How to get plain old S-video and Composite out from a MBP?

Question

Hi,
this question is about someone's MacBook Pro he newly bought with adapters to get both DVI and Svideo/Composite Out.
He got Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D converter, and a DVI-I to video converter, that cannot be plugged into a DVI-D port. Apple removed the analog capability of its adapter, that's bad. But what's badder is there doesn't seem to have any Mini DisplayPort to Svideo/Composite adapter, as there was with previous generation machines.
How can someone easily output analog video from MBP?

Answer 1

In fact, I recognize that these standards are old, which doesn't mean they're not up-to-date. Similar example, VGA connector is old, but perfectly useful, even in 2009. I recently plugged a 22" LCD with VGA and DVI on the same computer (a bland desktop PC), and there was strictly no difference. Same color depth, same crisp display. Even looking at a corner with a magnifier, nothing was different.
So, changing standards just for the sake of it doesn't make any sense.
Agreed that, as a pro, Apple would like me to buy their pro line, but nowhere in the pro line does an easy solution exists for S-Video and composite out. The solution you posted exists, but is unwieldly and not neat at all, if it doesn't break the Mac's connector under its weight. If a manufacturer can do this kind of adapter, Apple can do it better, and make a bigger profit out of it.
For the adapter you posted, I don't ever buy anything that is not at least Mac+Windows compatible, or at a minimum is open-source, so anyone with programming skills can make something. The manufacturer also doesn't give a clue on how this works. I guess some sort of virtual driver sits in the system as a virtual IEEE1394 port so any program requiring FW can work transparently. Still, incompatible with the OS that most manufacturer ship their new PCs with, poor commercial decision, wether you like the OS or not.
Adding FW in the MB unibody design wouldn't have cost anout $30. Rather, we're talking about a 25 cents chip, a 25 cents connector, which they would have rounded up to $20 and still, that was present in previous-gen MB. After all, they are indeed selling a matte screen on the MBP 17" for $50 more, despite them removing a single piece of glass which may cost, well, let's be fair, $5 to manufacture? That's dishonest. And capitalistically justified.
So far, choosing a Mac for one's needs is no easy task: older white MacBooks have the same power as unibodies, excellent connectivity, top notch transfer speeds, BUT are heavier, as not as ecologically friendly nor do they have future-proof RAM standard. The unibodies are sleekier, easily recycled and will be able to be upgraded in the near future BUT is most likely unable to use current devices and have slower transfer speeds.
For Pro models, the newer ones have great efficiency, much power and flexibility with their dual GPU BUT lost the option of matte screen, although their other pro-oriented monitors still default to matte. Only the 17" has the option. If a pro already finds his 15,4" bulky and with ample reserve power, will he buy the bigger and heavier 17"? Probably not.
I understand that Apple way of doing business is keeping only what's essential with no unnecessary options (I'm looking at you, Asus, with you at least 10 different versions of you netbook). But this time, not everyone can find what he or she wants in Apple's line of laptops, as opposed to the iPod thing, where virtually any possible preference is covered.