I-O Data's USB-to-DVI adapter plays nice with Aero

USB-to-DVI adapters have certainly progressed a good ways over the years, and I-O Data's ain't too shabby, either. The external graphics dongle supports resolutions up to 1,680 x 1,050, measures in at 57- × 85- × 22-millimeters and even plays nice with Vista's Aero Glass interface. Unfortunately, it's not so compatible with Open GL or HDCP. That's a little too hamstrung for our ¥14,600 ($135), but to each their own.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

[Steve @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:03AM]

Funny - I thought Vista's Aero Glass used Direct3D...

[Meridimus @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:13AM]

me too

[Daza @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:19AM]

Vista Aero requires Pixel Shader 2.0, I don't believe it requires Direct3D support, although this usually comes hand in hand.

[E71 @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:40AM]

I pity the foo' who has to use USB for connecting their monitors...

...unless if it was USB 3.0

[Wolfticket @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:15AM]

This does support Direct3D, just not HDCP or OpenGL. So I don't see why it's funny.

[Steve @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:28AM]

Actually the original article stated that Direct3D was not supported. I was obviously edited to remove the "doesn't support Direct3D" statement.

(so yeah, it was funny)

[Wolfticket @ Feb 22nd 2008 11:38AM]

Ah, I see.

[Kurian @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:26AM]

What are the practical uses of this contraption??
The only thing I can think of are those mini cdrom sized computers which usually have a native video out anyway which will support anything.

[matt @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:57AM]

If you want lots of monitors, or other specilised applications.

[Larry @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:16PM]

I would use it in a USB docking station. I get to work, plug power and one USB cable (to a hub) into my very portable laptop, and instantly have a real keyboard and mouse, external speakers, large monitor, gigabit ethernet, terabytes of hard drive, et cetera.

[4honor @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:55PM]

Is this what I think it is?! Load your movie onto a USB drive, plug it in, then DVI/HDMI to the HDTV? Holy crap, if it is, I am getting one...

[Yem @ Feb 22nd 2008 7:12AM]

I love the way this is headed. Provided the transport has enough bandwidth, it seems inevitable that these things will eventually support proper, high end 3D chips from the likes of Nvidia and ATI/AMD.

Then you can have a super light weight laptop - 11-13" - with 6 hours of battery life. When you want to play the latest game of the moment, just plug in the video adapter (which is hooked up to a nice big LCD) and you've got a gaming PC.

Best of both worlds.

[Joseph @ Feb 22nd 2008 2:11PM]

dont you need opengl?

[Ian Argent @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:24AM]

It's a way to upgrade the video unit in a laptop, or a desktop with integrated video, as Yem implied. Sure, it's a little limited now; but I for one would love to be able to have a laptop with the option to get a better video device for it.

IIRC we're at the point now where most high-end games are GPU-bound, not CPU-bound.

[blarvh @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:47AM]

How is the format war still going just because god hates both?
I would understand the argument if god was a die-hard HD-DVD fanboy/girl.

Not even god could save HD-DVD anymore.

[thethirdmoose @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:38AM]

No, the format war is over.

Sorry to disappoint you.

[Joseph @ Feb 22nd 2008 2:10PM]

actually it is not over. HD-DVD is out of it, but it is not over. There are other contenders. I think the independent entry of iTunes w/ movie sales and movie rentals in HD is going to put up quite a fight. Especially when you can get an appleTV for the same cost as a BRP and you dont have to fumble around with discs.

[samy @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:46PM]

NO 63 bit support at allthough

[Dave @ Feb 23rd 2008 6:46PM]

That's ok, most CPU's these day have 64 bits.

[aggro_dude_ @ Apr 21st 2008 1:19PM]

Tritton and Iogear make better models:

http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5585410

http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5547670