Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

kentuckyfried · Feb 7, 2003, 01:42 AM

I have a 12" powerbook on order, and I also recently order the 20" flat panel display, so I could connect it to my B&W g3 equipped with a Radeon card. I also wanted to be able to connect the Powerbook to this from time to time...

However, I noticed this evening upon review of apple.com literature that the 12" PB has no DVI port! it's got an output for VGA.

This was disappointing news especially b/c I wanted to play "freedom force" which I got last week. Runs only on a G4.

Anyhow....What are my options aside from merely accepting that I'm screwed?

I did some searches on google and came up with the following:

(1) The Geffin VGA to ADC BOX -- the ultimate solution. Too bad it costs $400.

http://www.barefeats.com/vga2adc.html

(2) I was thinking, maybe it's possible to do VGA to DVI with an adapter, and then use Apple's or whoever's DVI to ADC adapter (the people at the local santa clara apple store aren't sure if it will work):

http://www.cablesgroup.com/
product_info.php?products_id=26

http://www.colorcase.com/vgatodviad24.html

Colorcase says their adapter will not work with Analog DVI...but apple store guy says that the
DVI on apple machines is analog AND digital (wth?!)

Can anybody verify if (2) is even possible?
That's the cheap solution for $10.

(3) Umm....? Please mention any that I've missed.

Apple should make everyone's live easier by making everything DVi including this 12" PB and the iBook too.

Worse comes to worse, I can hook up the PB through an S-Video cable to the bigscreen t.v. outside.

schalliol · Feb 7, 2003, 02:08 AM

I think you're screwed, unless you want to spend tons of money. Since it doesn't sound like your 20" has shipped, you really ought to cancel it and get a unit that supports both DVI & VGA. You'll note that there's no monitor option on 12", whereas the others offer this. It's very clear to me that the 12" is just another iBook in PowerBook clothing, sigh.

robby818 · Feb 7, 2003, 02:17 AM

This is my one gripe w the 12" powerbook (well, the heat thing is sort of a problem too). From my experience, connecting multiple adapters insures degraded video quality. You really are much better off using a high quality LCD (samsung 172W) that can accept both vga and dvi (for future possibilites). On the bright side, vga output has really improved and on many cards it is really tough to tell if a monitor is connected via vga or dvi. (I know people will swear that dvi looks much better.) The Apple 20" is a sweet display but getting it connected to your powerbook will likely come at a noticable cost in image quality.

kentuckyfried · Feb 7, 2003, 02:45 AM

Hmmm....

Looks like option (2) ain't gonna fly...the DVI digital and the DVI Analog connectors look the same, but will most likely not perform the same (as noted by one of the above links).

If I can find one at like radio shack, I will give it a run for the money.

Grrrrrr

The whole idea of going Apple flat panel is to get a cool display and help out my favorite fruit company. The fact that they're being difficult, they're shooting themselves in the a**

kentuckyfried · Feb 7, 2003, 02:46 AM

btw, this seems pretty good for info purposes on answering flat panel questions:

http://www.techadvice.com/tech/F/fla...l_monitors.htm

escher · Feb 7, 2003, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by kentuckyfried:
(1) The Geffin VGA to ADC BOX -- the ultimate solution. Too bad it costs $400.

If it makes any difference, the Gefen VGA-to-ADC Box is now "only" $300.

As others have said above, if you are concerned about cost, it would probably make most sense to go with a third party LCD with both VGA and DVI inputs.

Escher

kentuckyfried · Feb 7, 2003, 01:22 PM

macxtal · Feb 8, 2003, 06:38 PM

I did some tests on the adapter boxes and VGA out as opposed to DVI with my Ti550.. the difference is stunning.. the VGA output definately looks blury and crappy compared to the digital interface. That's the main reason I opted for a TiSD than the 12". Sigh.

Cancel the panel, or get a 15/17 or PowerMac.. the expense isn't worth it.

schalliol · Feb 8, 2003, 07:36 PM

I compared the new Samsung-based monitors I got with via VGA & DVI connections. While I thought the VGA looked quite good, small details (such as tiny text) were not as sharp. You might as well go CRT if you don't want to use DVI or ADC.

kentuckyfried · Feb 9, 2003, 03:06 AM

I love this new 20" display....

I went ahead and killed the order on the 12" powerbook. My friend's guessing the 15" is going to be updated soon, so I'll wait for that possibly.

Note of reference: I did manage to get a VGA to DVI adapter as advertised at one of the above websites, but the VGA to DVI, and then DVI to ADC connection doesn't work....I don't think there's even enough power so the display doesn't even turn on when linked to the iBook this way. It physically all links together but that's about as far as it gets.

Originally posted by macxtal:
I did some tests on the adapter boxes and VGA out as opposed to DVI with my Ti550.. the difference is stunning.. the VGA output definately looks blury and crappy compared to the digital interface. That's the main reason I opted for a TiSD than the 12". Sigh.

Cancel the panel, or get a 15/17 or PowerMac.. the expense isn't worth it.

schalliol · Feb 9, 2003, 01:11 PM

A DVI to ADC connection would require power to be "injected" into the ADC connection through a standard-type power cord plugged into the wall. Did you connect the ADC adapter to the wall in this way? It doesn't sound like it.