I made this suggestion as an "open letter" to 3rd party manufacturers in the initial 12" MB post, but it really belongs in this thread...
I'm not crazy about needing dongles for I/O, but I do understand that a lot of personal-use types don't really need them.
For travel/business use, where connection to projectors/USB/wired ethernet is relatively common, I think there is an opportunity for some manufacturer to do a mobile integrated multi-I/O dock+power adapter here. Even the separate power adapter and multiple display dongles I carry for my 13" MBP takes a fair amount of space. Seems to me a unit somewhat bigger than a typical power adapter that does all these things would not be a big deal to always carry with you. (And hopefully it could be +/- $100).
So, how about it, 3rd party people? Kanex? Belkin? Sonnet? Anybody?
PS: maybe you could do a "mag-safe" style magnetic connector on the AC side like my deep fryer does:
True, but if it fits as "snugly" as the Lightning cables and connectors do on my iPhone 6 and iPad mini 2, then I stand by my opinion. The MagSafe will release if pulled at any angle. Like the Lightning connector, a USB-C connector will only release when pulled (mostly) "straight" out. If you pull on it at an angle, there is a significant chance of damage to the port and/or cable.
Yeah but the difference between lightning cables and mag-safe is that I don't plug my iPhone on a table/desk like I would a laptop with a dangling cord that would likely get tripped on. iPhones/iPads I think would be charged a majority of the time in an area where legs are not going to trip up the cord like on top of a kitchen counter, or a nightstand, etc..
I only hope that the new connector will be very low-resistance so it pops out easily if someone trips on the cord. I have to believe that Apple did some kind of stress-testing to make sure that the new USB/Power connector was as sturdy and reliable as MagSafe. Crossing fingers.
Would it have been such a bother to include the laptop-saving MagSafe connector AND a USB port? Would it really have made it so ridiculously thick? Is it really necessary to go thinner than a MacBook Air?
Sorry, but I hate dongles, I use both USB connectors on my MacBook. The MagSafe connector has saved my Mac dozens of times. Now, that I think about it, I use EVERY connector on my MacBook surprisingly often.
This new MacBook must certainly not be for people like me, except I can't think of a single person I know it could be for, that wouldn't be better served by a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro or an iPad for that matter. Ok, I guess iPad users would be well served by something this light and powerful that's a real Mac. I just hope this isn't representative of the future of Apple in terms of laptops and usable ports (Please, MagSafe... MAGSAFE!)
Please Apple, stop removing stuff for the sake of removal (and Ive's OCD when it comes to thinness and ports) without thinking of usability and practicality. Thank you.
MagSafe was an amazing, if under-appreciated, feature. I'm a careful person and still it saved me several times from ruining a power cord or crashing an expensive computer onto a hard tile floor. I feel as if the loss of MagSafe is a significant step backwards.
USB-C is still regular USB just with a different connector. So any old usb-> ethernet adapter will work. Just at the moment it requires two adapters until someone makes a usb-c to ethernet adapter.
So.... way way way way slower (like USB 2 slower) than Thunderbolt does ethernet, correct?
For a company that still can't seem to design a cable that will survive more than a few months of daily use, they sure do want us to have to buy a lot of expensive cables.
... and now we have to buy an expensive dongle to plug our expensive cables into.
How much of Apples insane profits are derived from replacement cable sales? That number is about to go up with this device. No thanks.
USB-C is still regular USB just with a different connector. So any old usb-> ethernet adapter will work. Just at the moment it requires two adapters until someone makes a usb-c to ethernet adapter.
So.... way way way way slower (like USB 2 slower) than Thunderbolt does ethernet, correct?
Not even an audio jack so you could listen to headphones. I really wished they went for something exciting instead they went for something mainstream with usb type c. It looks as if they decide to go with the mass market - having only one port they probably thought it wouldn't be good to give a customer a proprietary choice only. I do think they could have gone with magsafe on one side and usb type c on the other and put the audio jack somewhere.
