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Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Mini DVI to VGA

Written by BB from Los Angeles

Nov 5, 2009

As with most people, I always thought to keep my accessories from previous MACs to use on newer models.
That doesn't work this time. I had kept my mini DVI to VGA cord from my iBook G4 to use with my 2007 Macbook. I just found out today that the ports on these two models are different.
So, now I have to cough up more money to buy a cord that will work. And I believe there is no mention of this change as the ports are just referred to as "mini DVI" ports...not "mini DVI 2" like they refer to USB 2.0 or Firewire 400 and/or 800.

I recommend to everyone; before you get excited at the prospect of watching your Family Guy episodes you downloaded from iTunes on your new flatscreen TV, make sure you know if you have the proper cord (if you kept one from a previous Mac).
Best of Luck.

24 of 42 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

BEWARE! Does not work with the 2009 Macbook White!

Written by PB from East Aurora

Sep 5, 2009

Buyer beware! I bought this retail, and nowhere on the packaging does it mention this problem. It is somewhat hidden on this pages (linked to with a little *). It does work great when it works (as my friend's laptop can vouch), but if you have a Macbook White, it just doesn't work!

34 of 48 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Does not work with Mac Mini

Written by GD from Milano

Sep 3, 2009

I bought this adapter some time ago for my MacBook (white, 2007) and it worked flawlessly.
Then I bought a new Mac Mini (2009) and it didn't work. After some googling I found that Apple had dropped support for analog signals in the mini-DVI port.
Very bad.

41 of 52 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

What an unbelievably bad and unnecessary product this is

Written by KS from Helsinki

Aug 16, 2009

Thank you Apple for first of all NOT making a standard VGA port on the Macbook, but instead making it necessary to spend an astonishing 18 euros ($25!!) on a useless dongle, to be able to connect it to an RGB port. And yes, you still need to, it's actually quite rare for a conference room to have something with an HDMI, let alone a DVI connection!

Second, it's unbelievably finicky, and almost impossible to get it to stick to the mini-DVI port without falling off.

And the worst part - it just broke down. Didn't take even a year.

51 of 87 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Fragile and unreliable

Written by CG from elstree

May 15, 2009

The Mini DisplayPort IMHO is a disaster!
Received two new MacBook Pro's a couple of weeks ago. First time one was used we had problems with Dual-link DVI display
Second unit developed a fault with its Mini DisplayPort to VGA connector (no blue displayed - very embarrassing during a client presentation!)
Apple need to deal with this

16 of 35 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Should We Abandon All Hope?

Written by SR from Abilene

May 12, 2009

Unfortunately, the Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter is an abomination. From the humble beginner, to the fanatic, to the ardent professional Apple provides amazing computing power but this item's numerous negatives diminishes that functionality enough to make you question Apple's commitment.

1. Fitment issues: deplorable connectivity/attachment to the machine, and it is not universal.
2. Adapter length is ludicrously too short.
3. Prone to frequent and various image distortions
3. The coupe de grace, the functional life expectancy is appallingly short.

Apple customers want, need, expect and demand superior products but this 'adapter' wreaks of red herring! Apple & Apple customers, I beseech you, this is the proverbial straw!

17 of 19 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Fragile

Written by CW from Sherwood Park

Mar 3, 2009

I had this adapter for approximately 1 month when the cord started to short out and drop colours. This adapter is junk. One of the few Apple products that has truly disappointed me.

35 of 43 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

works for Powerbook G4 and MacBook?

Written by DR

Dec 29, 2008

My old computer is a PowerBook G4 12" and my new one is a MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo. The overview for this adapter says it's compatible with both. However, both of these have very different mini DVI ports. I have an adapter that was bought a long time ago that fits the PowerBook G4 DVI port but does not fit the MacBook port. So, the overview is clearly misleading and somebody's still bound to be screwed over. Despite the review about different PowerBooks having different DVI ports, they still haven't thoroughly clarified the issue.

I suggest that no one buy this product and keep leaving one-star reviews until they fix this and put up some more pictures of the DV-side of the adapter so you can at see for yourself if it looks compatible with your port.

74 of 87 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Good Luck Getting the One You Need

Written by DM from Guaynabo

Dec 5, 2008

As someone baptized in Mac Religion and having set up my new company only with Mac equipment it is SOOOOOOOOO frustrating to find that every time a new version of a MacBook comes out they change the mini-DVI output configuration.

