Why have laptops been slow to adopt DVI?

[tbessie]

Given all the new technologies that are coming around, why is it that so many laptops do NOT include DVI ports? You'd think, with so many people getting LCD displays with DVI inputs, laptops would be well-served by having DVI outputs.

Is it just that, since most displays still have analog inputs, and since there are a lot of older displays there, it's a decision to include one or the other, and laptop-makers opt for the more commonly available ports?

I'm just feeling annoyed that I can't use my A31 with DVI (and can't afford a full Dock in order to use the PCI slot).

- Tim

[christopher_wolf]

Well; most people seem happy with just a dock or port replicator solution. Most laptops *support* it, they just don't have a physical port for it. Even though DVI LCDs are popular, I have one too, there hasn't been too much penetration of DVI into other areas to such an extent. For example, I have to take the now-familiar dongle with me to present with my Powerbook because, although it has a great DVI port, I have to convert to VGA. So that means that between LCDs and Projectors, you are only fully realizing the power of DVI for the LCDs. There might be a few projectors out there that support DVI, honestly I haven't checked; but these few will be *very* expensive. DVI needs to get out there even more than it already has, then it will be really great.

[mattfromomaha]

I agree with Christopher above. Lots more LCD monitors have DVI ports, but many projectors do not. You can always throw a DVI >>> VGA adapter on it, of course, but the way it works now the manufacturers can get you to buy a port replicator if you want DVI capabilities!

[Aroc]

Until the installed base of business projectors with DVI (or similar digital input) hits critical mass, we'll still see an analog VGA port on business notebooks.

For most users who need DVI (or similar digital input) the docking station solution is acceptable. Lenovo isn't going to shoot themselves in the foot here. We'll get digital inputs when the market is ready for them.

We have a fleet of notebooks at work. And quite frankly the only use the VGA port serves for users like us is to drive a projector to run presentations at clients' and customer's sites. Generally if they are going to use an external monitor, they're going to use a docking station and also run and external keyboard and mouse. And most have second (and even third) docking stations at home or the vacation home in Florida. And the odd times that a user is at a customer's site for a length of time and needs a docking station, we'll overnight FedEx them one. So the VGA port's primary function is to drive a projector and almost never a monitor. I imagine most corporate users are in a similar situation.

This is just how I see it.

[Zedicus]

all the projectors ive worked on an installed for the last year or so have had a DVI port.... the wierd thing is they only come with a vga to dvi cable and no dvi to dvi cable... most of our projectors are epson and eiki i believe. in the 1600$ price range... i get to ceiling mount like 30 of the SOB's this summer.

you guys know anyone looking to hire a good computer tech? im not overly fond of all the non computer crap i hafta do here.....

[christopher_wolf]

all the projectors ive worked on an installed for the last year or so have had a DVI port.... the wierd thing is they only come with a vga to dvi cable and no dvi to dvi cable... most of our projectors are epson and eiki i believe. in the 1600$ price range... i get to ceiling mount like 30 of the SOB's this summer.

you guys know anyone looking to hire a good computer tech? im not overly fond of all the non computer crap i hafta do here.....

Those [censored] ceiling mounts are a real pain; some of the projectors I have helped get mounted like that are 1/3 the size of a loveseat...Which is really boggling to me.

I have seen and used those projectors before; but m experience has been that, even if you do have a DVI port on it, the VGA is the most oft port used even when the presenter has a Powerbook. So either a DVI-to-DVI cable has to be stored near the projector or the presenter has to bring their own as opposed to the DVI-to-VGA dongle.

[Zedicus]

yeah we have one huge projector, like an 800watt bulb... i sware it weighs a couple hundred pounds... most of them though are the average desk projector mounted to the ceiling tiles witha wide brace kit an stuff...

i caught a guy doing a presentation the other day using a DVI laptop, adapting it to vga, then plugging it into the vga to dvi cable and hooking it to the projector... i thought that was a tad funny...