Oh and by magsafe, I was dreaming up OPTICAL magsafe, you know, the variant where you have power and thunderbolt in one break-away cable.
I bring my system to work and everyday plug and reply the thunderbolt, and we had some thunderbolt ports fail in our office because of that. With optical magsafe that would have been a non-issue and it would have been faster than usb 3.
Lots of wasted chances I guess, but nobody forces me to buy. In fact, I'm probably still gonna buy one, just not for primary use but for my wife.
And for those that say they don't understand why people want to buy their lightest notebook and hook it up to a monitor, why wouldn't you?
Pre-Mac I was using a heavy tower computer at home and a heavy tower computer at work. With the MBP that changed for me in 2010 and all my data was always with me. I used all kinda Macbooks during the last few years and only settled for a rMBP, well because of the display. For many people the lightest laptop is good enough for their tasks (and I'm a programmer and had no problem in using the Air, performance wise).
The new Macbook would have been perfect for me to bring back and from work...
In my limited searching I haven't seen anything to prove or disprove that USB Type-C can do ethernet. The current USB to ethernet adapter sold by Apple only supports USB 2.0.
So the Macbook went from being Apples most affordable laptop to now being a luxury item? Is the new Macbook faster than any of the other laptops Apple sells? I can see how this can be a great casual use computer, but I am still trying to find what the price/performance ratio is on this one. If this is a good computer for work, then does it have the power to do heavy duty tasks. And if its for play, can it get good frame rates on todays best games? The macbook airs are just starting to get powerful enough to handle this.
When providing tech specifications for this adapter, the information is not thorough.
HDMI, does that mean v1.3? v1.4? (supporting 3D) v2.0 (supporting 4K video). Simply stating HDMI states nothing except for physical connectivity.
USB, is this USB 3.0 as we know it today? Is it the new USB3.1 (higher speed) connectivity? And, what is meant by USB-C Gen.1? 3-Stars for now because of dubious specifications.
In my limited searching I haven't seen anything to prove or disprove that USB Type-C can do ethernet. The current USB to ethernet adapter sold by Apple only supports USB 2.0.
There are third party USB 3.0 adapters that can do gigabit. Type C is still USB along with a couple new things like display and a lot more power over a new cable. But the underlying USB is the exact same as it has ever been.
So now you have to buy an adapter to plug in your printer, or monitor, or backup drive and still have your new laptop powered or charging? That would be a NECESSARY adapter and Apple now charges extra for it. Pretty shitty on their part.
Wireless printers are becoming very common, as is wireless storage.
A lot of computer users never connect an external device to their laptops; for those who do and absolutely cannot get by without multiple ports (or with multi-port dongles), there are still the MacBook Air and Pro lines.
You act like everything else goes away with the new MacBook arrived …
IMO, they should have left the power cable separate and Mag-safe and/or there should have been two USB-C connectors.
I have to agree, maybe not two,USB-C but at least one USB 3 equivalent port. As other have already stated there is just too much stuff out in the wild that floats around with the old USB interface.
There really isn't space for two connectors. Ultimately, this is the future of notebooks, like it or not.
Maybe for the consumer but if you have a technical bent or a job where you deal with technology, you need the ports. Watching the video I was enthralled with the technology that has gone into the Mac Book. The lack of ports and the relatively high price though are big put offs.
I really have never wanted more than one USB port for my laptop, and it's rare I use a flash drive these days, apart from OS installs (which aren't an issue on newer Macs).
Hell I've used three or four at a time at work. I have scripts that keep important materials continuously backed up to flash, often need a communications cable and sometimes other stuff.
I'm glad they made 8GB RAM standard.
Yeah that is a good sign. The RAM should help to make up for the poor performance of the CPUs.
There is nothing I'd like more than to see a few good reviews of this machine. I probably won't go this route due to the lack of ports but I must say the rest of the machine impresses.
