As HDMI rises, DVI falls

See how the DVI connection is blurry and the HDMI is clear? Clever, huh? No, just a lucky mistake. Works, though.

(Credit: Eric Franklin/CBS Interactive)

It seems almost inconceivable that just five years ago I purchased a digital TV without a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port. Today virtually every computer monitor that comes through CNET's testing labs has an HDMI port, even the smallish 22-inchers. Some even only come with an HDMI port, forgoing the DVI port altogether.

The rapid rise in HDMI integration by vendors isn't just my imagination, either. In-Stat has released a new report on the quick adoption of HDMI and Digital Visual Interface's (DVI) slow decline.

According to the report, HDMI ports were found in 95 percent of digital TVs shipped worldwide in 2008. It also states that DVI's biggest customers are still the PC and PC peripherals markets.

The report goes on to claim that HDMI is beginning to take off in the mobile PC market as well. The report suspects that camcorders, digital camera and portable media players will adopt the technology more frequently in the near future. Especially with the introduction of smaller HDMI connectors like HDMI mini.

DVI-enabled product shipments will decline at an annual rate of 30 percent through 2012 while at the same time HDMI-enabled products will increase at an annual rate of 23 percent over the same period.

The full report is available at In-Stat's site, but my guess is that most of us will stick with this abridged version since the report runs you a whopping $3,695. Talk about information at a hefty price.