Output for MacBook - DVI or VGA?

Community
1

I have a MacBook Pro 13.3" and want to eventually buy the adapter to display it on an external screen. I have a choice between DVI or VGA (or HDMI, but no need for that one). Which one is better, if any difference really?

2

DVI is digital

VGA is analog

only digital screens will accept DVI

so with a digital screen if you use DVI you get digital -> digital -> digital
but if you use VGA you get digital -> analog -> digital

3

I have the ability to use either DVI or VGA, so it just depends on which is better.

If you had to choose, would you pick DVI or VGA?

4

DVI gives better quality than VGA, though the difference is most of the time barely noticeable.

5

Well why convert from digital to analog and back to digital (with the resultant loss of quality) if you don’t have to?

It’s like of you have a green car and want a green car. Would you paint it yellow first and then paint it green or just leave it alone since it is already green?

6

Is there a compelling reason why you would need to use VGA?

If this is just for home use and you have the equipment which will use it, DVI is probably best.

If you plan on bringing the laptop to other places and connecting it up to various equipment, then VGA is usually best, since it’s a very common connector.

7

VGA is old, and DVI is new…relatively new anyways. Make a guess off that.
Furthermore HDMI is the same thing as DVI except with audio added.

VGA is pretty much being phased out at this point. Most new monitors won’t even have VGA.