Comments
I made this suggestion as an "open letter" to 3rd party manufacturers in the initial 12" MB post, but it really belongs in this thread...
I'm not crazy about needing dongles for I/O, but I do understand that a lot of personal-use types don't really need them.
For travel/business use, where connection to projectors/USB/wired ethernet is relatively common, I think there is an opportunity for some manufacturer to do a mobile integrated multi-I/O dock+power adapter here. Even the separate power adapter and multiple display dongles I carry for my 13" MBP takes a fair amount of space. Seems to me a unit somewhat bigger than a typical power adapter that does all these things would not be a big deal to always carry with you. (And hopefully it could be +/- $100).
So, how about it, 3rd party people? Kanex? Belkin? Sonnet? Anybody?
PS: maybe you could do a "mag-safe" style magnetic connector on the AC side like my deep fryer does:
MagSafe was an amazing
True, but if it fits as "snugly" as the Lightning cables and connectors do on my iPhone 6 and iPad mini 2, then I stand by my opinion. The MagSafe will release if pulled at any angle. Like the Lightning connector, a USB-C connector will only release when pulled (mostly) "straight" out. If you pull on it at an angle, there is a significant chance of damage to the port and/or cable.
Yeah but the difference between lightning cables and mag-safe is that I don't plug my iPhone on a table/desk like I would a laptop with a dangling cord that would likely get tripped on. iPhones/iPads I think would be charged a majority of the time in an area where legs are not going to trip up the cord like on top of a kitchen counter, or a nightstand, etc..
I only hope that the new connector will be very low-resistance so it pops out easily if someone trips on the cord. I have to believe that Apple did some kind of stress-testing to make sure that the new USB/Power connector was as sturdy and reliable as MagSafe. Crossing fingers.
Sorry, but I hate dongles, I use both USB connectors on my MacBook. The MagSafe connector has saved my Mac dozens of times. Now, that I think about it, I use EVERY connector on my MacBook surprisingly often.
This new MacBook must certainly not be for people like me, except I can't think of a single person I know it could be for, that wouldn't be better served by a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro or an iPad for that matter. Ok, I guess iPad users would be well served by something this light and powerful that's a real Mac. I just hope this isn't representative of the future of Apple in terms of laptops and usable ports (Please, MagSafe... MAGSAFE!)
Please Apple, stop removing stuff for the sake of removal (and Ive's OCD when it comes to thinness and ports) without thinking of usability and practicality. Thank you.
Just pondering...
Love MagSafe
What no one is noting is this will get its own adapters in time, No longer Apple only like lighting, of course there are questionable thoughts.
USB-C is still regular USB just with a different connector. So any old usb-> ethernet adapter will work. Just at the moment it requires two adapters until someone makes a usb-c to ethernet adapter.
So.... way way way way slower (like USB 2 slower) than Thunderbolt does ethernet, correct?Imagine that, Apple sacrifice usability to make something thinner. Who'd have thought?
I don't agree with ditching Magsafe.
For a company that still can't seem to design a cable that will survive more than a few months of daily use, they sure do want us to have to buy a lot of expensive cables.
... and now we have to buy an expensive dongle to plug our expensive cables into.
How much of Apples insane profits are derived from replacement cable sales? That number is about to go up with this device. No thanks.
USB-C is still regular USB just with a different connector. So any old usb-> ethernet adapter will work. Just at the moment it requires two adapters until someone makes a usb-c to ethernet adapter.
So.... way way way way slower (like USB 2 slower) than Thunderbolt does ethernet, correct?
No, like full USB 3.0 Gigabit ethernet.
Underwhelmed . :-(
Not even an audio jack so you could listen to headphones. I really wished they went for something exciting instead they went for something mainstream with usb type c. It looks as if they decide to go with the mass market - having only one port they probably thought it wouldn't be good to give a customer a proprietary choice only. I do think they could have gone with magsafe on one side and usb type c on the other and put the audio jack somewhere.
