No, Apple did not switch to USB-C on its new MacBook Pros to profit from dongle & adapter sales
Apple's full embrace of USB-C has led to numerous user complaints,?many of which are legitimate. However, there's one common refrain that keeps cropping up: A conspiracy theory claiming Apple switched to USB-C in order to make gobs of cash from selling users new adapters, dongles and cables. There's just one problem with that narrative -- it's complete nonsense. Here's why.
tl;dr: Think Apple's USB-C cables and adapters are a user-hostile profit scheme? Buy cheaper alternatives on Amazon and shut up.
There are plenty of reasons to gripe about Apple switching to USB-C, just as there are justifiable reasons to be upset about the headphone jack being eliminated from the iPhone 7.
The existing full-size USB port has been around for many years, meaning virtually any user is going to run into problems connecting any of their accessories (including an out-of-the-box iPhone) to their Mac. The switch to USB-C is, at the very least, a minor inconvenience for the vast majority of users.
And so the fact that people are upset about the new MacBook Pro going all USB-C is not surprising. But why people are upset is another matter entirely.
While Apple is a member of the USB-IF, it isn't even a part of the organization's top-level brass. Instead, the USB-IF Board of Directors is comprised of personnel from companies like HP, Intel, Microsoft, and chipmaker STMicroelectronics.
USB-C is an open standard, meaning any electronics maker can use it. Within a few years, virtually every new computer sold will feature USB-C, whether exclusively or in tandem with full-size USB-A ports.
Apple has played a major role in establishing new connectors for computers in the past. It partnered with Intel to help create Thunderbolt, and previously the company spearheaded the creation of FireWire, and both of them are open standards.
There is some speculation that Apple again played a significant part in the development of USB-C. It's been suggested that Apple has not been vocal about its part in the creation of USB-C because the company wants the port to be embraced across the computer industry, and the suggestion that it's an "Apple port" might inhibit adoption.
Regardless of how accurate those characterizations may be, USB-C was approved by an independent, nonprofit governing board that has no vested interest in the success of Apple's Mac lineup.
The reasons for Apple -- or any computer maker --?to push USB-C so strongly are clear. It's a thin and reversible port that can handle power, data and video on a single cable.
Once USB-C adoption is near universal, the painful switch from USB-A will be quickly forgotten. Until that happens, however, some early adopters may find themselves in dongle hell. Here again, user complaints are largely misguided.
Yes, Apple sells a handful of USB-C cables and adapters. Yes, they are generally more expensive than some of the other options available.
Apple's own cables and accessories have always been more expensive than the competition. And so have its products.
But because USB-C is an open standard, there are a plethora of inexpensive USB-C cable, dongle and hub options available. A quick search on Amazon shows plenty of well-reviewed off-brand cables for under $10, and known name-brand cables for around $15.
If Apple truly sought to "lock in" users to its own manufactured or licensed cables and ports, it would have designed an entirely new port to compete with USB-C.
If Apple's new MacBook Pros came with an array of Lightning ports rather than USB-C, suggestions that Apple is only interested in milking more money out of their users would carry some weight. But we don't live in that alternate universe.
Still, seeing a potential public relations nightmare as the angry Twitter mob sharpened their pitchforks, Apple slashed prices on USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 accessories this fall. The temporary discounts will last through the end of March 2017.
The outrage over the fact that Apple would make money off of its products and accessories is a strange one (Apple is a publicly traded company whose main purpose is to sell products and make money). And with a relatively tiny portion of the overall PC market, it's not like computer users have a lack of alternatives to the Mac.
Regardless, perhaps the best evidence that the switch to USB-C is not about Apple selling cables or adapters comes from the 12-inch MacBook power brick --?a truly proprietary USB-C accessory that customers must buy through Apple (at least if they want to ensure their MacBook does not burst into flames with a cheap knockoff).
The 29-watt USB-C power adapter that ships with the 12-inch MacBook can be purchased separately for $49. And if you prefer to use Apple's USB-C charge cable, it costs $19, bringing the total cost of replacement to $68.
In contrast, the 45-watt MagSafe 2 Power Adapter for the MacBook Air -- the computer the 12-inch MacBook has superseded --?cost $79, or $11 more. And since the MagSafe cable is permanently attached to the power brick, if the cable frays (which it frequently does), you'll need to pony up the full $79 to replace it.
