Posts Tagged ‘uncommon presence’
The most recent Apple Macbook, Mac, and iMac series use Mini DisplayPort as its outgoing video port. Because Mini DisplayPort has rather uncommon presence, it has put lots of Mac users into awkward positions: it is likely you cannot use your favorite Macbook to deliver a presentation, or output your work project from Mac to a new display, or perhaps share your own photos to your friends or family on a bigger screen.
Isn’t Mac supposed to be user-friendly and uncomplicated? That is totally not what you’ve paid the good money to Apple for.
Well, don’t get worried, there are solutions.
Products With Mini DisplayPort
Currently, there is only a very short list of items that are utilizing Mini DisplayPort:
* Apple Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro 13 inch, 15 inch, and 17 inch;
* Apple Mac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, iMac, Xserve;
* Toshiba Satellite Pro S500, Tecra M11, A11 and S11 notebooks;
* AMD Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition with its 6 Mini DisplayPorts;
* Adapters and cables compatible with the above computers and displays.
The final category of products is what will help uou hook up your own Mac or Macbook to a projector, display or HDTV.
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
You can use 3 main Mini DisplayPort adapters: Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapters, Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters, and Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters.
It’s the safest to get a Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, because essentially every display, old or new, uses a VGA port. This is especially true if you want to frequently hook up the Macbook to a projector to deliver a presentation. At the same time some new projectors do have HDMI or DVI ports, not all of them do, however they all will have a VGA port, as VGA port has still been the no.1 most regularly used video port in colleges or business when it comes to presentation.
Using Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, you will easily output video from the Macbook or laptop to any kind of display. You could:
* Extend or mirror the workstation to a different screen;
* Give presentation to your favorite classmates, students or colleagues with your own Macbook or laptop;
* Share videos your family and friends on a bigger external screen or TV.
Considering that the specification is standardized, it’s compatible with all the top of the line Macs/Macbooks with Mini DisplayPort. Also, the video output has resolution up to 1080p (FullHD) and 1920 x 1200 without any compromise in video quality.
Apple loves mini stuff; it used Mini-DVI and Micro-DVI on older versions of Mac and MacBooks. However, for some reasons it didn’t choose Mini-HDMI now, rather, it went with Mini DisplayPort on all of the latest Apple computers.
For the reason Mini DisplayPort has rather uncommon presence, probably you cannot use your Macbook to give a presentation, or output your work project from Mac to a new display, or simply just share your photos to your family or friends on a bigger screen.
Although there are a few types of Mini DisplayPort adapter, it’s probably the safest to get yourself a Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, because practically every display, old or new, carries a VGA port. This is especially true if you need to frequently hook up your Macbook to a projector to deliver a presentation. Whereas some new projectors have HDMI or DVI ports, not all of them do, nonetheless they all feature a VGA port.
Using a Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, anyone can easily output video from your favorite Mac laptop or laptop to virtually any display. You can easily:
* Extend or mirror your own workstation to another screen;
* Give presentation to your favorite class mates, students or colleagues with your favorite MacBook or laptop;
* Share videos your family and friends on a bigger external screen or TV.
Here are a few things you should think about before buying one.
1. Does Your Computer Use Mini DisplayPort?
Some Mac users are usually not sure what exactly their video port is. Is it a Mini-DVI, a Micro-DVI, or a Mini DisplayPort?
Well, currently, there is only a very short list of items that are employing Mini DisplayPort:
* Apple’s latest (2008 or latter) Macbook, Macbook Air, Mac laptop Pro 13 inch, 15 inch, and 17 inch;
* Apple’s latest (2008 or latter) Mac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, iMac, Xserve;
* Toshiba Satellite Pro S500, Tecra M11, A11 and S11 notebooks;
* AMD Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition with its 6 Mini DisplayPorts;
* Adapters and cables compatible with the above computers and displays.
To check which port you’ve got, simply Google keywords like “Mini DisplayPort”, “Mini-DVI”, “Micro-DVI”. Since they actually do have very distinct appearance, you can easily tell by comparing the pictures with the video port on your computer.
2. Supported Video Specifications
A high-quality Mini DisplayPort-VGA adapter should support 1920×1200, 1080i/p, 720p and all the standard-definition (e . g ., DVD) resolutions.
It is the basics of the basics. If your Mini DisplayPort adapter is not going to support any of these resolution, it’s not worth buying at all.
3. Is It Mini DisplayPort v1.1a Compliant?
You want a v1.1 compliant Mini DisplayPort adapter.
Mini DisplayPort was the Apple’s own standard. Fortunately, Apple now licenses the Mini DisplayPort free-of-charge. Later in 2009, VESA, the maker of DisplayPort specifications, has implemented Mini DisplayPort into DisplayPort v1.1a specification, and it will include Mini DisplayPort in the upcoming v1.2 specification.
With the free license, other makers can make inexpensive Mini DisplayPort products. And meeting v1.1a specification ensures your Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter can offer the best compatibility.
4. Appearances
This is more or less of your own personal taste, so use your best judges and pick one you want, which, for instance, matches your Apple computer’s tone and general style.
Summary
A decent Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter needs to have the following qualities:
* Matching your computer;
* Support all standard definition and HD resolutions;
* Compliant with Mini DisplayPort version 1.1a specifications;
* Matching your tastes.
When you have checked all these features when deciding which Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter to shop for, you should be in good shape.