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Why mini-DisplayPort?!

M

Muler36

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 10, 2008
39
0
I do love my MBP, but some of the decisions apple made really frustrates me.

2 USB ports on a Macbook Pro? I didn't think it'd be much of a problem initially, but the annoyance is becoming quite apparent.

But more frustrating, is the Mini-DisplayPort. Im correct in thinking that DisplayPort supports sound, so coupled with a displayport -> HDMI adapter, this would be perfect for outputting to your HDTV, instead apple decide on using a mini where theres no sound for one, and also you have to use a mini-displayport -> DVI, then DVI->HDMI adapter? (Im aware theres ment to be a mini displayport -> hdmi coming)

Is anyone else having second thoughts about there MBP for these kind of reasons?
 
Even though I don't own one, i am pretty much in agreement. I think they should have at least waited until the proper adaptors/ compatibility with screens worked/was available.

With regard to USBs, you'd think that you'd get more because it is a pro machine! Seems like hardly anything makes it "pro" anymore.
 
Muler36 said:
instead apple decide on using a mini where theres no sound for one
Click to expand...

The new displays have speakers so yes MDP exports sound.

I have yet to need more than 2 USB ports, and if I buy one of the new displays it will have a 4 powered USB ports..

I still love mine and have no issues with the design choices Apple made.
 
darngooddesign said:
The new displays have speakers so yes MDP exports sound.

I have yet to need more than 2 USB ports, and if I buy one of the new displays it will have a 4 powered USB ports..

I still love mine and have no issues with the design choices Apple made.
Click to expand...

This is weird, the mini displayport doesnt seem to export sound as when I have the usb from the 24" LED ACD unplugged there is no sound from the display but if you plug the usb back in, there is sound once again.
 
jjahshik32 said:
This is weird, the mini displayport doesnt seem to export sound as when I have the usb from the 24" LED ACD unplugged there is no sound from the display but if you plug the usb back in, there is sound once again.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think the sound and iSight for the LED ACD is USB driven. Maybe mini-display ports carry sound but that's probably for conversion to HDMI or something...
 
The mini-DisplayPort is indeed a bit ******** because the regular display port isn't exactly large either. Why didn't they have something equally absurd like mini-LAN connector instead since that takes a lot of space.

The main deal really is that Apple is ****in' their customers up the bum with the adapters. None of them are included so essentially out of the box you can't use the mini-DP for anything at all. Also where's the mini-DP to regular Displayport adapter? That should be the cheapest and easiest to make but Apple surely has delayed it just so they can cash in on the other adapters.

According to Wikipedia, the mini-DP doesn't even support sound at all. So what exactly IS good about the mini-DP?
 
tsvb said:
fixed
Click to expand...

I'm glad that Apple has used the mini displayport (because the plug is very small and unlike dvi doesnt take a huge bulk of space on the side of the mbp).

And not to mention mini display port has a much bigger bandwidth than dvi. And since Apple licensed the mini displayport for free, we should see it on most lcd/hd tvs in the near future and adaptors.
 
i'm not entirely sure LCD makers are going to go out of their way to incorporate mini DP inputs into LCDs. They're going to leave that up to cable/adapter makers, after all only Apple computers utilize this input, and how big is their market share?

They will be perfectly content making full size DP, which laptops such as the Thinkpad are now incorporating.
 
So wait. I'm hearing two things, one that the Mini-DisplayPort supports sound, and two that it does not. Who the hell is right?
 
Minimoose 360 said:
So wait. I'm hearing two things, one that the Mini-DisplayPort supports sound, and two that it does not. Who the hell is right?
Click to expand...

Mini Displayport is a staight through connection to DisplayPort (same number of pins so no conversion is needed apart from the physical size of the connector).

DisplayPort supports sound so Mini Displayport will support sound. But it is not known if apple wired up the sound on the MacBook end to go through the connector as they have not released the tech docs yet.
 
I'm afraid that I fall amongst the minority of users that actually support the use of Display Port. It is far more convenient than DVI and is a definite upgrade in terms of performance/capability. A HDMI out would be fantastic too, but I'd love Apple to manufacture a simple adaptor instead.

What leaves me dumbfounded is why Apple didn't just use a standard sized Display Port. I know they've always been first to adopt new industry standards - most recently the Express Card 34 on the first gen MBP.

But yeah, a regular DP would have made more sense to me.
 
besides, the smaller the size the more fragile the thing is..
they should have gone with standard DP.
 
i think some people are getting slightly confused that im arguing DVI's corner, im not. I fully support DisplayPort, think its a great idea and will most likely be the future of display in/out, but Mini-DisplayPorts arent.

