X200 Tablet VGA Output :: VGA-to-DVI? :: VGA-to-Component? :: VGA-to-HDMI? :: VGA-to-Anything_Else?

I'm looking to stock my laptop cable collection with adapters for any video output the ThinkPad can manage: I regularly encounter VGA, DVI, Component, and HDMI in my usage, but am interested in other possibilities I might be overlooking (when I go to plug things in or otherwise). The tablet has a female VGA output, so I'm already sold on using this AMC 6 ft. VGA Male to Male Monitor Cable Model CSV-6MM. From the same company I found this AMC DVI-8700 DVI (Male) to VGA (Female) Adapter. Within the customer reviews, two people note that the male end is of the DVI-I Dual Link type:

So the "-I" designation signifies it should be able to pass through an analog signal to those receivers with matching female receptors, but do the Dual-Link pins needlessly limit the range of devices I will be able to mate with, or do most modern electronics use Dual Link heads out of interoperable convenience? Also, all of the product literature only trumpets its use to OUTPUT from a graphics card's DVI port to a monitor's VGA input, so is this dongle even a two-way street?

AMC also sells through Newegg this DVI-HDMIAD DVI to HDMI Adapter. I have come across countless threads (on this forum and elsewhere) cautioning that HDCP handshaking makes it impossible to daisy chain the analog signal through, but all of the technical information I can find states HDCP is merely required for such content already encrypted (such as BluRay). So theoretically, if the receiver is capable of understanding an unencrypted signal, the VGA output can pass on through? With all of these adapters (already and to be mentioned), I am under no illusion that the content magically becomes high def, I am just looking to output what the tablet is originally capable of, to as many devices as possible. I am also aware of the numerous converter boxes that morph anything under the sun, but at several hundred dollars and bulky, its outside the scope of what I am looking for.

As yet another option, AMC has in their product catalog this DVI to Component Video Adapter. The male end looks like the DVI-D Dual Link type:



So unless there are four pins on the left pixelated out of view, the purely digital interface probably kills this idea right here. Assuming this adapter or another sold elsewhere has the DVI-I configuration, would a VGA-to-DVI-to-Component daisy chain be possible? Discussion elsewhere points out VGA and Component use different color spaces (RGB vs YPbPr, respectively), but that VGA can theoretically natively output YPbPr, so on top of all the other assumptions, can the X200's video card "auto-sense" what the input is requesting and output the correct format?

I have not yet found an adapter meant for going from VGA_or_DVI-to-Composite, but all of the same pitfalls to the DVI-to-Component adapter should apply, as the composite color space falls under the YUV domain.

And if anyone has any other conversion suggestions (DisplayPort, etc. :: Not interested in European compabilities, a la SCART), please let me know.

Finally, slightly off-topic question, has anyone ever come across a 6"-12" male-to-male 3.5mm mini-stereo adapter; I'm hoping to loop this from the tablet's headphone jack over to the microphone jack?

 

VGA is Analog and DVI/HDMI are digital. A simple adapter will not do, you will instead need a scan converter or similar device that actively converts the signal.

Even if the DVI-I adapter you found did in fact support analog (and thus be compatible with VGA) it would do you little to know good. I do not know of a single device that accepts DVI-A (possible exception would be a high end CRT from the late 1990s). Those adapters are almost exclusively used to OUTPUT VGA from a graphics adapter that has DVI-I outputs exclusively (I have three of them).

In theory it is possible to output YPbPr over VGA. This would make a VGA to Component adapter possible. However, to the best of my knowledge the x200T only supports output of RGB. Therefore, component cables would only be of any use if your display accepts RGB over component (some business projectors and other fairly high end units); it will not work with most consumer television sets.

Your best bet would likely be to find a scan converter (larger and more expensive than a simple adapter) that outputs DVI/HDMI, YPbPr Component, and/or S-Video/Composite from a RGB VGA input. Note that this kind of adapter may induce a loss of quality and will likely fail any HDCP handshaking if HDCP is being enforced (it usually isn't for PC's except for Blu-Ray playback).

I have a couple 6-12" 3.5mm cables lying around so I know they exist. I would suggest checking your local electronics parts store (e.g. Radioshack) or websites such as CablesforLess.