combination of dvi single & dual link, hdmi, vga & probably some other connectors. But none will work with the new Apple Mini DisplayPort. Apple wants the connector to have other users so that it is not seen as an Apple only connector.

[Steve_S]

It's frustrating to have to move to yet another standard for displays. We went from Apple proprietary, to VGA, to ADC to DVI and now to display port.
As frustrating as it is, solutions like DVI seem to have been pretty short sighted in terms of bandwidth, etc. Dual DVI inputs for larger monitors is anything but an elegant solution. Maybe Display Port is the way to go.

[jpellino]

Yes, but you likely replaced an entire worn system complete with analog monitor by the time those connectors went extinct anyway. The ADCs are the ones stuck in my craw - they were killer monitors with a goofy port. Still have them / running out of cubes to attach to!
Smaller is better. Single is better. I actually wish I had the old composite av port from my G3 iBook - one less small adapter than the G4 and s-video was never that much bigger of a deal than composite. The fact that they modified an existing / emerging standard bodes well for this try.

[montgomery_burns]

Peter, you wrote a previous Macworld article titled "DisplayPort: What you need to know". In the discussions following that article, there was uncertainty as to whether the Mini DisplayPort connector is just another example of Apple's obsession with creating proprietary display connectors (ADC, Mini VGA, Mini DVI, Micro DVI), or whether this new connector really is part of the official DisplayPort standard. You responded with the following statements:

"Did you miss the discussion above? Mini DisplayPort is not proprietary, It's part of the spec."

"According to Apple, Mini DisplayPort is part of the spec".

"My information comes from a direct conversation with an Apple PR rep, who was unequivocal about mini DisplayPort being part of the official spec."

Do you still believe this? If that's true, then why would Apple need to license "plugs" or "receptacles" to third parties? If the Mini DisplayPort connector really is part of the official DisplayPort standard, then wouldn't the licensing be handled by the DisplayPort association? So is the Mini DisplayPort connector really an official DisplayPort standard, or were you misled by Apple?

[qkarmark]

That's actually a really good question, MB - I was thinking the same thing, although it's seemingly apparent that the DisplayPort connector protocol includes only the spec for the port (ie: one like Apple's) and not things such as cables and peripherals. Interesting. Someone needs to clarify this.

[leicaman]

Firewire was a spec., with sub-specs like Sony's proprietary connector. And yet Apple was able to license Firewire. How would this be different?

[jedi228]

Most of the rest of the world is still making the change from VGA to DVI. Who else is using DisplayPort in real life? --nobody. Display Port is a better connector in theory, but I'd rather have compatibility. The change is way too soon. I wish Apple would have waited at least another year for some other manufacturers to start using this thing.
How the heck am I supposed to use my laptop with most projectors when I travel?

[heisetax]

You're in the wonderful world of adapter. At $29-$99 you may have enough left over for Christmas presents if you have no friends or relatives to buy any presents for.

[Wondercow]

leicaman said:

Firewire was a spec., with sub-specs like Sony's proprietary connector.

Sony's i.Link connector isn't proprietary--it's the four-pin version of the spec.

[People_Eater]

jedi228 said:

Most of the rest of the world is still making the change from VGA to DVI. Who else is using DisplayPort in real life?

There are several manufacturers offering displays that have DisplayPort connectors.

Quote

Display Port is a better connector in theory, but I'd rather have compatibility. The change is way too soon. I wish Apple would have waited at least another year for some other manufacturers to start using this thing.

If every company took that attitude, change would never happen. Everybody would be waiting for everybody else , and nobody would take the first step.

I'm glad of Apple's decision - finally, a decent display standard, and one which looks to end the painful era of proprietary display connectors on Macs! After all, if you had a Macbook before DisplayPort, you still had to buy a $29 dongle. But at least now, the $29 dongle is not so proprietary, and has better performance and more options for the future.

If only they hadn't removed Firewire at the same time... one step forward, one step back.

[MacGod]

What's the advantage of DisplayPort (mini or full-size) over HDMI? It seems that HDMI was rapidly emerging as the de facto connector for HDTVs, projectors, etc. It had started to appear on some PC laptops and computer monitors as well. I'm not pooh-poohing DisplayPort, just curious if it offers an advantage over HDMI.
And People_Eater: I think the concern is that with previous MacBook Pros, you at least had a bog-standard DVI port, which exists on the majority of projectors and monitors. Yes, the MacBook still required a mini-DVI adapter, but the MBPs didn't for the majority of setups.

[simdude]

Sounds good. Now, how about licensing the mag connector for free?

[swangner]

sim,

There's a significant difference here. As far as Mini DisplayPort goes, it is to Apple's advantage to have other manufacturers using the port, since that will mean that more devices (monitors and projectors, mostly) will be directly compatible with Apple's products, without an adapter.

When it comes to the MagSafe power adaptor, however, other manufacturers developing products for it means exactly one thing - less income for Apple since these other manufacturers would be competing directly with Apple's own products. In all likelihood, the non-Apple offerings would be less costly, and all that would mean is less revenue for Apple as consumers choose the other options. This is precisely the reason Apple doesn't license that port design.