The Mini DisplayPort (MDP)is a miniaturized version of the external display connecting port. There are other display connecting ports like VGA port, DVI port and HDMI port. All these are used for connecting external displays (like Projector, LED/LCD TV) to your laptop, notebook, desktop and other mobile devices.
The main differences between Mini DisplayPort and other display connecting port are:
Size:There are practical issues as well. With other display ports, you have to use thumbscrews to insert and secure a connection; whereas you just have to push a Mini DisplayPort connector into place as you would with a USB device. And, you can’t easily bend a MDP(Mini DisplayPort) connector’s pins, like you can do with that of a DVI/VGA connector.
Higher resolution: The use of a digital micro-packet signaling protocol enables the standard to support higher resolutions. Mini DisplayPort supports up to 2560×1600 pixels resolution Display.
Audio: Generally audio signal is not transmitted through MDP but it depends upon the manufacturers of laptop/notebook/ultrabook. Some devices support audio transmission over MDP, but in case of no audio transmission we can use standard sound card that is the available audio out jack (3.5mm audio jack) on laptop/notebook/ultrabook for sound.
Mini Display Port was first introduced by Apple but now it is being adopted by a number of PC makers, these ports are generally used in notebooks/ultrabooks. Following are the devices which have mini display port:
- Apple- MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro
- Dell- dell XPS13”, 14”, 15”, and 17” HP- HP Envy 14t
- Lenevo – ThinkPad notebooks X1 Carbon, X230, L430, L530, T430s, T430, T530, W530
- Microsoft Surface tablet devices
Now the question comes to compatibility, which means whether external devices have Mini DisplayPort or not. If yes, there will be no problem. But, in case the external device has other standard display connecting port (VGA port , DVI port and HDMI port), we will have to buy display adapters ( Mini DisplayPort to VGA, Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or Mini DisplayPort to DVI) as per the requirement.