New iMac doesn't play nice with Apple's Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter

Apple hasn't exactly been making any promises to the contrary, but it looks like anyone hoping to use the company's Mini Display Port to DVI adapter to hook a game console or other device up to a brand new 27-inch iMac is flat out of luck -- for now, at least. That's because the system's exciting (but pricey) ability to be used as a standalone monitor only applies to devices equipped with their own Mini Display Port at the moment, which does limit your options quite a bit. Of course, it's almost certainly only a matter of time before Apple or a third-party manufacturer comes out with an adapter that does work, but we haven't heard anything firm on that front as of yet.

[bjsguess Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:48AM]

Can you guys please stop down ranking Terry? I can't read any of his posts - the font is too light since all of his posts are marked as "Lowest Ranked".

Nothing better than reading an Apple apologist defending the need to spend EVEN MORE money for an already overpriced piece of hardware.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:52AM]

DisplayPort port or HDMI does not really matter if it is possible to get an adaptor.
But Apple does not output audio which is so stupid and leads to product with two cables: one to take the video from the DisplayPort and the other to get the audio from a USB port.
It's so lame...

[JayUK Posted Oct 27th 2009 5:13AM]

Well this kinda sucks, I went into the Apple Store in Manchester UK, yesterday with the intention of buying one of those new shiny 27" iMac's I would have gone with 21.5" but Video IN was just too enticing. It would seem fate stepped in as they were out of stock. Think I will be holding off for now, until this gets sorted and they somehow put expose back on the Magic Mouse.

[WmPenn Posted Oct 27th 2009 5:57AM]

Oh dear, it doesn't "just work" with anything but other Apple products?

[Lundmark Posted Oct 27th 2009 6:59AM]

This is indeed stupid, but I reckon I'd be even more stupid actually buying this for use as a monitor...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 7:00AM]

you guys are all missing the point..
This article is at least a week old.

[ufinc Posted Oct 27th 2009 7:53AM]

No surprise at all.
I can't believe that there are still people buying this shit when there are so many better and cheaper products out there.

[barry99705 Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:22AM]

Why the hell would you use your all in one computer as a display for another computer?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:38AM]

LOL! I wonder if the next "I'm a Mac/ I'm a PC" commercial will mention this problem! Lemme guess, they'll try to smokescreen it by running the same old, played out cracks about PC's having issues instead. Perhaps if Apple paid more attention to developing their latest products instead of focusing so much on misinforming consumers and bad-mouthing their competition, they'd actually prevent little issues like this in their products. Something to think about, Mac "geniuses"

[chazhacker Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:42AM]

apple-cack

[Flix C Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:54AM]

Compatibility problems between 100% Apple Hardware and other 100% Apple hardware is really an endless source of fun to me :)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 1:37PM]

Jesus this is the dumbest comment conversation I've ever seen. Nobody ever advertised the mini display to DVI adapter as supporting converting a DVI signal to mini display. Most high end conversion cables are one way, because going both ways would require them to be much bigger and more expensive due to the technical issues involved. You can't just assume a cable will do something it was never advertised to do! Besides, didn't we cover this issue when the 24" monitor came out and nobody could hook up their dvi computer to it because there wasn't a cable to do it? Its the same principle. Anybody expecting to be able to plug into a mini display input right now is an idiot who hasn't done an ounce of reading, and frankly deserves to be disappointed

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 2:07PM]

hear hear

[Brekfestmachine Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:09PM]

I believe the problem is with 10.6.1, not the iMac. I had the same problem on my MacBook running snow leopard with all the new updates and all I had to do was reset the PRAM and it worked.

[raaaaaa Posted Oct 27th 2009 6:15PM]

un real!
typical apple guess that stops me from picking one up, thank god you posted this

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:05AM]

Wow!

This is excellent information. Thank you.

The Miniaturized bugs for audio surveillance Display Port specification is capable of supporting digital audio, the current Mac Book and Mac book Pro range is unable to provide an audio signal through the Mini Display Port, and only does so over USB or the audio line out port instead. This can present a problem to users who intend to connect their computers to HDTVs using a Mini Display Port to HDMI adapter.