[seattleguy]

Hi,


I'm considering buying an Apple HD Cinema Display with my next computer purchase: http://www.apple.com/displays/acd23/

This display has an Apple specific connector called ADC but it comes with an adapter for DVI http://www.apple.com/displays/adapter.html


To justify the $3500 cost, in addition to using this as a computer display, I want to also use it as my HDTV monitor in my office. I have DirectTV with an oval dish, but I have no other HDTV hardware. I think I need a set top box that gets off the air and DirectTV HDTV signals. Of course the box would also need to have DVI-out.


I did some searches for DVI on this forum, but (and it looks like I'm coming in a little late here) it seems like all the DVI talk is around copy protection. Are these the same DVI, or is there a mix up of acronyms here? If they refer to the same thing, are they different flavors? Are there any boxes that have DVI-out shipping today and will I be able to just hook those up to my display?

 

[qball]

The DVI will be the same format, however it will be encrypted (if certain people get their way) and thus will not work with your LCD. However, that's not to say that you can't use the ACD for HDTV, you'd just need to have an HDTV tuner card. It would actually be a beautiful monitor for HDTV along with anything else you put on it. I don't know of any Apple HDTV cards off hand, but I imagine that they exist.


-Q

 

[seattleguy]

Thanks for the info qball.


I actually can't go the HDTV tuner card route since the ACD will be driven from a PowerBook. (I'm still amazed that this works, but it does)


I guess the encrypted DVI is called DVI/HDCP and it doesn't look like any products actually use this new controversial connector.


I think my options are either to find an HDTV receiver that was ahead of its time and included un-encrypted DVI-out or find a component to DVI cable/converter so that I can hook a standard HDTV receiver to the ACD.

 

[Ken H]

You'll need an RGBHV or component video > DVI transcoder. The AVS store carries Extron products and I believe they make such a device.

 

[Dave Alex]

You can buy a VGA to ADC converter box and connect it between your Apple Cinema display and a DTC-100 HDTV reciever. The DTC-100 output is a VGA sub mini DB15 connector same as most analog PC video cards. The converter box sells for $399.-


http://www.gefen.com/products/extend...es/vga_to_adc/



The same company also sells a VGA to DVI-I converter box for $299. With this converter, you can add a DVI-I switch box to switch between your Powerbook and the DTC-100. You already have the DVI-I to ADC converter cable.


http://www.gefen.com/cgi-sz/webcwrap...l?p_prodid=294