One of my various Macs is a black core-duo MacBook fromk about 2 years ago. I went and bought the mini-DVI to VGA adapter and find that IT DOES NOT FIT MY MAC BOOK. NO WHERE on the packaging does it say that the mini-DVI end fits only certian versions of Mac Book. And I cannot find where I can find which one to buy (or even if back issue ones are for sale).

I have to use this computer as my back up for projecting presentations but I can't without the adapter. What do I have to do - buy a brand new Mac Book and get the adapter the same day????????????????

63 of 84 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

can't use it; way too short.

Written by CP from Langley

Dec 5, 2008

I can't believe that Apple can be so brilliant and so stupid at the same time. What good is cord that's only 2 inches long? I would have to dangle my MacBook from the VGA input at the back of the TV!, with the lid open! (It's at least 12 inches from the VGA input to the stand the TV sits on. Get real Apple.

24 of 118 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Inconveniently flimsy

Written by JR from Jackson

Dec 1, 2008

I am currently living and working outside the US, where there are no Apple retail stores. I need to use my Macbook with multiple projectors daily, so when my video output showed signs of discoloration and intermittent failure, I nearly panicked. I guess can order a new one, but they are terribly expensive and difficult to find where I am. Besides, I've only had my adapter for about 3 months--will a new one last as long? It seems they just aren't built to last.

If not for this fatal flaw, I would have given the adapter at least 4 stars in quality and workability. In short, I'm sorely disappointed.

20 of 24 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

When it works, it works well, but...

Written by JG from greenwich,

Dec 1, 2008

I work at a school and these get destroyed very easily. We have about 15 iMacs and any number of MacBooks using these connections to work with SMARTboards, projectors, etc. and we have had to replace, on average, one every two-to-three months.

They should either have a longer cord, or no cord at all between the connections for better reliability

11 of 15 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Useful but very fragile

Written by YA from Fort Collins

Nov 28, 2008

I had an ibook and the adapter worked pretty well and came with my computer, then I bought my MacBook and I had to buy this, I use it pretty often and after 3 months it is not working anymore. I will have to buy another one,

11 of 16 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

AWFUL!!!

Written by LL from Columbus

Oct 7, 2008

This product is not useful at all. I bought this product and I am returning it in the same day. The cable is way too short. I wanted to hook my macbook up to a bigger screen, but the cable did not reach from my laptop to my screen. It was such a waste. It was extremely hard to plug into with the two screws on the end. Overall this thing is a piece of junk. I would not recommend this product to anyone

14 of 108 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Disappointed

Written by MW from Miami

Jun 16, 2008

I have two major problems with this cable. 1) Cord is too short. Should be at least 3-4ft long so in a normal situation it could reach the floor. 2) Unit does not connect with computer, just slides in loosely. When you factor in 1 that it puts the puts the bulk of weight right by computer and 2 the loose connection, that equals cable falling out it you even touch it or move computer a fraction of a inch. Being that I'm using this on a macbook(laptop) in closed lid mode cable falling out equals mac going to sleep. When plugged in works great but feels like you're using an ethernet cable with a broken tab. Sneeze and you're offline.

28 of 57 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Absolutely Terrible

Written by BV from Appleton

Apr 13, 2008

This is the worst product of all times except for Windows 98. I bought it and it worked for 3 months then stopped working, completely. Absolute junk.

104 of 213 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

Shoddy quality for such an expensive cable

Written by BD from Portland

Feb 24, 2008

My mini-DVI to VGA adapter is terrible. It worked fine for a few months, but then started having problems. The color channels don't all stay connected.. sometimes the screen turns green or magenta or blue. It's truly a poor piece of equipment. I haven't even moved it from its original location.. it stays connected to my laptop 99% of the time. And, of course, since this is apparently a proprietary specification (mini-DVI), I'm forced to buy another one of these terrible cables. Thanks Apple for pulling a Microsoft on us!

144 of 225 people found this useful

Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter

doesn't work

Written by SM from LINLITHGOW

Oct 28, 2007

the really annoying thing is that I waited 2 weeks for this as apparently Apple can't supply them, and some of their authorised stores only order on demand. resorted to bidding (and losing) on eBay, and THEN found that an authorised dealer had stock. It came wihtin 2 days.
BUT... it doesn't work. DoA I asume, the monitor doesn't get the signal and there's no mirroring preference, which I assume only shows up when the display is detected. (the VGA monitor worked fine with the non-mini DVI adapter I had with my old iBook.)
This only adds insult to the injury that it cost £20 for something that should really be included in the box.

136 of 314 people found this useful