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Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Review, on the road experience & tips on starting up the device

Written by TC from London

28-Nov-2009

In order to use this you should have a Macbook that has a Mini DisplayPort, always check the model of your Macbook before buying as you can easily end up buying the mini DVI to VGA adapter instead of this or have a mini DVI connector older gen Macbooks.

In terms of whether it's compatible with projectors and LCD TV, so far I used it on two LCD TVs, both work flawlessly (LG and Samsung). The trick here is MAKE SURE THE MAC BOOK IS OFF/SHUTDOWN, attach the adapter to the Macbook, follow by the VGA connector. Once those are ALL CONNECTED, switch ON your Macbook. The OS will detect the port and enable the external screen normally. It's an IMPORTANT step, if you miss it the screen WILL BE BLANK, trying to click on detect screens in preference probably wont work as well.

When it works, you might want to switch to mirror mode, you can configure that in the display preference. I use that for presentations as I have to get a view on what I was presenting every now and then in front of me. Best resolution in mirror mode probably is nearer to the 720p (1280 x 720), which is a HD standard resolution, less distortion for what you try to display on the TV/Projector.

On the technical side, the adapter contains a Digital to Analog signal convertor (that's why it's a bit long, there is a circuit board and ICs in it), which may only be enabled if it detects a screen attached during initial boot up.

Another note is that there is a mini Displayport to HDMI adapter available on (Check Apple/Amazon). These are digital links which will probably provide better compatibilities or resolution to any HDMI capable HD TV. Some will even allow audio on the TV via adapter.

My 2 cents is for Apple to provide simple picture/graphical guide for users (on package or at display) or ask Apple store staffs to guide buyers. This can be very frustrating for normal users who isn't aware of the (simple) startup procedures.

Thanks for reading! Hope it helps :-).




Cheers,
Zen

23 of 23 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Awesome!

Written by CS from Cape Coral

27-Nov-2009

I have a Vizio and it works just fine. It goes up to the full 1920x1080 resolution. It has a tight fit so you know it wont come unplugged but sometimes its a little to hard to unplug. Overall, great buy.

4 of 4 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

bought two both did not work!

Written by AP from swanage

26-Nov-2009

I have bought two of these in late november 2009. neither of them worked well when I plugged them in, if the screen was pixilated and flickered allot. I did a search on google and found that there was a firmware update in march 2009. It was on a third party site, no mention of it on the apple site. I ran it once and it did not recognise the adapter so I ran it 4 or five times, suddenly the adapter started working fine. I then bought another adapter and had to do the same process to get that to work. These adapters were bout from a flagship apple store, you would expect them to 1 update the firmware themselves and 2 make a patch that actually works properly then charge a reasonable price for these adapters. It's been nine months since the firmware update, I doubt an apple store keeps stock for 9 months, it's a total disgrace.

0 of 2 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Works perfectly fine for me.

Written by YV from Arlington

23-Nov-2009

No issues. Plugged everything in and i worked. No loose connections or trouble that everyone else seems to have mentioned. Very secure. I use it every day to dock my MBP to a Dell LCD.

My only compaint that the adapter is even needed. Apple, I like you a lot, but play nicer with other manufactuers. Use more common technologies.

13 of 15 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

MINI DVI. A WASTE

Written by CO from philadelphia

13-Nov-2009

i am extremely dissappointed, PLEASE CHECK SPECIFICATIONS ON YOUR MAC BEFORE BUYING CABLES LIKE THESE.YOU WOULD THINK ALL MACS ARE BUILT THE SAME WAY UNTIL SOMETHING YOU HAVE WAITED FOR A WHOLE MONTH DOES NOT FIT. APPLE SHOULD SHOW SPECIFICATIONS, NOT JUST PICTURES..DO NOT BUY..DO NOT BUY

19 of 95 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Too expensive

Written by JM from TETONIA

10-Nov-2009

this adaptor is too expensive for the length of cable. (See other reviews) With all the other problems with firmware and failure to run on some TVs apple developed a clunker. But unfortunately only one on the market, no third party choices.

