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The State of Video Connections

Posted by kdawson on from the so-many-plugs dept.

mikemuch writes "Joel Durham provides a nice rundown on what's happening in video interfaces as we leave VGA behind and move through the DVI flavors, visit HDMI along the way, and look forward to UDI and DisplayPort."

6 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Evolution by HomelessInLaJolla · · Score: 3, Insightful

    On one side updating the video connector may be a necessary advancement to accomodate higher bandwidth video modes. On the other side we can only hope that system vendors don't begin bundling their desktops with their monitors and inhibiting cross-pollination by strictly enforcing IP on their video adapter design.

    I would hate to see the day when I use one display device for Linux and need an entirely different device to be compatible with proprietary DRM/TC/HD output or have to buy a third party descrambler type box--because we all know what a racket those were. It'd be like early 80s cable TV wars all over again.

    --
    the NPG electrode was replaced with carbon blac
  2. Piss off! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What's with these never ending fscking changes? Obsolescence built in, incompatible formats, changing far too frequently. Bullshit DRM "features" in each new revision.

    Please stop this crap! Just give us simple digital connectors and let the boxes talk to each other. How about something plain and simple 10Gb Ethernet?

    1. Re:Piss off! by fyngyrz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How about just analog RGB and quit pretending we need digital connections at all?

      You want high bandwidth? Analog RGB can do it. You want deep color? Analog RGB can do it. You want to avoid DRM? Analog RGB is perfect for that. You want easy to record? Analog RGB -> Analog recording media *or* digital(ized) media. You want easy to connect? Analog RGB. You want easy to switch between signal sources? Analog RGB. You want easy to buffer and redistribute? Analog RGB. You want auto-mode detection? We fool engineers have been sneaking digital mode data into sync signals for decades. You want easy to process? Convert to digital, process, convert back. Trivial, inexpensive, uses off-the-shelf hardware. All the benefits, none of the disadvantages (cough DRM cough hack expensive cables hack choke expensive connectors choke.) You want easy, reasonable compression? Luma and two chroma channels. Oh wait - that's one of the methods called "component" and we've already got it. And we're replacing it because... well, it isn't because of lack of resolution or depth... oh yeah. DRM. It isn't good for DRM.

      On the other hand, you want to give the media companies control over what you can do? Well then by all means support some lame-ass digital standard. They love that shite. And when you get all googly-eyed over HDMI and other all-digital transports.... they love you man, they love you.

      As a public service, let me remind you that both your eyes and your ears are analog, and both your eyes and your ears have very limited dynamic range from the smallest to the largest signal they can resolve at the same time. These are hints worth noting and they have very important implications when it comes to the requirements of perception and fidelity.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  3. What's happening... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    VGA isn't going anywhere until we replace all our KVM rack switches and who needs HD for a TTY?

    1. Re:What's happening... by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yup. and guess what. good old VGA does HDTV just fine. I do 1280X1024 all day long on a VGA connection. so that is far higher than the HDTV 720p. I am sure I can do 1080p over VGA, just haven't found a video card or LCD that can handle it yet that did not cost 3 arms 2 legs and a kidney.

      Honestly engineers and marketing guys talk all day long about how good X or Y is, and it all comes down to "how can we shove our DRM into the new standard and fool customers into buying it."

      My friend though I was nuts buying a pair of 21" LCD's that had only VGA on them. they look fantastic, play FPS great and work just fine with my 7300GT card.

      VGA will disappear as soon as RS232 disappears. which by what I see in the integration market, is many many years from now IF electronics makers get off their asses, which is highly unlikely from what I have seen.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  4. Stop the madness! by MobyDisk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    UDI? If another connection comes out, the back of my TV set will look like the interior of a Borg Cube.

    By the time I got DVI on my DVD player and HTPC, I found my TV had HDMI. Now, I'm told "...it's unlikely that HDMI will become more than a footnote in the epic story of PC display technology..." Well that's just great. Yet another adapter that costs $50 at my local outlet for .45 cents + shipping on ebay. And the excuse that this is "just for PCs" doesn't help since my PC's hook to my TV's (and I'm not alone any more, this is happening more often.)

    Many devices today still don't support the existing connections properly, so I have little faith that new connections will improve things. Many TV's have DVI inputs but still overscan. DVDs are still encoded with interlacing. HDCP has connectivity issues like the PS3 debacle. I know people who still tell me that their s-video connection is state of the art. And while most new TVs are using composite cables, that is STILL analog and YUV based instead of digital. The industry is not ready for new connectors.

    For an example of connectivity done right, look at USB 2. USB 1, USB 1.1, and USB 2 all use the same connection. The devices negotiate the appropriate speed. Ethernet does this too. Unless there is very very good reason, please don't change the physical connections. Increase the bandwidth in a backward-compatible way if necessary.