Oh and by magsafe, I was dreaming up OPTICAL magsafe, you know, the variant where you have power and thunderbolt in one break-away cable.
I bring my system to work and everyday plug and reply the thunderbolt, and we had some thunderbolt ports fail in our office because of that. With optical magsafe that would have been a non-issue and it would have been faster than usb 3.
Lots of wasted chances I guess, but nobody forces me to buy. In fact, I'm probably still gonna buy one, just not for primary use but for my wife.
And for those that say they don't understand why people want to buy their lightest notebook and hook it up to a monitor, why wouldn't you?
Pre-Mac I was using a heavy tower computer at home and a heavy tower computer at work. With the MBP that changed for me in 2010 and all my data was always with me. I used all kinda Macbooks during the last few years and only settled for a rMBP, well because of the display. For many people the lightest laptop is good enough for their tasks (and I'm a programmer and had no problem in using the Air, performance wise).
The new Macbook would have been perfect for me to bring back and from work...
No, like full USB 3.0 Gigabit ethernet.
In my limited searching I haven't seen anything to prove or disprove that USB Type-C can do ethernet. The current USB to ethernet adapter sold by Apple only supports USB 2.0.HDMI, does that mean v1.3? v1.4? (supporting 3D) v2.0 (supporting 4K video). Simply stating HDMI states nothing except for physical connectivity.
USB, is this USB 3.0 as we know it today? Is it the new USB3.1 (higher speed) connectivity? And, what is meant by USB-C Gen.1? 3-Stars for now because of dubious specifications.
No, like full USB 3.0 Gigabit ethernet.
In my limited searching I haven't seen anything to prove or disprove that USB Type-C can do ethernet. The current USB to ethernet adapter sold by Apple only supports USB 2.0.
There are third party USB 3.0 adapters that can do gigabit. Type C is still USB along with a couple new things like display and a lot more power over a new cable. But the underlying USB is the exact same as it has ever been.
So the cost of this MacBook is actually $79 more.
This is the first move that I have seen Apple make that I that was effing SLIMY since I moved back into their ecosystem in 2007.
WTF, Apple?
You act as if it's impossible to use the machine without attaching an external monitor, etc.
If you really do have to use wired external monitors/drives/devices, then you don't need the MacBook. See how simple this is?
So now you have to buy an adapter to plug in your printer, or monitor, or backup drive and still have your new laptop powered or charging? That would be a NECESSARY adapter and Apple now charges extra for it. Pretty shitty on their part.
Wireless printers are becoming very common, as is wireless storage.
A lot of computer users never connect an external device to their laptops; for those who do and absolutely cannot get by without multiple ports (or with multi-port dongles), there are still the MacBook Air and Pro lines.
You act like everything else goes away with the new MacBook arrived …
Underwhelmed . :-(
Not even an audio jack so you could listen to headphones.
Does nobody do the slightest bit of checking before they start moaning?
The audio jack is on the other side of the device from the USB-C port.
I have to agree, maybe not two,USB-C but at least one USB 3 equivalent port. As other have already stated there is just too much stuff out in the wild that floats around with the old USB interface.
Maybe for the consumer but if you have a technical bent or a job where you deal with technology, you need the ports. Watching the video I was enthralled with the technology that has gone into the Mac Book. The lack of ports and the relatively high price though are big put offs. Hell I've used three or four at a time at work. I have scripts that keep important materials continuously backed up to flash, often need a communications cable and sometimes other stuff.
Yeah that is a good sign. The RAM should help to make up for the poor performance of the CPUs.
There is nothing I'd like more than to see a few good reviews of this machine. I probably won't go this route due to the lack of ports but I must say the rest of the machine impresses.
Does nobody do the slightest bit of checking before they start moaning?
The audio jack is on the other side of the device from the USB-C port.
Well that's good news, thanks.