19 of 33 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Good, but needs a firmware update

Written by LS from Oakland

5-Nov-2009

This adapter worked quite well for me, but then it began cutting out
or flickering. I did a web search and learned that Apple now has a
firmware update for the adapter which you can download.
Just plug in your computer with its power supply and with the external
VGA display connected, and run Software Update. So this problem
might explain some of the less-than-positive reviews.

33 of 38 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

A possible solution...

Written by SE from Krusevac

28-Oct-2009

Why don't you (apple) just make a longer cable for adapters like these?

This bulky VGA connector would be further from the computer, making less mess, and having less chance to be pulled out by cable itself.
A lot of people have problems with it, maybe just a longer cable would do some trick?

28 of 32 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Works Grate with my macbook pro's port

Written by BR from Seattle

21-Oct-2009

im really pleased with the preformance of the adapter

24 of 43 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

It comes off about once a day.

Written by SL from fort lee

18-Oct-2009

The display adapter is so small and lacking any fasteners it falls off very easily just from the weight of the VGA cable.

I ended up just taping the adapter to the Mac.

Its such a obvious design flaw. Because of this I cannt really recommend using a Mac for mission critical assignments. Once the cable falls out, it often crashes the system.

Just a little shake of the table or someone bumping into the Mac will cause the adapter to slip out, losing all work on the system. Even with the tape the adapter slowly comes lose.

30 of 40 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Worthless? Or not?

Written by SO from Ashburn

17-Oct-2009

I connect my new MacBook Pro to an LG 22" display. It's resolution is 1680x1050. For some reason, It'll let me output 1680 to the monitor, but the display won't show anything but a black screen. VERY annoying, since my old MacBook with the miniDVI port or whatever worked PERFECTLY! Although one absolute upside to this port is that the connection is a TON stronger (the adapter won't just simply fall out like the miniDVI one) and that it actually supports the PowerSave mode for my display.

7 of 11 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Best Ever!!

Written by MU from Cuyahoga Falls

13-Oct-2009

Clicks into computer better than any other port in the past, syncs and looks great on all the displays i have used! I primarily use my 37" Vizio HDTV, sanyo projectors, panasonic projectors, sharp and dell projectors and they work flawless!! i have zero complaints!

14 of 16 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Junk

Written by AS

10-Oct-2009

Not only was the actual connection to the vga cable horrible, it caused my display to be messed up. When I attempted to change the display back to the original settings, system preferences would not quit and the computer would not turn off normally.

9 of 13 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Serves Its Purpose With Ease

Written by BH from Marlborough

9-Oct-2009

I purchased this adapter to connect a monitor I purchased at a tag sale to my macbook pro. I was skeptical at first, but the second I plugged it into my pro, the second monitor came up and everything worked easily and without any setup. Great product!

12 of 14 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Useless

Written by AG from Muskego

7-Oct-2009

Was very frustrated to find out that despite buying hd movies legally through itunes I am unable to play them on my lcd tv because it is not" hdcp compatible." Will be returning the product tomorrow.

11 of 22 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

No image anymore

Written by JW from VÄSTERÅS

7-Oct-2009

I bought this adapter in February 2009 and used it to connect my unibody macbook to:
1. Panasonic PT AE500 Projector
2. Samsung 42" Plasma
3. My External 19" LG LCD

I worked for the first four days with the projector. Then it stopped working.
I then tried the TV and the Monitor as well, no dice. In system preferences the screen is not detected at all. I have tried different cables and monitors.

When I try to upgrade the firmware (Mini_DisplayPort_to_VGA_Firmware_Update) it says my monitor needs to be connected for the upgrade. It is. But the Mac won't detect the screen.

15 of 21 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Junk!

Written by JS from Burbank

5-Oct-2009

This adapter is so sensitive that if I breathe wrong it will disconnect from the back of my mac mini. The result is i lose my Samsung Syncmaster 225bw monitor and cant get it back short of holding a voodoo ceremony. What a pain!

13 of 18 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Works great

Written by AK from cupertino

29-Sep-2009

I have gotten mine to work with my samsung 32 inch tv, i think the main trick is to plug the adapter in first to the vga cable, then you plug it in to the mac...

21 of 27 people found this useful