StarTech.com has debuted a new 2-in-1 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or VGA adapter, which enables users to connect their Mini DisplayPort-equipped laptops to either an HDMI or VGA display, eliminating the need to carry multiple Mini DisplayPort adapters.

While corresponding with StarTech.com’s PR person, I thought this sounded awfully familiar. Last fall I had already posted a product review of the StarTech.com MDP2VGDVHDW 3-in-1 Thunderbolt Adapter.

It was early in the morning when I dashed off an email asking what the difference was. Her response was obvious in hindsight:

Hi Lee,

By removing DVI we’ve been able to make the adapter even more compact, lightweight and cost effective.

Of course, silly me. Instead of 3-in-1, it’s 2-in-1. Clearly I needed more coffee that morning before responding to emails.

She further pointed out that the 3-in-1 adapter does offer additional flexibility in terms of being able to connect to any display or projector — whether it be DVI, VGA or HDMI. It’s ideal for people who travel and often find themselves working from a variety workstations with different displays & A/V equipment available.

However, in the interest of economizing on space, the 2-in-1 adapter gives users access to the two most common A/V outputs on projectors — VGA and HDMI. While it’s not exactly dead, and the installed base of devices with DVI is large, DVI is becoming less important as time goes on.

According to Karishma Punwani, senior product manager at StarTech.com, the focus of the new 2-in-1 adapter is, “It’s about worry-free connections and the confidence to know you can walk into virtually any boardroom or office environment ready to present. Moreover, it spares you the embarrassment of having to rummage through your bag to find the right connector or to get in touch with the resident IT department to get the necessary adapter.”

This brings up the point that it’s not only traveling AV pros who can benefit from one of these, but also in-house AV and IT departments can keep these on hand as one more, or perhaps more accurately as a way of keeping fewer adapters in their gear box.

Features of StarTech.com’s new 2-in-1 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or VGA adapter include:

•       Support for resolutions up to 1920×1200 or 1080p
•       Simple plug-and-play installation
•       Compatible with Intel Thunderbolt
•       Host-powered performance — no additional power adapters required

MSRP for StarTech.com’s 2-in-1 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or VGA adapter (SKU: MDP2HDVGA) is $49.99 (USD) in the United States, $50.99 (CAN) in Canada, £31.99 (GBP exc. VAT) in the UK. The adapter will be available at CDW, Amazon.com, Newegg.com, PC Connection, and Insight and will be distributed by Ingram Micro, SYNNEX, Tech Data, D&H and ASI.