An iMac Pro update would make sense because the whole point of that model was to show pros that Apple still cared about them, and it would need to be regularly updated to carry that message.
An iMac Pro update would make sense because the whole point of that model was to show pros that Apple still cared about them, and it would need to be regularly updated to carry that message.
What components could be updated? Intel hasn’t refreshed the CPUs Apple uses yet.
They haven't refreshed them but they have announced a new addition to the line, the Xeon W 3175X with 28-cores (previous highest being 18 cores). It's not shipping until December but a new 28-core iMac Pro could ship then.
Also AMD is keynoting CES on Jan 9 and is expected to announce the worlds first 7nm GPUs. When the original iMac Pro was announced at WWDC 2017 it included an as yet unreleased GPU (the Vega 56/64 was not yet out).
And it would also need whatever non-CPU and GPU upgrades the standard iMac gets. I am thinking/hoping for an HDR screen given that Apple sells HDR content on the iTunes Store, some iDevices already have this, and it would enable creative pros to create/preview HDR content.
The new Xeon-W 3175X uses a completely different platform/socket (LGA3647) from the earlier Xeon-W hardware used in the iMac Pro (LGA2066). So that’s not happening.
Whatever AMD unveils at CES, it could appear in the Mac Pro or some kind of iMac Pro refresh/revision next year, but Apple isn’t going to pre-announce it this Tuesday!
Your only point that makes any sense is your last one — I find myself wondering if the talk of a new iMac display is wrong (because it would mean the iMac would have a better display than the iMac Pro), and the iMacs are just getting a simple refresh while Apple is releasing a new Thunderbolt 3 display — it’s not hard to imagine how supply-chain insiders could get that wrong.
Maybe they will give a preview of the Mac Pro with the 28-core CPU then, that would equally serve the purpose of showing pros that Apple still cares about them.
Come on Apple! Release the MacBook Air and Mac mini as A-series computing. It's time. Make them super affordable and show the world how powerful the A-series of processors can be. It's been so long to bring these updates out and it has to be because of the work you've done to make this possible. Time to ditch Intel. Their roadmap is holding you up at this point.
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
It's only a problem because we are transitioning to a new standard along with the rest of the industry, but Apple usually leads the charge. The future is better with a standard port that can handle the future. When you can run power, USB, networking and two 4K displays of the same, high speed port... that beats everything else. Dongles are a temporary solution until the market catches up with USB-C products.
As far as the MagSafe argument... it's actually not really needed any more. The reason is that we now have laptops that last hours on a charge. The paradigm has shifted slightly where most of the time we can use these devices without being plugged in, but when they are, they are likely on a desk. In addition, the devices are all solid state and built with unibody construction. What this means is that even if the computer falls off the table, it's not going to be damaged. That was the use case of the original MagSafe port which is simply not a very valid case any more. I do agree that having some kind of indication as to the of charging status would be nice. But it's not a huge deal to me really, just something that changed.
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
"Various dongles" = a single HDMI to USB-C adapter. GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
USB-C for power means you can just plug into your dock, monitor, whatever and get power as well. You can use portable power bricks from any vendor. It's the future. Magsafe means you need your proprietary Apple charger.
Since when does such abusive potty mouth incite represent the spirit of non-troll posting or constructive contribution ?
Personally I really dislike having a bag full of costly, messy dongles that seem outdated every few years, and one can of course arrive at a meeting and be surprised by a need for something one does not have... Also one snagged USB-C cord and a $4k macbook pro flying off a desk is not something I would look forward to or consider a design 'upgrade'...
Opinions and needs differ. Was someone having a bad day? Live and let live...?
You need one adapter. One. And I hardly ever plug my MacBook Pro in when it's not on my desk. I simply don't need to. I get at least 4 hours of run time on a charge, plenty for a meeting. Just saying you're using a lot of hyperbole with the "bag full of dongles" bit. It's time to upgrade your various peripherals you may carry then. I just haven't seen an issue in my own use since 2016.
I think many fail to realize there's a USB-C to almost anything cable out there. Hell, there's even a USB-C to DB9 (Serial) cable available. All you have to do, it buy the right cables. You don't need to have 15 dongles in your case as some suggest unless you want to keep using your existing cables. As technology pushes forward, you WILL eventually have to get new shit to support it. It's just part of technology advancing. If you want to keep using older technology then don't buy a Mac...its as simple as that. If you want to use new technology that will be supported for years, then buy a Mac and get the right equipment/accessories to go with it.
Also, think about this, if a port goes bad in the old MacBook that are fixed to one specific type of port then you're fucked. Imagine going to your meeting only to find out that somehow, your fixed HDMI port doesn't work anymore. If you have a new MacBook Pro you have 4 other ports to choose from and you can either use your dongle, or the correct USB-C to HDMI Cable. Also, maybe you're going someplace where the it should be plugged in on the right side of the MacBook instead of the left as it would have to be on the older MacBook Pro. With the new MacBook Pro, you can choose to plug it in wherever you want...oh, same goes for power too.
I am keenly awaiting this October event and glad I hadn't plunged into getting the 2018 13" MacBook Pro as intended in September. I am actually struggling as to my IT strategy for the next three years, whether to go all in with the MacBook Pro or alternatively have a mixture of Mac Mini or iMac at home and iPad/iPad Pro for the road. My brain tells me the MacBook Pro is the most versatile: I can do document reading/processing together with movie/photo/audio editing and coding. Pretty mixed use. All being said, I'm in a position to make good use of cloud services and I've dabbled with movie/document editing with the iPhone but find the "big screen slate" format of the iPad more natural to work with, more so after having an opportunity to dabble with an Apple Pencil on my mother's 2018 iPad which I've found a real joy to use.
