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Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Absolutely Fantastic

Written by RM from Grimsby

Nov 29, 2009

Bought this product when purchasing a new iMac for the study in my house. I had also bought a new LG TV to go with it, i decided it might be pretty nice to wall mount the TV above the mac, and using it as an extended desktop when I need to focus on work and the TV shouldn't be on.

Constant praise should be given to apple for making such a seamless product, I switched the TV onto the VGA input, and connected the minidisplay port to the mac. Instantly I had an extended desktop.

It even allows me to tell the mac where the second monitor is, above it. This seems to be a problem for many Windows users that you cannot have an extended desktop above the original and dominant screen.

Overall, just five stars for absolute satisfaction, and just thank you Apple! For making such a superb product, (although the wire is a touch short).

1 of 2 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

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

Written by TC from London

Nov 28, 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

20 of 20 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Awesome!

Written by CS from Cape Coral

Nov 28, 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

Works great for me

Written by SG from IPSWICH

Nov 27, 2009

I use it with my MacBook and a data projector, and a 52" Samsung TV. Just lost mine and replacing straight away.

Lost 1 star as a bit pricey.

1 of 1 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

bought two both did not work!

Written by AP from swanage

Nov 27, 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

Nov 24, 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

Seamless

Written by MH from WALLASEY

Nov 21, 2009

Despite reviews from others suggesting this does not work with data projectors, it worked perfectly with mine. First time, no hassle, no fuss, no problems.

2 of 2 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Not useable with projectors

Written by PM

Nov 19, 2009

Have tries several adapters on several projectors. I got a picture on the beamer, but only in 1024x768 which is wrong format and wrong resolution.
What I wonder is if ther's anyone who knows if it is nessecary to have IDbits connected as well. This is not possible in this building. At ALL. Therefore the signal is "only"
RGBHV which all standard PC's can handle. It is not possible to change the resolution on the Mac's own screen neither on the projector.

2 of 4 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

MINI DVI. A WASTE

Written by CO from philadelphia

Nov 14, 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

Nov 11, 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

Nov 6, 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

Oct 29, 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

Oct 21, 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

Oct 19, 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

Oct 17, 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

Works fine

Written by GW from ISLE OF MAN

Oct 15, 2009

I have a 13" Unibody MacBook and an old 19" TFT (Samtron 73v).

The adapter works as described out of the box, no problems at all. Only things that could be better is that the lead could be a bit longer, other than that, all OK.

6 of 9 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Best Ever!!

Written by MU from Cuyahoga Falls

Oct 14, 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

Oct 11, 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