Why does Apple have so many proprietary display connectors?

[SnowLeopard2008]

I'd call it proprietary at this point. Aside of Apple's 24" LCD, there are none on the market. Effing ridiculous that if I want to attach a monitor to my MB that I have to buy an overpriced Apple display or overpriced Apple display adapter that should have been included in the box.

Apple's 24" ACD is NOT overpriced. You get speakers, iSight, power adapter, AND it's LED backlit. LED backlit is the key term(s) here. Normal displays like my own are CCFL backlit and fade/dim after a few years. LED is brighter and much cleaner (environmentally). It uses less power too.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Let us not forget the original connection of the Applevision 14" and 17" which included mic, speakers, ADB, and video. I still have an Applevision 14" in my office storage room. Unfortunately it was around $500 and looks great but I can't connect it to any of my Macs except my old Quadra 840AV. And it was limited to 640X480.

Not forgotten, mentioned in post #11. I also still have my 14" AV display, and the Quadra 660av I bought with it. It was a nice combo in its day, but that connector was never fully implemented, even by Apple.

 

[KnightWRX]

Apple's 24" ACD is NOT overpriced. You get speakers, iSight, power adapter, AND it's LED backlit. LED backlit is the key term(s) here. Normal displays like my own are CCFL backlit and fade/dim after a few years. LED is brighter and much cleaner (environmentally). It uses less power too.

And it has a H-IPS panel too.

 

[alphaod]

Monoprice. No need to pay extra. the MDP adapters are coming real soon now, including MDP to HDMI which Apple doesn't make.

No need to pay extra? As long as I'm pay anything more than $0, I am paying extra.

 

[KnightWRX]

No need to pay extra? As long as I'm pay anything more than $0, I am paying extra.

You'd rather have 15 different ports and a 2" thicker laptop ? Adapters are cheap and provide a wide array of connectivity options.

 

[iBlue]

Sure you can, but it's like buying a car that you know gets poor gas mileage.... and then crying because it gets poor gas mileage.

More like buying a car with the only option being a pretty little one gallon tank, and if you want more than that you are required to buy an extremely expensive adapter to use a bigger better gas tank of your choice.

 

[johnnj]

Is a mini-display port to regular display port adapter too much to ask for?

Doesn't even look like Monoprice (love those guys) has one of them coming out.

This would do a lot to neaten up my pseudo-docking station wire bundle.

John

 

[miles01110]

Apple doesn't hold licensing. The port is part of the DisplayPort spec set by VESA, making it licence free and royalty free.

From:

http://developer.apple.com/softwarelicensing/agreements/minidisplayport.html

If, after evaluation, you would like to obtain a license to develop or distribute plugs, receptacles or other devices implementing the Mini DisplayPort Connector, please download and print this Mini DisplayPort Implementation License, complete according to the attached checklist and mail two original signed Implementation License forms to the Software Licensing address on the checklist. Your license will become effective when signed by Apple.

Forgive me if I disagree with you.

 

[nanofrog]

From:

http://developer.apple.com/softwarelicensing/agreements/minidisplayport.html

Forgive me if I disagree with you.

This was posted PRIOR to the acceptance of Mini DisplayPort by VESA. It's now moot.

 

[MVApple]

Apple's whole marketing model is based on locking the user in. Everything they do with their machines and software is done to ensure that everything you do is Apple - its as simple as that. Even the upgrade paths are carefully designed so that certain pieces of equipment are obsoleted and certain new equipments are designed with no possibility of working with older setups. At the end of the day it is the Apple way.

I was aware of this before I bought my Mac and decided that I could live with it. In many respects when it comes to evil empires, I'd have to say Apple are a lot more 'evil' than MS. It is just that Apple seem to do 'evil' with a lot more finesse - so much finesse that most Apple fan boys love it!

RobP

My sentiments exactly. We can add mini-toslink to the mix too if you want. To Apple's defense though, the mini display port should only need a simple adapter to make it a full display port and PC manufactures are already incorporating display ports into their monitors and graphic cards. Display port is definitely next generation and we should start seeing more and more of it as time comes by. Sony is also notorious for coming up with proprietary formats.

I've come to accept it as coming with the package for Apple. I think they design items to revolve around an ideal situation.

 

[miles01110]

This was posted PRIOR to the acceptance of Mini DisplayPort by VESA. It's now moot.

Acceptance by VESA has nothing to do with licensing from Apple. You still need permission from Apple to use it, regardless of how easy said permission is to obtain.

 

[sjivan]

Apple's whole marketing model is based on locking the user in. Everything they do with their machines and software is done to ensure that everything you do is Apple - its as simple as that. Even the upgrade paths are carefully designed so that certain pieces of equipment are obsoleted and certain new equipments are designed with no possibility of working with older setups. At the end of the day it is the Apple way.

I was aware of this before I bought my Mac and decided that I could live with it. In many respects when it comes to evil empires, I'd have to say Apple are a lot more 'evil' than MS. It is just that Apple seem to do 'evil' with a lot more finesse - so much finesse that most Apple fan boys love it!

RobP

100% agree, well said RobP.

 

[awmazz]

Apple's whole marketing model is based on locking the user in. Everything they do with their machines and software is done to ensure that everything you do is Apple
RobP

I don't think it's about locking users in, much simpler than that - they do it because they can. Sony can't just release a new monitor with a weird new port nVidia cards don't have, nVidia can't just release a card with a weird new port Sony monitors don't have. Apple can.

Because Apple makes the whole computer setup from mouse to monitor to operating system and sell them as complete packages, they can do whatever they like to improve the whole design, eg, the ADC connector was to reduce cable clutter on the desk top to a single cable from the computer for power, DVI and USB ports. At Apple, if Jonathan Ive wants to reduce cable clutter from the display into a single port, they just do it, because they can.

PS. Another reason the 'lock-in' theory doesn't apply is every AGP graphics card in G4 and G5 Macs never had more than a single ADC port along with either a VGA or DVI port depending on the card, so buyers who wanted a non-Apple display were never locked-in to using just an Apple display or forced to buy a different card.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Every company wants lockin'

I've never met a company that wanted to help you buy your product or service elsewhere save for those phony insurance rate companies that claim they will show you the lowest price.

 

[brand]

Sony can't just release a new monitor with a weird new port nVidia cards don't have, nVidia can't just release a card with a weird new port Sony monitors don't have.

Yes they can. They can make, market, and sell whatever they want.

 

[awmazz]

Yes they can. They can make, market, and sell whatever they want.

Really? Not just in theory? I didn't know that. So are you sure the Sony monitors you're talking about are like Apple's ADC displays so their video port can only work with Sony desktops? The discussion is about propriety video ports only working on their own brand computers, hence people claiming it's a lock-in practice. So I'm curious now as I can't even think of any propriety Sony video ports at all. But I'm no expert on Sony as you seem to be.

 

[pr5owner]

The policy is, if you can't deal with the way Apple does it, an Apple computer is just not right for you. Stuck in the Windows world, I'm afraid.

you realize there is more than just 2 operating systems in the world right? (theres actaully several hundreds of OS's)

 

[pr5owner]

Yes they can. They can make, market, and sell whatever they want.

yep, anyone can do anything they want, but if they make some BS connector most PC users will just laugh in their face. (happens alot to sony especially with propriatary software and stuff, look what happened to the minidisc and sonic stage, what a POS, the software that is and ATRAC)