Digital Visual Interface (DVI) may look like a relic, but it still turns up in older PCs, office projectors, and retail kiosks that mix legacy and modern equipment. According to Engadget, the standard debuted in products like Apple's Cinema Display in 1999 and remained common until HDMI and DisplayPort took over. Some kiosk displays still accept DVI directly, no adapter required.
The reason a simple DVI-to-HDMI adapter works is that DVI-D and DVI-I share the same digital video protocol as HDMI. The adapter merely reroutes pins, with no conversion chip or external power needed. The rare analog DVI-A variant is the exception and requires active conversion. Engadget advises plugging directly into HDMI or DisplayPort when possible, since those standards offer higher bandwidth and audio support.
DVI's limitations are significant for business users. It carries no audio, so a separate audio connection is necessary. At 60Hz, dual-link DVI tops out at 2,560 x 1,600, while single-link reaches only 1,920 x 1,200. The bulky, screw-secured cable also complicates cable management. For organizations still running DVI-only hardware, a cheap HDMI adapter is a workable bridge, but it is not a path to high-resolution, high-refresh-rate displays.