Why the lack of HDMI?

Can someone explain why Lenovo is omitting HDMI ports on their business laptops (Thinkpad)? I understand having VGA, but why this BS mini-display instead of HDMI, which is basically the digital standard nowadays? Yes, I can use a mDP to HDMI adapter, but it's one extra thing to carry around/lose, and I've also run into lots of driver issues with passing through multichannel sound. On my current x230, I can't get the audio to work with my receiver, while the same adapter works flawlessly with my friend's macbook. I originally thought it was just x series that they left it out, due to size issues or something, but I noticed today that the new T series also don't have it. I'm at a lost as to why they're using some Apple proprietary port rather than the standard.

 

I have a single Rocketfish mDP-to-HDMI cable bought in closest Best Buy, so far no issues with either video or sound.

 

I've never had an issue with DP to HDMI, maybe the adapters you are buying are crappy quality? Also most professional monitors don't have HDMI, all the ThinkVision and Dell monitors at my work are: DVI, VGA, DP. I have yet to see anything with HDMI.

 

I was going to say license cost too... displayport is royalty free

 

DP tends to complain about higher resolutions less especially once you move into 1600 and 4K territory. and I as well have never had an issue with DP-HDMI cables unless they were pretty crappy.

 

I prefer DisplayPort because it allows a connection to multiple monitors. While you'll find HDMI on the majority of consumer devices, HDMI does not support multiple displays. In that respect, I find DisplayPort superior to HDMI.

From the linked article:
"A single DisplayPort interface can support up to four monitors at 1920-by-1200-pixel resolution each, or two monitors at 2560-by-1600-pixel resolution, with each display receiving independent audio and video streams."

HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Which display interface reigns supreme? | PCWorld

 

^^^ This

I generally only see HDMI ports on consumer-oriented laptops, not business-oriented machines like Thinkpads. HP and Dell also do not generally have HDMI ports on their business laptops. I've never had a problem with mDP to HDMI adapters, but not all will do multi-channel sound IIRC

 

HDMI is almost uniquely for connecting to TV's, something done in the consumer world, not the business world.

 

I have issues getting anything more than stereo audio to go through the mini-display to HDMI on my Denon receiver. I have two adapters, same issues with both. Both adapters work fine when connected to Macbooks though, so I'm pretty sure it's some driver problem. I've messed with every software setting possible to no avail.

As for DP being business standard... the projectors at my work have both VGA and HDMI, as does my monitor, Dell P2815Q, and work-issued Dell Latitudes. I've been presentations on TVs instead of projectors, and every TV has HDMI, whereas the DP doesn't seem to be as widespread yet. So I disagree that HDMI is just for the consumer market. I did look online quickly and it does seem like a lot of monitors don't have the HDMI port and I agree that the potential for DP is better than HDMI, but for my daily routine the HDMI would be more useful than the DP.

 

I work for the federal government, only the TV's are HDMI, all our ThinkVision and Dell don't have HDMI. Most projectors we have here at VGA.

 

Displayport is a one-way protocol in the sense that you can connect FROM Displayport TO HDMI via an adapter/cable, but you cannot connect FROM HDMI TO Displayport.

In fact, through converters and/or converter cables, you can connect from DP to DVI or HDMI or DP (obviously), so having a DP connector on the laptop would seem to provide maximum flexibility in connection options for the user. In contrast, HDMI cannot convert to DP, so that option is lost if the laptop had an HDMI connector.

So aside from the previously mentioned ability of a single DP connector and DP cabling to support multiple monitors, given limited space on the side edge of the laptop having a single DP connector rather than a single HDMI connector seems to maximize the user's connectivity options to one or more display devices.

This is especially true as most modern monitors may now include VGA, DVI and Displayport but not HDMI (e.g. Dell U2412M).

Again, it would seem DP/miniDP is the connector of the future for laptops, with HDMI on the decline. Just my speculation.

 

Would there be any difference in using a DP to DVI/HDMI adapter vs. DP to DVI/HDMI cable?

Further, anyone have any issues with DP to DVI adapters? Any advantage/disadvantage over DP to HDMI adapters?
I have both on my monitor but have been running into issues with DP to DVI so may have to try HDMI..

 

As far as I'm aware the only difference is that with adapter you have two pieces, DP-to-HDMI/DVI adapter and a DP/HDMI/DVI cable, whereas with mDP-to-HDMI you just have one single cable. Less stuff to carry, but also less outputs to connect to.

None that I know of, using those w/o any issues, but then I'm using only video output and not the sound part.

 

As DVI and VGA will disappear soon from all PCs and Notebooks (with Skylake), it is safe to assume that HDMI will be built into the next generation of T/W/X/L-Series ThinkPad released in 2015.

Lenovo already has started to spread HDMI across ThinkPads, first the SL-Series in 2008, then the Edge-Series in 2010, and models like the X1 or the T430u in 2011/2012. The new X1 Carbon also has HDMI and the new Ultradocks also come with HDMI.

It seems HDMI and mDP/Thunderbolt are the "way to go" in the future.

No. It was free in in versions 1.00 and 1.10, but since 1.20 it is no longer for free.

 

DisplayPort is far ahead of HDMI. HDMI doesn't have a locking mechanism like DP/DVI/VGA. DP can transfer more data than HDMI. Most high end monitors have DP and I don't see DP on cheap monitors. It will take awhile before DP becomes standard for monitors but HDMI is ,IMO, useful for only home theater.

The best feature of DP is that I can connect 3 monitors to one DP using a DP MST hub.

 

some good input and discussion here
phan - thoughts on DVI?

 

DVI and VGA should be slowly phased out, whatever thoughts you had on it, you might want to wait it out.

 

HDMI tends to be a consumer input, and DisplayPort tends to be a business or professional input -- that's why the more consumer-oriented ThinkPads have came with HDMI lately.

As others have mentioned, DP is better for ultra high resolution content as things sit right now, and can do chaining and similar. I'd expect HDMI will still come next revision to replace VGA, as HDMI projectors become more mainstream in offices. If people need VGA, adapters would suffice.

 

DVI is better than VGA by a long shot and I would even say it is better than HDMI but the connector is large and bulky. I would be happy to see HDMI and DP be the fault in the future. I would rather have my ThinkPad with 2 DP. That would be much better than HDMI and DP. For now, I am stuck with using my Ultra dock to connect two DP monitors.

 

thanks for the response. I have a Thinkpad T440p (HD4600 / mini DP) and an external 23 LG monitor.
I've connected/calibrated the monitor using both a mDP -> DVI and mDP -> HDMI using an i1 xrite display pro.
I must say, the DVI adapter/cable performs MUCH better in terms of contrast and color reproduction.
at a glance they might look the same, but thorough comparisons and measurements revealed DVI was the best option here.

my problem unfortunately is that when using the mDP to DVI adapter (from Apple, Passive/Single Link), my T440p often crashes when trying to wake the displays from standby.. this issue does not exist when using a RocketFish mDP -> HDMI. But that's an entirely different issue with its own thread..

anyway, I'm thinking about getting an active mDP -. DVI adapter in hopes that it would solve the problem; i.e. this one from sapphire
Active DP to SL-DVI-D Adapter
it claims for output of intel HD5000 series, so hopefully will better support my 4600..

any clues as to why I'm having issues with DVI but not HDMI?

thanks !