Since the USB-C brick for all new MacBooks features a removable, replaceable cable, any fraying would require a more affordable $19 replacement. And that cost would be even less if you used a third-party USB-C cable.
It turns out that switching to USB-C made the power brick on your MacBook easier and -- most notably in the case of the 12-inch MacBook --?more affordable to replace.
While only Apple can officially say why the company does not ship the new iPhone 7 with a USB-C to Lightning cable, the numbers speak for themselves.
Apple's best quarter ever for the Mac was the September 2015 frame, when the company sold 5.7 million computers. In contrast, projections call for the iPhone to sell nearly fourteen times that --?reaching nearly 80 million units --?in the current holiday quarter.
Simply put, the number of people buying iPhones vastly outnumbers the number of customers who purchase new Macs.
Switching to USB-C on the Mac, while admittedly painful for many users, is a simpler change to make, because Apple sells far fewer Macs than it does iPhones.
If Apple were to switch the default cable and wall adapter in the iPhone box to a Lightning to USB-C cable, users would be outraged, because they wouldn't be able to use the cable with their existing computers, wall adapters, car adapters and other accessories that rely on the full-size USB port. The outcry from such a change would be far louder than current complaints about USB-C on the latest MacBooks.
It's for similar reasons that Apple can't switch from Lightning to USB-C on the iPhone or iPad themselves -- an entire ecosystem has been built up around iOS devices, of which Apple will sell nearly 100 million this quarter. Lightning may very well prove to be the last input port on Apple's iOS devices, before it is replaced by wireless connectivity and contact charging and accessories, like the Smart Connector on the iPad Pro.
Consider that the last time Apple switched ports on the iPhone, from 30-pin to Lightning, user outrage lasted for years. Though that transition took place with the debut of the iPhone 5 in 2012, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook was reminded of how annoyed users were by the switch by comedian Stephen Colbert, in an appearance on The Late Show three years later, in 2015.
"It's the same charger, right?" Colbert asked Cook about the then-flagship iPhone 6s. "Because I will stab you in the neck with a fondue fork right now."
tl;dr: Think Apple's USB-C cables and adapters are a user-hostile profit scheme? Buy cheaper alternatives on Amazon and shut up.
There are plenty of reasons to gripe about Apple switching to USB-C, just as there are justifiable reasons to be upset about the headphone jack being eliminated from the iPhone 7.
The existing full-size USB port has been around for many years, meaning virtually any user is going to run into problems connecting any of their accessories (including an out-of-the-box iPhone) to their Mac. The switch to USB-C is, at the very least, a minor inconvenience for the vast majority of users.
And so the fact that people are upset about the new MacBook Pro going all USB-C is not surprising. But why people are upset is another matter entirely.
Apple did not create USB-C
The USB-C connector was created by the USB Implementers Forum, a nonprofit organization that has overseen the Universal Serial Bus since 1995.While Apple is a member of the USB-IF, it isn't even a part of the organization's top-level brass. Instead, the USB-IF Board of Directors is comprised of personnel from companies like HP, Intel, Microsoft, and chipmaker STMicroelectronics.
USB-C is an open standard, meaning any electronics maker can use it. Within a few years, virtually every new computer sold will feature USB-C, whether exclusively or in tandem with full-size USB-A ports.
Apple has played a major role in establishing new connectors for computers in the past. It partnered with Intel to help create Thunderbolt, and previously the company spearheaded the creation of FireWire, and both of them are open standards.
Within a few years, virtually every new computer sold will feature USB-C.
There is some speculation that Apple again played a significant part in the development of USB-C. It's been suggested that Apple has not been vocal about its part in the creation of USB-C because the company wants the port to be embraced across the computer industry, and the suggestion that it's an "Apple port" might inhibit adoption.
Regardless of how accurate those characterizations may be, USB-C was approved by an independent, nonprofit governing board that has no vested interest in the success of Apple's Mac lineup.
The reasons for Apple -- or any computer maker --?to push USB-C so strongly are clear. It's a thin and reversible port that can handle power, data and video on a single cable.
