I have Macbook Pro with DVI on the right side and macsafe on the left side. I am interested in using new Apple display that just came out. Does anyone know an express card with mini displayport that will let me connect to the new displays using ports on the left side.
Thanks,
SG

In summary:

1) Mini DisplayPort is purportedly part of the DisplayPort 1.2 spec

2) Mini DisplayPort may be capable of driving devices up to the same power rating as regular DisplayPort (don't know that this is an issue unless it affects direct adapters to HDMI and DVI)

3) Mini DisplayPort may be capable of outputting audio. Does this depend on the position and manner in which the Realtek HD Audio Codec is installed and connected? Ie if audio is not hardwired to the Mini DisplayPort, regardless of how many pins are avilable it won't output sound!?

4) Mini DisplayPort may or may not be capable of providing analogue video out. This presumably depends on the spec of the graphics chip which is a NVIDIA GeForce 9400m and the drivers/firmware of the machine. I find it surprising somebody sufficiently technically competent has not already tested this with the appropriate diagnostic gear.

Why can't Apple put out a press release explaining the decisions they have made with respect to the I/O ports on the new machines? Or at least telling us whether or not audio out or analogue out will ever be made available? I will ask one of the "geniuses" at my local Apple store but I am not expecting much!

Did you read this article that claims it is proprietary. Actually it claims to be unclear.

mini display port ..... a little premature for something that is NOT guaranteed to be a to be the number one standard like DVI (or VGA for that matter). Overpriced. A 2700 dollar notebook that will not work on a 1800 dollar monitor from the same company? Rip off. oh yeah the 2700 dollar notebook does not come with jack sh*t as far as conversion cables. an HDMI port would have made more sense. At this point in time, jan. 20 2009, a blue ray drive on a Macbook would have made way more sense than this mini display port. I hope in six months I'm wrong and the mini display port becomes the standard but I'm not holding my breath. for now, strike 1 for apple, and my trusty WHITE MacBook lives anther day. Unlike most the people that read this magazine I'm just a blue collar worker bee who likes to see a little value for his buck. 1300 dollar white macbook thats a lotta value on the buck, mini display port, that going all in with pocket 9-5s.

PS Get Well Steve!!!!

Steve Jobs is like the John Lennon of the computer world!!!! Yeah I said it.