Yes, it's horrible that Apple won't let you view DRM protected HD video
thru the new Mini DisplayPort on October 2008 MacBooks on unsupported
monitors. It feels like Apple has let us down. I've already voiced
my issue with
this.
Now it's time to stop crying about the change and spend a little
time finding out why Apple switched to to DisplayPort.
The DisplayPort technology is a high definition display standard
like HDMI. Although Apple has made its own proprietary connector, the
Mini DisplayPort, Apple isn't the
first company to use DisplayPort on its monitors.
DisplayPort Saves Money
Why didn't Apple go with the HDMI connector, which is already
popular on HDTVs? Why not? Because DisplayPort technology is going to
catch on big in the computer world, and Apple gets to save money in the
process.
DisplayPort is a money saver. The use of the technology is royalty
free. So while Apple can get away with charging more for its
computers, price conscious Dell, HP, and others are going to start
adopting the DisplayPort technology to save money. This will soon
become a standard for new computers. Apple is joining early, just as
the technology is starting to take off - but Apple started off by
introducing a new mini connector just because it can.
Part of this new standard is that it will support both internal and
external connectors. That is why you see it first on notebooks - one
chip supports both the built-in display and the connector for the
external monitor. Fewer chips and no royalties - can you say
ka-ching!
Less Clutter
So it saves Apple a little money, but what's in it for me?
Well, Apple does love fewer cables and less clutter. The DisplayPort
carries both video and audio signals, so one cable does it all. There
is no separate audio connection on Apple's own DisplayPort monitor, the
new LED Cinema
Display, just power, USB, and the Mini DisplayPort. (UPDATE: Audio
from the October 2008 MacBooks to the LED Cinema Display is not handled
by Mini DisplayPort. Instead, audio is handled via USB.)
Who loves simple more than Apple?
Multimonitor Support
What else, you may ask. How about technology designed to send the
signal to multiple monitors (that's why it can support both internal
and external displays). You can daisy chain multiple monitors off of
one graphics card.
That sounds great even if your don't have more than one monitor for
each of your computers.
Gotta Pay the Piper
The less great news is DisplayPort has support for two DRM
protection schemes. This is for Hollywood and content providers. So
while not required, there is support for DPCP encryption protocol and
HDCP 1.3 (HDCP support is also available with HDMI). So while some of
us hate it, people who like to buy movies
through iTunes may soon find more HD content available.
What's next?
With so many HD video standards (DisplayPort, DVI, and HDMI), will
we be able to mix and match equipment? Yes, but unfortunately
DisplayPort and HDMI handle things differently. So to send a signal
from your MacBook to a non-DisplayPort of monitor or TV,
you need a converter. There's no getting around the difference
between these technologies. $29 adapters are already
showing up.
Since the computer world is switching to this standard, new monitors
are coming out with DisplayPort connections. I can't find a connector
for Mini DisplayPort to standard DisplayPort yet, but this should be a
straightforward pin-for-pin adapter. I expect in time there will be -
or maybe other manufacturers will adopt
Apple's proprietary mini connector design (which Apple makes
available with no license fee). I've got my fingers crossed.
Since using DisplayPort will save Apple money, you can bet that it
will soon be on all new Macs. Maybe revising circuit board designs to
use this new technology is why the Mac mini has been slow in getting an
upgrade.
Or maybe Apple has bigger plans waiting
to surprise us? 
