Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adaptor

Reviews for Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adaptor

Customer Reviews and Ratings

3.0 out of 5 stars

Based on 496 reviews

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Stopped working!!!

    • Written by from tulsa

    I had it for a month and it worked fine then it began to short out. It would flicker and then it totally stopped working. I did not even use it often.

    108 of 123 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    VGA plug thumbscrews won't fit!

    • Written by from Midland

    I often give presentations at work, and others in my Fortune 30 sized company are jealous of my MacBook Pro. Until I try to plug into the projector, that is. The thumbscrews on any of the projectors I've tried in the last year won't work in the Apple adapter, and the connection is so loose that the projector display often goes to "blue screen". This always results in comments from the crowd like "cheap Apple products"...

    Very frustrating and so unlike Apple. I sure hope they remedy this soon.

    49 of 52 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Adapter Not the Issue

    • Written by from Cottonwood

    Just got the new MacBook Pro and the adapter will not work. It worked fine on my MacBook. I think it's the computer not the adapter. Just today had to make a presentation and could not get the adapter to work with my MacBook Pro. Fortunately, another teacher loaned me her computer, a MacBook. Plugged in the very same adapter and it worked perfectly. Hard to give this adapter a good rating when it doesn't work with all computers that it is designed for. Here's a thought how about creating an adapter that works with your new line of MacBook Pros. Loyal customer for many years. Hard to recommend your products when you can't fully use them. The ability to project my computer screen using an LCD is essential.

    46 of 52 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Screws won't attach - also had temporary issue with detection

    • Written by from Needham

    The screws of my VGA connector don't reach the embedded nuts of the apple adapter, which are too far below the surface to be engaged by the screws. This is either poor quality of construction in my unit or poor design overall. However the adapter does have a decent friction fit so I'll keep it as trying to get another is a waste of my time (but writing an overly long review isn't, apparently).

    I also had an initial problem with no monitor detection like other reviewers (I have a Samsung SyncMAster 192N) but after I rebooted, the monitor was detected. Furthermore, if I unplug and plug the adapter in, it will remove then re-detect the monitor. So I'm not sure if the detection problem is that of the adapter. Maybe it has to do with the video circuit. Again, works enough for me.

    34 of 36 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Poorly documented

    • Written by from Berkeley

    The documentation says this adapter lets you connect your computer to any "standard analog" device. Does any manufacturer describe its product as a "standard analog" device? So, the buyer doesn't know whether Apple warrants the adapter as compatible with any particular target device.

    I have a Samsung 450 (LN32D450G1D), and its (nearly incomprehensible) documentation describes it as a "digital" device, so I can't assert that this adapter should work with it. And it doesn't. My MacBook Pro (early 2011) doesn't recognize the Samsung monitor when connected via this adapter. But my ancient G4 PowerBook (2001) works just fine with the Samsung when directly connected with the same VGA cable (for which no adapter is required).

    If Apple were more helpful, it would post a compatibility table with each such adapter and let users fill in "yes" and "no" for any combination of host and target device.

    37 of 43 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Why not redesign this adapter?

    • Written by from Paradise

    As noted by others, the housing does not allow a proper attachment with a standard VGA cable. The female connecters are set too deep for the male VGA connectors to reach. I, like others, have resorted to the use of duct tape to hold the cable to the adapter. I don't understand why Apple does not listen to the suggestions and modify the design. (Used left over duct tape on iphone4 for good measure...)

    35 of 40 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    OK for low resolution

    • Written by from San Carlos

    This mini adapter works well for small external monitor but when it comes to 1900x1200 external monitor, the display start to give an annoying jitter. Proven with 2 separate purchased Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapters and two 1900x1200 24" different made monitors with a 15" MacBookPro i7 QuadCore.

    Note: There is no problem with my Sony notebook VGA output for these monitors.

    33 of 38 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    works fine SOMETIMES

    • Written by from Highlands Ranch

    this cable works fine. i use it everyday on a projector the problem is this is my 4th one in 2 years! this cable is very sensitive you cant twist it and bend it if you do its like the cables in the inside is twisting up inside. APPLE needs to fix all their cables and prices cause all of this ain't worth it

    29 of 31 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    not built to last

    • Written by from Gloucester Point

    For such a simple cable with such a high cost, I assumed it would be high quality. Worked pretty well for about 6 months hooked up to my Acer monitor, then rapidly deteriorated in performance. It is EXTREMELY touchy, and I can only get it work about 5% of the time now so I don't bother with it.

    I'm hesitant to order another one, since I know other customers have had the same issue, but I don't know if there are any other options out there.

    28 of 29 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Disappointing

    • Written by from HANWELL

    This is the first time I have been disappointed with a Mac product. The product worked great for the first three months then stopped working with no apparent reason or any warning. Steep price for something that doesn't stay working. Had no problem with the earlier version for my MacBook. Disappointed with this one.

