Some of the industry’s biggest named manufacturers released a statement this week that they are phasing out VGA from all new devices by 2015. Samsung, LG, Dell and Intel are just a few names of the companies jumping on board. This is not surprising to most, as VGA has been an outdated technology for some time now. As analog is being phased out a spotlight will shine on its digital successors; HDMI and Displayport. This means better images with better resolutions.
While VGA was a true innovator, it had its time in the sun. VGA first appeared on the scene on IBM computers back in the late 80s. When HDMI came out in the mid-2000’s it was real game changer. HDMI streamlined technology so well, allowing us to hook up our TV’s straight to our computers, no fuss involved. Nearly all laptops and televisions sold today come with a standard HDMI port. As digital connections go; Displayport has gained some real popularity in recent years as well. One of the biggest draws to Displayport is that it is royalty-free. Manufacturers that use HDMI have to pay certain royalties to use the technology.
DVI-D is in the game as well, but it is still HDMI and Displayport’s less-popular sister. DVI ports are typically found on monitors, and with an adapter can be converted into an HDMI or Displayport connection. With the absence of VGA ports, HDMI, DVI-D and Displayport will become the standard for monitors going forward. For older monitors, remember that VGA can be converted into a digital signal.