Apple includes three options to connect Mini DisplayPort ports to other common monitor connections: Mini DisplayPort to DVI, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI, and Mini DisplayPort to VGA. A Mini DisplayPort cable is required to connect your Mac’s Mini DisplayPort to an external display. The Mini DisplayPort replaces the DVI, mini-DVI, and micro-DVI connectors that are used on older Macs. A Mini DisplayPort cable sends images to a display in digital form, while preserving the images’ full fidelity for viewing on flat-panel computer screens and high-definition televisions. It’s a miniaturized version of the DisplayPort interface. The Mini DisplayPort is the new video connection standard on the new Macs. Apple’s Thunderbolt Display has an extra Thunderbolt jack, so it can sit in the middle of such a chain, as well as at the end. One Thunderbolt host computer connection supports a hub or a daisy chain of up to six devices, with up to a maximum of two being high-resolution displays. One Thunderbolt device can be linked to another, so that multiple devices can run off a single Thunderbolt port. It uses the same connector as the Mini DisplayPort. With Thunderbolt, you can enjoy the speed and flexibility of PCI Express for expansion devices. A Thunderbolt port allows you to connect external displays or drives to your MacBook. Originally developed by Intel, then later in Collaboration with Apple, Thunderbolt combines the two high-performance standards, PCI Express and Mini DisplayPort into a single connection and cable. Apple’s contribution to the Thunderbolt standard brought the inclusion of the DisplayPort standard and the use of the Mini DisplayPort connection.

Apple and other vendors sell converter cables that allow you to connect Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort ports to most digital and analog video displays, including large-screen televisions. Thunderbolt uses the same connector as the Mini DisplayPort, but the logo is different – Thunderbolt, as the name suggests, sports a lightning bolt logo and the Mini DisplayPort is tagged with a widescreen rectangle between two vertical bars.

The new Thunderbolt standard folds two specifications PCI Express and Mini DisplayPort into one unassuming cable connector. Apple chose not to have the new and fast USB 3.0 ports on its product lineup, instead it opts the much faster and better Thunderbolt standard which represents the latest in peripheral connectivity. All the new Macs include a Thunderbolt port for video and high-speed data. When you’re trying to figure out where to plug in things, Apple keeps things simple by limiting the number of ports it uses, like the new Thunderbolt port.

Apple brings the best in connectivity and it has a really good track record of picking the essential ones. There are probably no products on the planet that enjoy the devotion of Apple’s devices, especially the Mac.

Mini display to thunderbolt adapter