Full FeedDirect from Steve: Older notebooks will work with LED Cinema Display
The new LED Cinema Display is a great product, integrating an external display with a camera, microphone, and speakers. The one huge flaw with it is that it uses Apple’s Mini Display Port connector, something no computer except the new MacBook family has. What about all of us with “old” (read: really recent) MacBooks and MacBook Pros that lust after this device?
I sent off an e-mail to Steve Jobs asking this very thing:
Of all the things introduced today, I’m most pleased with the new LED Cinema Display. It looks phenomenal. I’d love to pick one up, but as of right now, the only computers compatible are the newest laptops. Is there any hope in the near future for people like me, who aren’t going to shell out for a new MBP (I just got mine not a few months ago) but would really love to use the LED Cinema Display?
As much as I love my current 23” Cinema, I’m sure the LED would be a world apart, and a simple DVI to Mini Display connector would let me use it. Is this in the future?
Likely due to a Mail rule that Steve’s e-mail has set up, I got an e-mail back not five seconds later saying just the following:
“These adaptor cables will be available.”
I sent a follow up, just to clarify that it was not just a Mail rule sending the reply. As soon as I get a response, it’ll be right here. For now, the future looks good for those of us with “old” computers.
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Hey Adam do you think these adaptors will work with the Mac Pro? and do you think that Apple will come out with a 30 inch Led-Lit Cinema Display? Can You email Steve about this How about the Mac Pro and Mac Mini owners? that has been waiting forever for a new display.
on October 15, 2008 at 12:07 AM - LINKBased on this email, any computer with DVI out would work, and likely mini DVI too. This covers Apples entire line. It will only be a matter of time before all displays are LED but no one knows how much time that will take.
on October 15, 2008 at 05:52 AM - LINKAny more word on this adapter? It’s been several months now, and has of a few days ago, Apple says that there is no such adapter. They say that they are leaving this to 3rd-party developers, yet nobody has launched anything yet.
I ordered up one of these monitors before discovering this issue and would keep it if an adapter is only a few weeks out - otherwise I will be shipping it back.
on January 27, 2009 at 03:16 PM - LINKLeft feedback with Apple but not sure how much good that would actually do. I have searched and searched but can’t find any 3rd party adapters either. My MacBook Pro is only 4 months old but this lack of an adapter makes it feel real antiquated right now. Frustrated!
on February 25, 2009 at 02:29 PM - LINKwell it’s nearly July 2009 & still no adapter. I am probably going to get a 30 LED anywqay but it would be nice to have a choice.
I was looking at a PC & it has a Display Port connector. I thought maybey & after some research in Wikipedia I found that they are indeed related. There is still no MDP to standard DP adapter!
on May 21, 2009 at 04:17 PM - LINKDon’t they want to sell these monitors?
also fustrated and waiting for this adapter! any chance there will be one?
on July 20, 2009 at 10:29 AM - LINK