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Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

A charm with PowerBook 17" 1.67 GHz and 23" HD Cinema Display

Written by RL from Victoria

Aug 19, 2009

Debated buying the DVI to ADC adapter for months based on some bad user experiences in the reviews but my product has been solid and wish I had bought it months ago when my PowerMac Dual 2.0 GHz motherboard died. Now my very costly (and soon to be 6 year old!) original Apple 23" HD Cinema display is back in use and flawless as ever, saved by a relatively modest additional expense.

I tested my Cinema display as the secondary display and all features worked with the PowerBook display running as the primary display. Now I keep the PowerBook lid closed so the PowerBook is my temporary 'desktop' computer... until 2010. I hope I'll be able to use the display on next year's Mac Pros but the docs do not specifically say the adapter works with current Mac Pro graphic cards.

Do not know if this product has had any engineering or manufacturing changes in the last year to explain the improvement I see compared to the older reviews. Best to borrow a page from the App Store and associate the version of a product with the review - of course we the consumer don't always know what version of the product we have unless the part number (model) actually changes. Recent reviews should guide your purchase decision.

23 of 23 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

As advertised

Written by MF from Chesterfield

Jul 22, 2009

Works great connecting my Cinema Display to my Macbook Pro. For those complaining about size, bear in mind that the unit contains the power supply for the monitor. No complaints from this user.

26 of 27 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Rebirth of a Relic

Written by DO from YUMA

Jul 4, 2009

Ok, I had this adapter for about 2-months and I’m currently using it for my first generation MacBook Pro. It works without any problems and it brought my old first generation Apple 22-inch cinema display back to Life! Back then, the flat panel cost me 5K!!! Now I’m planning to hook it up to my MacPro that arrives this week. So for those who want miracles, all I can say is that this allows you to retain a quality display with a generous cord on both the brick and your old display. This measures around 7-feet so I couldn’t be more pleased.
Regards,

11 of 12 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Do your research, this is a good product.

Written by JS from Salem

Jun 27, 2009

I don't know why people are complaining so much about this. It works! Thanks to ebay I now have a beautiful 20" apple display coming out of my tiny 13" Macbook and the image is as good as any display I have seen on any tower. It is a bigger box because it is not just an adapter, it is converting the signal and amplifying and adjusting to fit these great old displays. It is also powering the monitor. PSUs take up some space. Just know what you are getting into before you get an old display with an ADC cable coming out of it. If you didn't do your research, you cannot complain.

8 of 9 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Works As Expected

Written by VD from Franklin

Apr 1, 2009

I replaced my workhorse PowerPC G5 with a MacPro Quad-Core which didn't support the ADC connector on my Cinema HD display. Since the display was working fine, I decided to spend the $100 to buy this adapter. Sure beats retiring a perfectly good display!

The first unit I received was defective, but the Apple Store shipped a replacement overnight, and supplied the free return shipping label.

The replacement unit is working fine. No problems with the USB port as reported in another review. No problems with sleeping or waking. Works for me as expected.

The unit is 5" x 5" x 1-1/4", but comes with long power, video and usb cables so it fits easily under my desk and easily reaches the display, computer, and power plugs.

44 of 45 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

A Terrific Solution!!!

Written by JC from WELLINGTON

Mar 7, 2009

I had an old "Cube" burn out on me and the Apple Studio Display remained idle until I found out about this adaptor. I connected it up to my MacBook Pro with no problem and it is just about the best accessory that I've ever invested any amount of money in. It is big and bulky, but it exudes strength and is compatible to the nth degree. I would recommend to anyone with a "fallow" Apple Studio Display. Its just too good to be true. The naysayers expect too much and they just don't see the beauty and simplicity of this elegant solution. What's a person to say?...GREAT!!!

12 of 16 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Just what the doctor ordered

Written by TG from Bellevue

Mar 2, 2009

This baby is what I needed to hook up my older cinema display with my new Mac Pro tower. I spent $100 instead of $800 for a new display. Works great, sleeps and wakes up. I could care less about the pulsing sleep mode light. I'm going to purchase another older cinema display and another one of these adapters to hook up dual display system. Cool beans. Go for it!!!!!

16 of 19 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Just what I needed for 12" PowerBook

Written by JJ from Acton

Jan 3, 2009

Works perfectly! My 12" PowerBook G4 needed more display area. I bought a used 15" Studio Display and this Adapter. Of course, the adapter and cables are all well designed and top quality.

Cabling the display to my PB is a bit messy, but it's all hidden in an Ikea desk. I wish Apple's Mini-DVI to DVI adapter was a bit longer. The display looks super and it's great to continue using the display instead of throwing it in a landfill!

18 of 25 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

JUST WHAT THE DR ORDERED

Written by RT from columbus

Dec 13, 2008

i got a steal on a studio display off ebay to try and hook up to my 13inch macbook. ordered the adapter and bam straight out the box plugged in three cables seached for display on my laptop and boom it turned the monitor on. as for the other reviews that show cons of this, yeah its a little bigger than what you would think is needed but its just a cable and is prolly behind the desk anyway. and i have had zero, zero problems doing anything with the display using this cable. i can mirror image, split screen, drag the toolbar from monitor to monitor, shoot my laptop and use just the studio display, or mess around on ebay on my laptop and have a movie playing on the display. bottom line, the adapter is off the chain, simplicity at a pretty penny (that should be an apple moto)

11 of 15 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Just What I Needed

Written by BB from Tulsa

Oct 20, 2008

I had bought my 20" apple cinema display and was using it for an 867MHZ G4. I decided to use the display on my new MBP as an extra screen. The size of the converter is larger than the MBP plug, but cables are long and I have them tucked behind desk on floor, so no lost desk space. I love it because I can still utilize the 2 USB ports on the back of my display, so the one I lost due to plugging in adapter gains me two more. Well worth it.

