Connecting to recent Macs can be an issue because all the newer Macs use miniature connectors for displays. The connectors on the Mac carry the same digital signals as their bigger counterparts.

This is great for making connectors fit on the side of a MacBook or the back of a Mini. And is also great if you like buying adapters for connecting your displays. Here are some options, including my favorite.

The Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter has a very short cable. This, along with the heavy weight of a typical DVI cable, makes a fragile connection that can easily come loose when you plug or unplug a USB device or otherwise jostle the cable.

The Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter is very similar. If you have a newer MacBook or MacBook Pro, this may be your only choice for a DVI-connected display. I wouldn't think of using VGA.

Using an HDMI cable with a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter helps a little because the HDMI cable and connectors are smaller and lighter than the DVI ones. It is still easy to dislodge.

Apple does not supply a Mini DisplayPort adapter for regular DisplayPort. But CircuitAssembly sells a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable for under $10. The cable is lighter than HDMI or DVI cables and there is no bulky adapter connector in the way. It works perfectly and is only one part.

Most new digital TVs and high-end computer displays support DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort connections. When I first got my Dell 2408WFP, I used it with my MacBook Pro with the full-size DVI connector. The DVI cable was big and clunky. After migrating to an early-2009 Mini, I used the Apple Mini DVI to DVI adapter. It worked fine, but had the “easy disconnect” problem. I tried the monoprice.com HDMI adapter. It works fine too, but was still awkward. Then I got the DisplayPort cable. It works perfectly and is more mechanically stable at the Mac Mini end.

URLs for the vendors are http://www.apple.com, http://www.monoprice.com, and http://estore.circuitassembly.com/categories/Adapters/Mini-Displayport.