And just because the old MBP had 2 USB ports, that doesnt make it right. In this day an age there should be at least 4, think of this for a second:

if you use the dual-dvi adapter for a 30" display, thats one of your usb ports taken already. If youre using a mouse/keyboard thats anything but bluetooth, then thats another port taken, other peripherals then couldn't be used; fair enough on a macbook/air, but a PRO? really who are apple designing this laptop for.
 
I've read a few posts arguing that Apple should have waited until monitors and adapters support display port. If they did that then the other companies would be thinking "why make this product if no machines support it"..

Someone had to take the leap first.
 
Muler36 said:
I do love my MBP, but some of the decisions apple made really frustrates me.

2 USB ports on a Macbook Pro? I didn't think it'd be much of a problem initially, but the annoyance is becoming quite apparent.

But more frustrating, is the Mini-DisplayPort. Im correct in thinking that DisplayPort supports sound, so coupled with a displayport -> HDMI adapter, this would be perfect for outputting to your HDTV, instead apple decide on using a mini where theres no sound for one, and also you have to use a mini-displayport -> DVI, then DVI->HDMI adapter? (Im aware theres ment to be a mini displayport -> hdmi coming)

Is anyone else having second thoughts about there MBP for these kind of reasons?
Click to expand...

Second thoughts ... yes. I was using a SR 2.4GHz 17" MBP and a Matrox A2D Digital adapater to drive two Dell 1600 x 1200 displays (as a 3200 x 1200 wide screen desktop) and the MBP's 17 screen as another work area.

This setup just is not supported with the Unibody MBP.

At home I have resorted to a driving a 24" display at 1920 x 1200 using the mini display port to DVI adapter. At work where I ran the SR 17" MBP with dual Dell displays, I have given up and use a PC with dual display capability.

A major set back on several levels! I am really disappointed with Apple on this design decision.

Neil
 
I'm pretty curious about mdp containing the sound.
I'm planning on hooking my mbp to my av receiver.
If so, would the sound quality be better?
 
Muler36 said:
i think some people are getting slightly confused that im arguing DVI's corner, im not. I fully support DisplayPort, think its a great idea and will most likely be the future of display in/out, but Mini-DisplayPorts arent.

And just because the old MBP had 2 USB ports, that doesnt make it right. In this day an age there should be at least 4, think of this for a second:

if you use the dual-dvi adapter for a 30" display, thats one of your usb ports taken already. If youre using a mouse/keyboard thats anything but bluetooth, then thats another port taken, other peripherals then couldn't be used; fair enough on a macbook/air, but a PRO? really who are apple designing this laptop for.
Click to expand...

The problem I see is you are complaining about only 2 USB ports because you are making a laptop into a desktop for home. Nothing wrong with that, but like me who uses is for my business and travels a lot 2 USB ports are fine as I don't have multi-displays plugged in nor a keyboard plugged in. I may use a mouse so that takes 1 port up leaving my other port free.

For at home yes, it is a bit of an issue not having more then 2 ports but it's a laptop... And I am not defending anyone for doing it, just pointing out that some are trying to complain about a laptop not being a desktop...
 
Muler36 said:
if you use the dual-dvi adapter for a 30" display, thats one of your usb ports taken already. If youre using a mouse/keyboard thats anything but bluetooth, then thats another port taken, other peripherals then couldn't be used; fair enough on a macbook/air, but a PRO? really who are apple designing this laptop for.
Click to expand...

I don't know about other 30" displays, but Apple's has two FW400 and two USB 2.0 ports. If they're wired then you can use one of those ports for both, which makes the most sense anyway. You are still left with two additional USB ports, and plugging a hub into the monitor gives you even more.

In regards to the Air, the 24" makes the most sense as you have 3 powered USB ports in what amounts to a really nice docking solution.
 
Muler36 said:
I do love my MBP, but some of the decisions apple made really frustrates me.

2 USB ports on a Macbook Pro? I didn't think it'd be much of a problem initially, but the annoyance is becoming quite apparent.

But more frustrating, is the Mini-DisplayPort. Im correct in thinking that DisplayPort supports sound, so coupled with a displayport -> HDMI adapter, this would be perfect for outputting to your HDTV, instead apple decide on using a mini where theres no sound for one, and also you have to use a mini-displayport -> DVI, then DVI->HDMI adapter? (Im aware theres ment to be a mini displayport -> hdmi coming)

Is anyone else having second thoughts about there MBP for these kind of reasons?
Click to expand...

When the there are only two USB ports, placed so closed together, some fat usb plug might occupy all the available space, leaving the other usb port usless.
 
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