General Consultant Discussion

For those like me who had 'challenges' connecting newer laptops to older VGA based projectors, I bought and tested an elegent solution for <$20 http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Active-Converter-Cable-Supporting/dp/B00H4J5B9U I'm not sure what kind of port a Mac uses. My laptop has 2 Mini-Display port and 1 HDMI output (it can drive 3 external monitors + the laptop.

If there is any technology that is ripe for a re-invention it is this archaic, confusing and dumb method of connecting video to projectors. It seems every projector primarily is setup for VGA and you are so-sad-too-bad SOL if you show up with anything that doesn't support that type of connection. It's mind boggling.

PC's and monitors have had more video connections than one can keep track of...Let's See: (and yes I know there were plenty even before these, but I'll keep it to the last 10 years) 1) VGA 2) Component Video 3) DVI 4) DVI + (yea, go ahead and try mixing up those cables that look almost identical) 5) Dual Link DVI 6) HDMI 7) DisplayPort 8) Mini HDMI 9) Mini DisplayPort 10) Thunderbolt Am I missing any??

Since some (all) of those cables are fairly expensive - hotels that I've dealt with rarely supply or support anything except the basic VGA. Is there a box people can buy which is a converter of sorts. Meaning you take whatever output you have from your laptop and plug it into the box and the box accepts that VGA connector? That would seem to be the solution and maybe it already exists.

Amazon has a ton of them. What I liked about this cable I linked to is its all integrated into a thin cable versus needing boxes, USB Power sources, and a vga cable which you can't even be sure the hotel or guest will provide. This of course assumes your laptop has HDMI. Relative to amazon, I couldn't find anything identical for Mini display port which I think is what Macbooks use. Do you know?

I rarely hook my laptop to projectors and when I do I always take one that has a VGA adapter. Don't know on the Apple though knowing them it's probably a proprietary connector.

Yea how many times have you gone to a prospect that says 'don't worry, we have a projector here?' I've never stopped bringing (and usually using) my own given that 90% of the time its either a POS, has crazy connections, it some low def 30"" TV with a Windows 95 computer hooked up to it or whatever...

I think Devin's Mac had an HDMI connector at MotM.

The website pipeline guy had a samsung with a mini hdmi. I had a disply port adapter for HDMI or VGA