mini-DVI to mini-Display port connector?

DimBimbleby, can you state exactly what you are trying to connect to what? You completely neglected to mention that.

In my case I'm connecting a MacBook4,1 to a 24" Apple LED Cinema Display.

Here's the solution I found.

I bought the Atlona AT-DP200 for $150 at Fry's. The Atlona website claims that the device connects any Mini-DVI or DVI device to a DisplayPort monitor. This is not true. It connects DVI output—not Mini-DVI—to DisplayPort. So I also bought the $20 Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter. The Mini-DVI to DVI adapter plugs into the MacBook. The DVI end of that adapter plugs into the Atlona. The Atlona plugs into the DisplayPort capable from the monitor.

So far, so good, but the solution is not yet complete. The monitor has a USB connector that wants to go to the computer. The Atlona also has a USB output that must be connected to the computer. The MacBook4,1 only has two USB ports, so these two USB plugs fill it up. If you want to connect any other USB connectors—for example, a USB keyboard, USB mouse, iPod cable, etc., then you will also need a USB hub to give you more USB ports.

So $200 after your $900-or-so monitor purchase, you can use your recent Apple monitor on your recent Apple computer. There are only two remaining problems.

First, the Atlona box is big, ugly, and has not one but two unwieldy cables. Your monitor will look clean and wonderful. The pile of cables lying under it will not. But a little tape and hiding of things behind desks may be able to fix that problem.

Second, I am seeing one case where the video seems to fail. I'm not sure whether it's the Atlona or something else that's causing this. But if you try to watch an Instant Netflix in full screen on your 1920x1200 monitor, the video playback will severely hitch. Tuning down the screen resolution to 1600x1000 helped to smooth out the video. As I said, I'm not sure whether the problem is the Atlona, the low-end video card on the MacBook4,1, or something about Netflix (and Silverlight, which manages video playback on Netflix). But don't plan to use your nifty $1100 monitor complex to watch Instant Netflix in full screen. Can't do it.

I love Gefen's dvi to mini display port adapter (http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=8913). It's looks way better than atlona's and haven't had any issues so far. I bought mines from amazon for 80 dollars.

Thank you very much, DimBimbleby! Yours was the single most helpful post in 10 pages of discussion. I just ordered the Gefen DVI-to-Mini DisplayPort converter via Amazon for about $80, along with a very inexpensive Mini DVI-to-DVI adapter ($3.50 - compare to Apple's $19!). Total with shipping and tax just under $100.

Apple totally s**ks for not providing a free or at least cheap and easy solution to this, and my next computer WILL NOT be a Mac. I switched over from PC-land 2 years ago, and the Koolaid ain't workin', folks. I am sick and tired of the limited options and expensive solutions, and hearing "No you can't" everytime I go to the Apple store. Bleh!