Response from Apple on LED Cinema Display with DVI computers

[Zorn]

I sent an email earlier this evening to Steve Jobs asking if the LED Cinema Display would be compatible with computers that only had DVI connections, and the exact response was "a simple adapter cable is all that's needed"

Seems like good news, as I would imagine Apple would begin to offer said adapter closer to the release of the monitor.

[waiyean]

I will expect that adaptor cable to be provided together with the monitor.
It doesn't make sense for Apple to introduce a monitor specially for the laptops, especially when they already have isight and speakers.

Having the isight and speakers built in is only useful for the Mac Pro and Mac Mini.

[SnowLeopard2008]

^ Yea, I agree with you. I remember Dell released a display with a webcam. no speakers or mic though. But this doesn't make sense for notebooks only. They already have mics and webcams and however terrible, speakers. It seems a little redundant. But for mac pros, they don't even have a webcam to begin with, unless you buy one of the old isights. this makes more sense for the mac pros. apple: maybe update all the ACD's (20", 30") to have webcams, mics, and speakers as well? as well as LED backlit, but for the 30", dont charge a fortune like Samsung did for their 30" LED backlit display panel.

[Michael CM1]

^ Yea, I agree with you. I remember Dell released a display with a webcam. no speakers or mic though. But this doesn't make sense for notebooks only. They already have mics and webcams and however terrible, speakers. It seems a little redundant. But for mac pros, they don't even have a webcam to begin with, unless you buy one of the old isights. this makes more sense for the mac pros. apple: maybe update all the ACD's (20", 30") to have webcams, mics, and speakers as well? as well as LED backlit, but for the 30", dont charge a fortune like Samsung did for their 30" LED backlit display panel.

That sounds like a future update, perhaps next month, but more likely early next year. The Mac Pro will need an update, so they'll unveil more ACDs at the time. I also have a feeling that maybe, just maybe, Apple may be on the verge of a mid-tower. I have no idea why, I just do.

[Umbongo]

I will expect that adaptor cable to be provided together with the monitor.
It doesn't make sense for Apple to introduce a monitor specially for the laptops, especially when they already have isight and speakers.

Having the isight and speakers built in is only useful for the Mac Pro and Mac Mini.

That's not true at all really. If you want to use your notebook closed and sit in front of a large screen you want the sound comming from infront of you and you wouldn't be able to use the camera on the notebook.

[waiyean]

So, you are saying that Apple's target market for this new Cinema Display is for people who wants to sit in front of a large screen with the notebook closed... and want the sound coming from in front?

Seriously, Apple took such a long time to refresh the displays.... if this is all they can come up with, I am truely disappointed.



That's not true at all really. If you want to use your notebook closed and sit in front of a large screen you want the sound comming from infront of you and you wouldn't be able to use the camera on the notebook.

[gazfocus]

I'm actually waiting to see if a DVI connector comes for the new Cinema Display. I currently have a 3 month old 23" ACD but would glady replace it with 2 of these beauties

[Umbongo]

So, you are saying that Apple's target market for this new Cinema Display is for people who wants to sit in front of a large screen with the notebook closed... and want the sound coming from in front?

Seriously, Apple took such a long time to refresh the displays.... if this is all they can come up with, I am truely disappointed.

To me it seems that way. It comes across that this is an accessory for mac notebooks. Which I don't see anything wrong with in itself, but I can certainly see why people are dissapointed.

[synth3tik]

I sent an email earlier this evening to Steve Jobs asking if the LED Cinema Display would be compatible with computers that only had DVI connections, and the exact response was "a simple adapter cable is all that's needed"

Seems like good news, as I would imagine Apple would begin to offer said adapter closer to the release of the monitor.


A simple $99 cable that is......

[toke lahti]

A simple $99 cable that is......
..found nowhere, which isn't very surprising since the whole mini displayport is proprietary at the moment.
Also, there's no mention of it in ledACD's specs...

[Silverhawk]

I do find it confusing on having the Cinema Display oriented for the laptops as opposed to using it for the Mac Pro or even the Mac Mini.

If there is an adapter, I'm sure it will be expensive which is hard to justify having the Display at all (granted the neat little bells and whistles & loss of FIREWIRE PORTS!!!!)

[SpinThis!]

but for the 30", dont charge a fortune like Samsung did for their 30" LED backlit display panel.
Apple will update its displays to LED "when technically and economically feasible" (Apple's words). The problem is there is just not that many manufacturers making LCDs backlit with LEDs at the moment, especially in those bigger sizes. What I can foresee happening is a price drop on the 30" in January, but Apple may update the rest of its line with new models. Of course, everybody will bitch and moan but they'll complain anyway if Apple introduced a new 30" that cost $3000.

[marvel2]

A simple $99 cable that is......

Really? :eek:

[Zorn]

Well, the Wikipedia article on DisplayPort says that active circuitry is only required for Dual-Link DVI conversion. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Dual-Link only required for driving 2560x1600 resolution? For the 1920x1200 res on the LED Cinema Display we should be able to make a simple Single-Link conversion, no?

[alphaod]

For the 1920x1200 res on the LED Cinema Display we should be able to make a simple Single-Link conversion, no?

Single link is all that is needed.

[Zorn]

Single link is all that is needed.

There we go. So that explains Steve saying "simple adapter cable", there will be no $100 active circuitry involved to drive the LED Cinema Display at its resolution.

[redmeister]

I do find it confusing on having the Cinema Display oriented for the laptops as opposed to using it for the Mac Pro or even the Mac Mini.

If there is an adapter, I'm sure it will be expensive which is hard to justify having the Display at all (granted the neat little bells and whistles & loss of FIREWIRE PORTS!!!!)

have a feeling the rest of the acd line will get refreshed for whenever the mini/pro gets refreshed. this one monitor seems to be just for laptops

[toke lahti]

Well, the Wikipedia article on DisplayPort says that active circuitry is only required for Dual-Link DVI conversion. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Dual-Link only required for driving 2560x1600 resolution? For the 1920x1200 res on the LED Cinema Display we should be able to make a simple Single-Link conversion, no?
If ledACD can handle dvi signals. If dvi's rgb-streams & clock stream has to be converted to dp's micro packets, it needs expensive processing.
So mb/mbp->dvi is cheap, because mb/mbp can send dvi signal through dp connector.
Dvi->ledACD is not cheap if it can take only dp signal and not dvi signal.