Hacker News Reader

Why does it have a VGA port instead of a DVI port?

Because having both a DVI and a HDMI port is redundant. HDMI is backwards compatible with DVI so you can convert DVI <-> HDMI easily, but not VGA which is analog.

It also has HDMI. They should have dropped the VGA and saved a buck.

On the flip side I can pick up a VGA monitor off the curb (i.e. free) while the cheapest HDMI monitor is still expensive.

the cheapest HDMI monitor is still expensive

Everyone has different levels for what "expensive" means. You can get new HDMI monitors for well under $150, and new DVI monitors for well under $100, and DVI<->HDMI adaptors are under $10.

Sure but it is worth baring in mind the context-- that this is a $50 PC.

Exactly.

~$100 for a monitor (which can also be used with other computers) isn't expensive when we are talking about a $50 board.

Whether "it's expensive" depends entirely on the market. There are markets (developing countries, education) where tripling the total cost of the setup, compared to using a monitor you already have, is significant.

Yes, I get that. Hence the bit where I said Everyone has different levels for what "expensive" means.

My apologies, between your two comments I was confused about the point you were making.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com