I’m seriously pissed off with Apple – and that doesn’t happen too often. I replaced my much used MacBook Pro bought in 2006 with the latest model in June. On the whole, it’s a nice machine, but I’ve just discovered that the Minidisplay Port that Apple crows about is complete and total crap – at least at present.
First, in order to use an external monitor of any kind you have to buy an extra adapter because none are included anymore. This is seriously tight of Apple given the cost of the machine and something I hadn’t realised when I bought it. I had to buy two adapters: one for VGA and one for DVI. The only ones I could find are Apple brand, so they’re not cheap.
Worse, much, much worse, however, the “Apple Mini-display port to DVI adapter” has a maximum output resolution of just 1,280 x 800. What? This is complete bollocks. My previous MacBook Pro, could output 2,800 x 1,600 no problem and worked a treat on a 32″ monitor. Now, that monitor has to go to waste.
I rang Apple support and was told by a very sheepish technician that it was the fault of using an adapter. If I bought a “Mini display port Dual Link DVI adapter” I can get the full resolution but a) that’s another 12,000 yen or so and more importantly I’m not hauling a huge set of cables and a big, heavy power brick about for presentations.
I still hope that Apple or a third party will fix this with a small, light weight adapter, but I know I shouldn’t hold my breath. I bought the new MacBook Pro partly because of vastly improved graphics power, but now I find that, at least in terms of driving external monitors, it’s actually a crippled machine.
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