[dennisw]

The Macintosh platform is too inflexible. Why can't people just buy a bunch of random parts and assemble them, like you can with a PC?

#1 I prefer to build my own PC and do so. And load XP or Win98 into it

#2 Apple is more expensive, more idiot proof because they own the (software) OS and the (hardware) computer architecture. And make them fit together very well. But you pay more and have a lot less options. EXAMPLE: You need a DVI type LCD monitor if you want to plug it into an Apple. For a windows machine you can go the more expensive DVI route or get an analogue LCD monitor (what I use)

[Prince Charles]

EXAMPLE: You need a DVI type LCD monitor if you want to plug it into an Apple. For a windows machine you can go the more expensive DVI route or get an analogue LCD monitor (what I use)

That's curious, because I have a Viewsonic tube display connected to my Mac, with a cheap Belkin VGA adapter.

[antiRepublicrat]

You need a DVI type LCD monitor if you want to plug it into an Apple. For a windows machine you can go the more expensive DVI route or get an analogue LCD monitor (what I use)

That's just another example of Apple taking the leap where PC manufacturers didn't dare to. They dumped the outdated floppy, PC manufacturers did it years later. They dumped their old, slow serial ports in favor of USB, while PC makers have mostly still not gotten rid of ports that have very little hardware made for it anymore.

If you must have the old stuff, you can get an adapter. Otherwise, take advantage of the higher speed of USB/Firewire and the higher quality of a DVI monitor, which is getting cheap because for DVI-only ones they don't have to build in an analog to digital converter.

[Swordmaker]

You need a DVI type LCD monitor if you want to plug it into an Apple. For a windows machine you can go the more expensive DVI route or get an analogue LCD monitor (what I use)

NOT TRUE. Apple Macs come with a DVI to XVGA adapter... works fine with all analogue monitors.