Top PC makers Dell and Lenovo have stepped forward to announce their intentions to gradually phase out support for older display technologies such as Video Graphics Array (VGA) and Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) in favor of High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and DisplayPort. This display of solidarity is joined by graphic companies AMD and Intel, as well as display manufacturers Samsung and LG Display.

The argument for HDMI and DisplayPort are many, and includes the lower power consumption of the newer interfaces, as well as support for higher resolutions and greater color depth. More importantly though, is how the much slimmer connectors in HDMI and DisplayPort facilitate the design of slimmer laptops.

In a statement, Eric Mentzer, a VP at Intel explained that "By moving to these new interfaces, Intel is able to focus investment on new innovations to enhance the PC experience rather than having to solve challenges of supporting legacy analog interfaces on our latest silicon process technology and products." AMD's Eric Demers offered more details: "In our opinion, DisplayPort 1.2 is the future interface for PC monitors, along with HDMI 1.4a for TV connectivity."

Exact plans for moving forward vary slightly. While Intel says it will support only HDMI and DisplayPort by 2015; AMD says it will remove support for VGA and DVI-I beginning in 2013. Regardless, it is likely that VGA will be around for a while yet, due to the sheer number of existing equipment that supports it.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at The Inquirer
- check out this article at PC Mag
- check out this article at Ars Technica

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