26 of 32 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Works well and as expected

Written by MM from MANHATTAN

Jul 14, 2008

This adapter, while large, works exactly as I expected. Set it up in about 5 minutes with no problems. Sleep works when you use the function through the computer. I have no complaints.

23 of 32 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Works perfectly

Written by JP from Prospect

May 5, 2008

It's been under my desk for years doing its job without any problems. It's well worth it to keep a nice monitor compatible with new Macs. The used market is a good indication of how well these adapters hold their value; people are paying more than 75% of the new price.

80 of 134 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Worked perfectly!

Written by DM from Mississauga

Jan 29, 2008

I had an old 22-inch cinema display just gathering dust, so I picked up one of these adapters. Hooked it up to my old Powerbook G4 and bingo, twin displays. Right outta the box.

Very Happy

36 of 60 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Does what it needs to do, no drama

Written by PT from Kodiak

Jan 26, 2008

I got this so that I could connect my old (circa 1999) 23" Cinema Display (with the ADC connection, duh) to my MacBook Pro and my Dell at work (barf), and some day I will plug it into a Mac Mini (as soon as Apple puts 802.11n wireless in the Mini to motivate me buy one- Apple, are you listening?). Both recognize my Cinema Display immediately and without fuss thanks to this adapter. Both computers offer up a native resolution for the Cin Disp (1600 x 1024) and all options appear to be available. The USB on the CD even works through my Dell, no fuss no muss.

The adapter brick is big, and it does contribute to cable clutter (WHY did Apple dump the cool ADC system!!?????), but it works without drama. Nice. This is the unit to use to keep those old ADC displays hooked up to current DVI computers.

37 of 51 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Does as advertised, great product

Written by JS from Madison Heights

Jan 6, 2008

If you're dealing with the issue of making an older Apple Display work with your new machine, this is a great solution.

Although other people have talked about heat, etc - I notice none of those issues. It just lays happily on the floor under my desk, which is it's permanent home.

What some other reviewers do not calculate is that Apple Displays, I find, even the older ones, to be graphically superior to most of the displays out there, and even buying one and getting this device will be cheaper than getting an equivalent modern one with the quality and color. I have kept my old displays for years, and still find them very good.

Sure, you can buy a run of the mill LCD for $100. But it will be useless for anything but web browsing and email. This takes something you can find for $100-$150 on e-Bay and makes a $250, awesome, large display with great resolution.

It's why I buy Apple - until six months ago, our firm still had laptops in service from 2002 - and they did the job. You pay more initially, but get much better life out of your machine.

88 of 138 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

excellent

Written by MK from CLINTON

Nov 23, 2007

This adapter performs as described, and quite honestly has been much better than the video card in my previous computer that supposedly supported this display. I used to have a ton of problems with the monitor indicating the back light needed to be repaired/replaced. I realize that it was probably a defective video card, but rather than repairing my old mac I upgraded to a new one and bought this. My Apple Cinema Display still works brilliantly after all these years. The cost of this was much cheaper than buying a new display, and thus well worth it for me.

31 of 51 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

do your homework FIRST, buy and be happy!

Written by ME from Pittsburgh

Sep 18, 2007

1) re: sleep issue: READ THE COMPATIBILITY TABLE in support: Document No. 75286

Sleep and Power functions are supported through the monitor for G4 systems...the systems that were mostly around. Only the first genertion G5 owners (June 03) would've been in the overlap period of the LCD Cinema Displays with ADC connectors. The second generation G5 powermacs would've had the matching metal-edged DVI Displays (june 04)--for people buying new products. Otherwise, most people understand there are challenges/difficulties in matching generations of hardware. This isn't the fault of the monitor, nor the adapter.... from the G5 on Apple dropped its proprietary connectors and employed standard parts.

2) warmth of adapter: its a POWER SUPPLY. It is always on, even in sleep mode, to trickle to support the Power and Sleep buttons, as well as the USB ports. The unit means there is that much less drain on your computer's internal power supply, To the comment about his power supply "burning out" because he had to turn his computer off, that's a connection or conclusion that has quite alot of assumption and no proof.

3) Note the negative posts are typically talking about having to BUY the adapter, NOT HOW IT WORKS. It works quite well and provides a valuable tool to keep all those beautiful older ADC based monitors in service.

116 of 186 people found this useful

Apple DVI to ADC Adapter

Lifesaver

Written by GR from Dallas

Jun 2, 2007

Recently, I had to replace the video card on my vintage Mac G4 Quicksilver. The new card had no ADC port for me to plug my 23" Apple Cinema display into. The Apple DVI to ADC Display Adapter was the solution and it works perfectly. Plug and play. Absolutely no problems. Full functionality ... including screen saver. A little pricey for an adapter, but considering the only other alternative for me if I wanted a Cinema Display was to buy a new one, then it's quite reasonable.

Thanks Apple!

38 of 53 people found this useful