Once USB-C adoption is near universal, the painful switch from USB-A will be quickly forgotten. Until that happens, however, some early adopters may find themselves in dongle hell. Here again, user complaints are largely misguided.
Apple does not profit from USB-C
What's the profit margin gonna be on all the Thunderbolt/USB-C dongles Apple puts out for the new MacBook Pro?
-- Samit Sarkar (@SamitSarkar)
Yes, Apple sells a handful of USB-C cables and adapters. Yes, they are generally more expensive than some of the other options available.
Apple's own cables and accessories have always been more expensive than the competition. And so have its products.
But because USB-C is an open standard, there are a plethora of inexpensive USB-C cable, dongle and hub options available. A quick search on Amazon shows plenty of well-reviewed off-brand cables for under $10, and known name-brand cables for around $15.
If Apple truly sought to "lock in" users to its own manufactured or licensed cables and ports, it would have designed an entirely new port to compete with USB-C.
If Apple's new MacBook Pros came with an array of Lightning ports rather than USB-C, suggestions that Apple is only interested in milking more money out of their users would carry some weight. But we don't live in that alternate universe.
Still, seeing a potential public relations nightmare as the angry Twitter mob sharpened their pitchforks, Apple slashed prices on USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 accessories this fall. The temporary discounts will last through the end of March 2017.
The outrage over the fact that Apple would make money off of its products and accessories is a strange one (Apple is a publicly traded company whose main purpose is to sell products and make money). And with a relatively tiny portion of the overall PC market, it's not like computer users have a lack of alternatives to the Mac.
Regardless, perhaps the best evidence that the switch to USB-C is not about Apple selling cables or adapters comes from the 12-inch MacBook power brick --?a truly proprietary USB-C accessory that customers must buy through Apple (at least if they want to ensure their MacBook does not burst into flames with a cheap knockoff).
The 29-watt USB-C power adapter that ships with the 12-inch MacBook can be purchased separately for $49. And if you prefer to use Apple's USB-C charge cable, it costs $19, bringing the total cost of replacement to $68.
In contrast, the 45-watt MagSafe 2 Power Adapter for the MacBook Air -- the computer the 12-inch MacBook has superseded --?cost $79, or $11 more. And since the MagSafe cable is permanently attached to the power brick, if the cable frays (which it frequently does), you'll need to pony up the full $79 to replace it.
Since the USB-C brick for all new MacBooks features a removable, replaceable cable, any fraying would require a more affordable $19 replacement. And that cost would be even less if you used a third-party USB-C cable.
It turns out that switching to USB-C made the power brick on your MacBook easier and -- most notably in the case of the 12-inch MacBook --?more affordable to replace.
Apple does not ship the iPhone with a USB-C cable
This is another valid complaint with a complicated answer. If you want to connect your iPhone to a new Mac, you either need a USB-C to USB-A adapter, or an Apple Lightning to USB-C cable, both of which are sold separately.While only Apple can officially say why the company does not ship the new iPhone 7 with a USB-C to Lightning cable, the numbers speak for themselves.
Apple's best quarter ever for the Mac was the September 2015 frame, when the company sold 5.7 million computers. In contrast, projections call for the iPhone to sell nearly fourteen times that --?reaching nearly 80 million units --?in the current holiday quarter.
Simply put, the number of people buying iPhones vastly outnumbers the number of customers who purchase new Macs.
Switching to USB-C on the Mac, while admittedly painful for many users, is a simpler change to make, because Apple sells far fewer Macs than it does iPhones.
If Apple were to switch the default cable and wall adapter in the iPhone box to a Lightning to USB-C cable, users would be outraged, because they wouldn't be able to use the cable with their existing computers, wall adapters, car adapters and other accessories that rely on the full-size USB port. The outcry from such a change would be far louder than current complaints about USB-C on the latest MacBooks.
It's for similar reasons that Apple can't switch from Lightning to USB-C on the iPhone or iPad themselves -- an entire ecosystem has been built up around iOS devices, of which Apple will sell nearly 100 million this quarter. Lightning may very well prove to be the last input port on Apple's iOS devices, before it is replaced by wireless connectivity and contact charging and accessories, like the Smart Connector on the iPad Pro.
