Brad Culp
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How can you really tell people Thunderport is better than Mini DisplayPort when–to most people–it's the same.

I would just to clarify this–and please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

The way I understand it is this: the Thunderbolt ports are basically (I know they're not actually) just Mini DisplayPorts* with an asterisk on their name.

 

Sure they CAN do more, but most people are thinking they're getting newer, better technology, when really,  its the same Mini DisplayPort that has been around since 2007..

 

BUT, if you'd like to spend $1,000+ for an Apple Thunderport Display, at that point it is able to truly become a Thunderbolt port. Kind of reminds me of the overpriced "HD-Ready" big screen TV's that came out in the early 2000's (maybe late -90s) still long before cable provider offered 1 or 2 (if any) actual HD channels.

 

Am I correct in thinking this way (apologies for the sarcasm–Still love you Apple. Just looks like a gimmick to me), or is there just something I'm missing?

 

(I will leave you with a positive note though. Thank you for adding 2 additional AV ports...I run 3 monitors in addition to my Macbook screen. Very happy not to need to buy additional hardware to do that anymore. )

 

 


Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Mar 7, 2016 9:56 PM

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Brad Culp

Q: How can you really tell people Thunderport is better than Mini DisplayPort when–to most people–it's the same.

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  • by Smokerz,

    Smokerz Smokerz Mar 9, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Brad Culp
    Level 6 (9,699 points)
    Mar 9, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Brad Culp

    Your thinking is not sufficient. Thunderbolt bus and port are compatible wit display port. Display port will not give you an opportunity to daisy chain up to 6 devices on a thunderbolt port. Thunderbolt Displays are infinitely more reliable than display port. I've been through this entire scenario and will opt for pure thunderbolt every time.