mini displayport on the new iMac

[Jet Black]

I am wondering what exactly can be fed in and out of the mini displayport on the new iMac, and just as importantly, what extra gear is needed. I have read that things like PS3s in principle can be fed into the iMac, but they need some adapter thing that is pretty expensive, is that still the case, and is it the case for anything that you feed in, other than other apple devices like MacBooks and such?

 

[bolen]

I believe you will have to wait until people start receiving their machines. Right now we don't know more than what's up on apple.com.

 

[strang]

A bump on this topic. Hopefully it can be answered soon.

I'm mostly concerned about the EDID limitations that were in the previous 27" iMacs which made it accepting a maximum input resolution of 720p.

I hope the new 2010 iMac 27" will have updated EDID that accepts higher input resolutions via mini DisplayPort. Come on 1080p!

 

[PatriotInvasion]

A bump on this topic. Hopefully it can be answered soon.

I'm mostly concerned about the EDID limitations that were in the previous 27" iMacs which made it accepting a maximum input resolution of 720p.

I hope the new 2010 iMac 27" will have updated EDID that accepts higher input resolutions via mini DisplayPort. Come on 1080p!

Belkin sells an HDMI to MiniDisplayport converter for $150 in Apple Stores (saw it yesterday) which is marketed as a way to use a PS3, Blu-Ray player or cable box with your 27" iMac screen. As you said though, the iMac's input is limited to 720p or its 1440p native resolution...aka...not worth the trouble or the cost because you'd be watching Blu-Rays in 720p...dumb

 

[PatriotInvasion]

In other words, Apple wants you to use the iMac as a computer or a second monitor with a MacBook...not a television...They frustrate the use of it as a television because that's the way HDCP people want it. The last thing they want is for you to figure out a way to record 1080p content on your iMac hard drive...which is why i suspect the Displayport's input is limited to 720p

This is also why you'll never see an HDMI "In" port on an iMac...

 

[MathijsDelva]

I kinda hoped the 21.5" inch models would be able to get input from an external source

 

[Jet Black]

In other words, Apple wants you to use the iMac as a computer or a second monitor with a MacBook...not a television...They frustrate the use of it as a television because that's the way HDCP people want it. The last thing they want is for you to figure out a way to record 1080p content on your iMac hard drive...which is why i suspect the Displayport's input is limited to 720p

This is also why you'll never see an HDMI "In" port on an iMac...

that's pretty disappointing. Apple won't be getting my 2 grand for this then. still at least the laptops are nice.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

that's pretty disappointing. Apple won't be getting my 2 grand for this then. still at least the laptops are nice.

Yea, but find me a computer with a hard drive that has an HDMI "In" port...They don't exist. Only on stand alone monitors. Hollywood doesn't want you ripping perfect 1080p movies onto a hard drive, that is the reason. Sucks, I know.

 

[ADent]

I suspect it is limited to 720p because Apple didn't want to put a scaler in there. 720p is just pixel doubled to 1440p.

Altona makes a general purpose miniDP scaler ($279 MSRP), so if you really want 1080P you can get it.