Killer Console: VGA, KVM.
July 14, 2003 - 4:49pm — gfair
Ok, I still don't understand why few console vendors have never put a VGA connector onto their console, particularly Microsoft.
It makes so much sense - there is huge crossover between Console and PC, that plenty of console owners could hook one up to a high-res computer monitor and get better quality than on TV. Then, with a KVM switch, they could use the KVM box to tie in the keyboard, mouse, gamepad and monitor between the two devices.
Suddenly, the console can use the assets of customers much more, and people don't have to suffer on small, 20" TVs (which isn't to say if you can only afford or only have a 20" TV you are suffering).
I think Greg had the argument why VGA connectors don't work, can that be repeated?
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Consoles don't produce...
a computer-monitor-compatible output, just composite-vid, SVHS, or component (DVD).
Or, put in another way, it's not so easy to format the vid outputs of a console to fit VGA or DVI - without another $5 worth of ICs.
Building consoles is not unlike building cars, you work very hard to shave every last penny from their cost due to the massive scale of the biz.
I'm pretty sure this vid-interfacing situation will change with PS-3/Xbox2, cuz by 2005 most TV sets should come with DVI inputs. Since by their nature HD sets need to be built more like computer monitors than TVs, it makes sense - and costs incrementally little - to offer the input.
Note: in euro & asian markets, tv sets and consoles have long had RGB interfaces. There's no univ standard so there're multiple proprietary solutions.