    34 of 42 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Doesn't work with Samsung SyncMaster 940MW monitor

    • Written by from Suffolk

    No matter what resolution I try, the SyncMaster ignores the MacBook Pro. Like the other reviewers, I guess I'll have to try DVI. This is a 19" 1440x900 monitor which had no problems with the older Macbook and Powerbook.

    31 of 37 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Used to work

    • Written by from TAVISTOCK

    I have used this adaptor for some time with no problem, until I upgraded to Lion. Since then, it will not work with my LG TV, and despite Apple being made aware of the problem, no answer has been forthcoming. It appears to depend on the type of TV monitor you have whether it works or not. A big thumbs down for the OS, rather than the adaptor itself.

    28 of 33 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Works fine, but...

    • Written by from Geneva

    The metal female threads are set too deep within the plastic piece to receive the male bolt of most VGA connectors. It's frustrating because, without being threaded together, the adapter often falls off the connector in mid-presentation. I think Apple put aesthetics over function on this one. LIke all Apple products, it looks great, but making the female receiver flush and uniform with a thick, white plastic facing renders it useless when it comes to threading. Apple is sometimes guilty of design arrogance and I think this is one example of their purist design philosophy negatively effecting usability.
    End of rant.

    24 of 26 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Does the job...but

    • Written by from Tucson

    It works fine, but is overpriced and frankly scary. I enjoy the ease of a small and simple connector. It is easier than the DVI ports of old from Apple, but it borders on extremely breakable. It has the same problem as old iBook power connectors. It just seems like if I move my computer too much, it will break off in the port. I'd much prefer some sort of magnetic connector. Get on it Apple.

    30 of 39 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    This would be great if it worked properly

    • Written by from Henderson

    I have a brand new 2012 Macbook Air. I needed to connect it to the LCD projector in my classroom. It will project but the thunderbolt port connection is loose - it doesn't fit in there tightly at all and so it loses the connection all the time and then it's really hard to get it working again. Very problematic when you're trying to teach a group of 40 high school students. I don't have time for technical issues. FAIL

    31 of 42 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Works half the time when using as only video output

    • Written by from Dearborn

    There are numerous circumstances where the external display will not work. If you plug it in after you were in a session it will extend the desktop from the laptop display to the external monitor, however if you want to only use the external monitor it will not work reliably. More often than not the display will flicker, go on and off, or will not sync.

    One way to get it to work every time is to power off your MB, hook everything up, power it on, and shut it immediately! If you don't, you will run into problems.

    Lastly, often times when it goes to sleep the display will not wake up. It will initially appear that it is going to work, show the desktop, but then it will go black. It will continue to cycle on and off until you power it off, turn it back on, and shut it immediately.

    This kind of performance with an external display for a laptop as absolutely ridiculous; there are those of us that need to use an external display for work, presentations, and the like. I can't believe after all this time (over a year) this still isn't resolved.

    21 of 22 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    SAMSUNG HDTV?...DO NOT GET THIS....IT WON'T WORK....BUT I KNOW WHAT WILL!

    • Written by from SAN FRANCISCO

    I purchase this product this week expecting it to work as seamlessly as the previous iteration of Macbook Pro (DVI to VGA to 26’ Samsung LCD HDTV) With this cable my unibody MBP would recognize the TV, but my 26’ Samsung LCD would not register the computer. I then opted to purchase the mini display to DVI and added a DVI to VGA converter to it. This did not work either. Today I read some reviews about the Belkin HDMI to DVI cable. I have HDMI inputs on my TV... hmmm. To my utter exuberance this worked. It is my very NOT professional opinion the signal coming from the mini display port is too complex to be downconverted to VGA. When I connected the mini display to DVI and then added the HDMI-DVI cable it worked like a charm. The picture is much more clear than I was getting from the DVI to VGA connection I had on my last generation MBP. I even have more resolution options. Definitely go with this configuration until Apple or Samsung figure out a more simple solution.

    23 of 26 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    It's Okay

    • Written by from Oakvlille

    It worked for the first six months, last few have been a disaster. It doesn't work that well. Probably going to need a replacement one.

    23 of 27 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Disappointing - Works with difficulties

    • Written by from London

    The sockets in the VGA end are set in too deep and on majority of cables the screws in the plugs cannot catch the tread, resulting in the connection not being secure at all. The smallest movement of the cables cause break in connection.
    In terms of compatibility, it works with all VGA devises including projectors.

    20 of 21 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Works perfect, over priced

    • Written by from Toronto

    The adapter works perfect for projects and presentations with my MacBook, never had a problem with it. The only problem is the price. I use to have the old black MacBook and at that point the adapter was $25, still expensive and overpriced, but not as bad as $34 for basically the same thing for a new computer.

    However, being on Stage Crew for school and running assemblies and doing presentations for classes, this was a mandatory buy because macs do not have ports suitable for projector cables.

    This cable would not be necessary if Apple would put a VGA port on their macs like every PC has, its just a cash grab.

    23 of 27 people found this useful

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