INTEL'S NEXT GENERATION laptop platform, code named Montevina, has a nice feature that remains quite unheraleded, Displayport (DP). Not only does it allow you to drive an external DP monitor, it uses it internally.

Intel had two panels from different vendors up and running at IDF, a good sign because Montevina notebooks are right around the corner. It won't buy you much on the inside, possibly saving a bit of engineering, but it should allow you to push some pretty nice displays with your new lappy.

One other nicety of DP is that the connector is much smaller than a VGA adapter, and minuscule compared to DVI. Coupled with the fact that it isn't burdened with the same crushing license fees as HDMI, you have a very attractive port for notebooks large and small. You cold even realistically envision notebooks, even small ones, sporting multiple monitor outs.

On the down side, and it is a very down side, DP is DRM infected. The only good thing since flat panels in the monitor world has a rights removing dark side. Even with this baked in malware, DP is a good thing, a really good thing. The sooner it takes over, the better. µ