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Review: DVI to ADC monitor adaptersReviewed By: Kirk Hiner Review Date: June 13, 2002
For as long as I can remember, Apple has taken a "father knows best" approach to computer manufacturing. As is usually the case, father does know best. Father knew we didn't need floppy drives well before we were willing to give them up. Father knew the digital hub was the way to go before we had any digital products that needed hubbing. Father knew QuickTime. Of course, father can sometimes be wrong. Father can sometimes go through a midlife crises (and give us the 20th Anniversary Mac) or get carried away decorating the house for Christmas (Flower Power and Dalmatian iMacs). Somewhere in between the right and the wrong is the ADC, Apple's newfangled way of connecting Apple monitors to Apple computers. Notice how the word Apple was used in that sentence three times? Apple wants it that way; they want you to buy their stuff, and they want you to buy it now. Sounds sort of Microsoftian to me, but unlike Microsoft, Apple has given us products worthy of the upgrade. ADC, by unifying the power, USB and video signal into one chord, greatly reduce desktop clutter and free up outlets (which, as I'm learning in my new house, can be extremely important). Trouble is, if you have an older computer or a retail video card, you can't use the more recent Apple monitors--including the sharp flat-panels. Gee, thanks dad. Enter Dr. Bott and Gefen, who I guess would be the helpful uncles or neighbors in this scenario. Both companies manufacture connectors that will convert Apple's ADC cable to DVI, allowing you to run it into a third party video card, such as ATI's RADEON 8500. Of course, such capabilities come at a price...literally. But first, the good. Both products perform exactly as they should. I noticed absolutely no difference in display quality when running the video signal through these adapters. Colors remained vivid, text remained crisp, and the general display remained sharp. Both were simple to hook up, as well, although in different ways. The DVIator handles its task through cables, mainly, which are colored to blend in with the Graphite/Quicksilver Apple computers. It hangs comfortably behind the system and generally stays out of the way. However, the connectors aren't clearly labelled, so initial and subsequent set-ups may require the manual if you're not comfortable taking the Perfection approach to hooking up hardware (put the peg in the whole in which it fits).
Cables, you see. There are many, since the whole point of the DVIator and Ex-Tend-It is to defeat the purpose of the ADC. These devices take the ADC signal and split it into three: USB, video and power. The USB knocks out one more port, allowing use of the two on the back of the monitor but taking up one in your hub or computer. The signal is the important part, allowing you to connect the ADC monitor to a DVI input. And then there's the power. Quite literally, this is the bulk of these adapters. Both use a power brick that could very well have been the model for a troop transport in a George Lucas film...back when George Lucas used models, anyway. I've read some complaints that the power brick is too heavy, but it's certainly not as heavy as a 17" CRT monitor, so I don't understand that complaint. Just plug it in, put on the floor and be done with it. No problem. There's enough cable provided with both units to keep it out of your way. Although both the DVIator and the Ex-Tend-It have their drawbacks, these are mostly inherent in their assigned function. They perform a task Apple made a necessity for some, and they do it well. If you need that Cinema Display or already have a Quicksilver system and want to upgrade to the RADEON 8500, you won't go wrong with either of these products. Of course, the technology isn't cheap, and this where the decision between these two products will (or won't) be made.
The Ex-Tend-It is priced at...oh, wait a minute. How about that, then. When I began writing the review, the Ex-Tend-It was priced at $200. My final check reveals it to now be going for $149 as well. The Ex-Tend-It boasts a few more features than the DVIator, including the ability to extend the cable to 100 feet...you know, just in case your eyes are that good. I'm sure there are situations that call for placing a monitor 100 feet away from the CPU, and I'm also certain that said situations call for the $2,337.00 price tag. But the Ex-Tend-It also offers much cheaper expandability, shipping with 6 foot USB and DVI-D cables for your immediate convenience. It also boasts no pixel loss, which I found to be accurate, but I also so no pixel loss with the DVIator. So, as long as the Ex-Tend-It stays at $149, that's your best bet...barely. Both cards work just fine. The DVIator looks a little better and is easier to keep out of your way. The Ex-Tend-It, on the other hand, gives you room to grow. And hey, isn't that what father would want?
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The Ex-Tend-It is more clearly labelled, but also takes up desk space--the main part of the connector is a box, not a cable. This box is colored black, silver and gold, calling hazard zones to mind. Not to worry, though; the box is still tiny, around the size of a tin of 
The DVIator runs $149.99, and you can get it from their website with an ATI RADEON 8500 for $439.00 or with a RADEON 7000 for $269.00. There aren't really any savings in these deal, save for maybe the convenience of having them shipped from one source. Imagine that horror of having a DVIator arrive and having to wait another day for something into which it can be plugged! Mon Dieu!