Consider that the last time Apple switched ports on the iPhone, from 30-pin to Lightning, user outrage lasted for years. Though that transition took place with the debut of the iPhone 5 in 2012, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook was reminded of how annoyed users were by the switch by comedian Stephen Colbert, in an appearance on The Late Show three years later, in 2015.
"It's the same charger, right?" Colbert asked Cook about the then-flagship iPhone 6s. "Because I will stab you in the neck with a fondue fork right now."
Comments
Also, apple is not the only seller of adapters, ya know.
common sense will tell you as much,, but I have seen many people who simply never think.
EG, mac rumors.
I could also see Apple switching the iPad Pro lineup to USB-C cables in the box first, but waiting another year or two on the iPhone. I already use a USB-C to Lightning cable with the 29-watt 12" MacBook power brick with my 12.9" iPad Pro, because the USB 3.1 charging is *significantly* faster than with the in-the-box power adapter. Ideally, the 2017 iPad refresh would include that 29-watt power adapter in the box, because the standard charging times for the large iPad are unacceptable.
Why didn't they just throw on in each laptop box, not with each iPhone?
When testing USB-C-based MacBooks, I never ran into a problem connecting my iPhone, because the truth is I just don't typically connect my iPhone to my MacBook. I charge through a dock, and syncing to iCloud is wireless. Everybody's use case is different, of course.
While I agree it would be nice for them to include dongles in the box. At the end of the day all of these consumer electronics are luxuries. And as with any other luxury.. you have to pay to play. If you can pay $1000 for a brand new iPhone7.. then surely you can pay $19 for a Lightning or USB-C cable. Want a brand new shiny device? Then be prepared to pay the asking price of being on the bleeding edge of technology.
Apple has a MacBook dock they are working on. But nobody wants to talk about that new technology yet. most likely, it's built into the MacBook in based on Intel technology if they were really smart when they read what I said in the email addressed to Tim Cook about why I cannot access the three USB ports on my laptop in a virtual machine but I can only Use one of them in macOS.
This might be a very difficult item for most people to understand, however I am Malcolm Tucker. You could read about in a published book, watch me watch me in a movie, or see me in a popular television show in Britain.
that is all.
Printing out a voucher (heck, make it an online PDF), is cheaper than including an adapter someone might not even need or use.
A laptop is intrinsically a computer with compromises, but you make those compromises for convenience (size, portability, etc.) Not including USB A ports significantly compromises the convenience and usability of the device for at least the next 1-2 years. To voluntarily design a laptop to make it more inconvenient is just moronic. But at least they have courage.
I don't know many people that plug anything into their USB ports anymore. Sure, there are exceptions... quite a few, including me, but the reality is if people here are complaining about USB-A to USBc, seriously... cry me a river.
That said, I've argued that Apple could potentially increase their MB and MBP sales and help spread good will about the transition and an falsely assumed nickle-and-diming by offering a set timeframe for new buyers to switch out Apple cables with USB-A for cables with USB-C for certain products that are registered to their name. Since we know they keep a good records of this, it's not a big deal. Switching out the PSU is more costly, but that would be nice, too, but chances are people have a lot of Lightning-to-USB-A cables, so having that extra Lightning-to-USB-C cable to keep with in your bag to charging via the Mac would help ease some tension and reluctance.
Still, it's a short term issue and they can't sell these Macs fast enough so it's probably not a big deal to Apple. USB-A worked out for them with the original iMac so I do believe Apple knows what they're doing.
PS: I'd love for Apple to stop including PSUs with their iPhones. They didn't include one with the AirPods, which is nice, but for that I would have preferred they also didn't include a Lightning cable.
Hopefully this is 'in the works' (software/firmware) and any insight into this would be most welcome...!
The other wish is for target display support for all retina iMacs, which from what I understand (bandwidth limitations) may be possible with an MST (multi stream ie. 2x TB2>TB3) connection - again hopefully in the works (?) - that for me might get back to 'it just works'...
Such also has me asking if 5K is really worth the apparent plethora of issues, vs 4K which seems surprisingly, pleasantly + mostly ubiquitously supported on older macs...? I haven't had the 5K pleasure, so again I would simply ask the question...