I've found Apple this year has provided plenty of flexibility and choice in their product range; it makes it difficult for me to choose but I feel I will be productive whatever combination I decide to acquire.
On the topic of flexibility, I'm surprised at people who persist in suggesting that USB-A be restored to the MacBook range; it's just not going to happen: it would be a retrograde step from the clearly superior increased flexibility and capabilities that Thunderbolt 3/USB-C offer. It perturbs me as to how difficult these so-called professionals have in the trivial matter of acquiring a different cable or hub if needed. I have to wonder how they cope with professional matters such as constrained deadlines and resources, project management, comprehending and adapting to a client's demands/specifications, etc.
All I want for Xmas is a newly designed MacBook with a decent amount of key travel on the keyboard. Please Apple, grant my wish, I have been a good boy!
I think many fail to realize there's a USB-C to almost anything cable out there.
At least to me it's not a question about whether or not USB-C is the future, because there's just no competition at all when it comes to other solutions (as far as practically actually having a shot at being the one true connector connecting everything); the question is just whether or not it's reasonable for a mobile computer calling itself "pro" to not have an HDMI-port today.
I'm in favour of pushing the next thing, and never hanging on to legacy stuff just because it's "always" been around; and it makes sense to ditch as many ports as possible on products designed to be as small as possible (MacBook Air), or if they're the cheaper line (MacBook), but a "pro" line…?!
HDMI isn't just a legacy a port, it's a de facto standard; and it's a living standard that in many areas simply won't be replaced any time soon. Which means that in every damn boardroom, meeting room and so on, no matter if we're talking just a tv or a projector, there will be an HDMI cable ready for people to use.
My argument is simply that based on actual real life use I don't think it's unreasonable to keep the HDMI-port around a bit longer; because it seriously messes with that whole being for professionals and beautiful design thing that people can't just bring only their computer, but must bring their own damn adapter (no matter if it's just a cable).
To add on to that argument I've also been in situations where I've not been able to plug in my own cables, but instead have had to use some built-in stuff that does nothing but give me an HDMI-cable to plug into my computer; meaning that a single cable isn't always such a one-fit-all solution as many seem to think. (I.e. up on some sort of stage where you plug in your computer to what's basically just a long ass extension cord.)
There's one thing that could change my mind though, and that would be a new approach to connecting any Apple product to an HDMI-port…
Think https://lunadisplay.com/, but the other way around; a "wireless dongle" that's essentially a small AppleTV/Chromecast that's instantly recognised by any paired Apple device (computers, tablets, phones) as an external display. With enough juice in it for 2-3 hours.
Something like that would be Apple taking things to the next level for all their computers, tablets and phones (and I'd LOVE it if such a dongle could directly do presentations straight from my Apple Watch); and it wouldn't just be Apple ditching a port that is a must for a lot of people.
Personally I really dislike having a bag full of costly, messy dongles that seem outdated every few years, and one can of course arrive at a meeting and be surprised by a need for something one does not have... Also one snagged USB-C cord and a $4k macbook pro flying off a desk is not something I would look forward to or consider a design 'upgrade'…
My wife just upgraded from a 2011 MBP and I got her a Satechi USB-C Pro Hub that has 2 - USB-C (that runs at full 40GB/s, not 5 like most hubs), 2 - USB-A (USB 3.1), HDMI and SD Card and micro-SD card readers.
It's not cheap, but we can use all our existing cables and carry only ONE dongle.
I've been running a 2012 MacBook Pro and getting ready to upgrade and picked up a CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Station for my office. 15 ports, full 87 watt charging ability. ONE cable to connect to my MacBook Pro.
Again, not cheap, but it has all the ports I'll ever need and I can use all my existing cables and devices.
The one pass-through port isn't USB 3.1 type C. It is Thunderbolt 3 mechanically, and if you plug in a USB 3.1 Type C gen 2 device, it will transfer at 10Gbit/sec. The other USB-C port is 3.1 type C gen 1, at 5Gbit/sec.
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
"Various dongles" = a single HDMI to USB-C adapter. GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
USB-C for power means you can just plug into your dock, monitor, whatever and get power as well. You can use portable power bricks from any vendor. It's the future. Magsafe means you need your proprietary Apple charger.
Since when does such abusive potty mouth incite represent the spirit of non-troll posting or constructive contribution ?
Personally I really dislike having a bag full of costly, messy dongles that seem outdated every few years, and one can of course arrive at a meeting and be surprised by a need for something one does not have... Also one snagged USB-C cord and a $4k macbook pro flying off a desk is not something I would look forward to or consider a design 'upgrade'...
Opinions and needs differ. Was someone having a bad day? Live and let live...?
Your “bag full of costly, messy dongles that seem outdated every few years” hyperbolic FUD is why I swear. I’m sorry if it offends your delicate sensibilities. Your manufactured scenario (outdated HOW?) is bullshit.
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
Almost as ridiculous as brining up the fucking dongle argument again. My god get over it already. It's not that big of a deal. Shame on Apple for making a laptop more practical without having set in stone ports on the sides.
Less practical for anyone that ever does presentations though. And for a company that does great design those dongles are just fudging ugly.
Then buy USBC cables and stop using them. But you don’t even have one so it’s all moot.
So… your best attempt at a personal attack is based on that I’m still hanging on to a MBP with an HDMI port? That’s kinda sad…
It’s not a personal attack. Your spouting some bullshit about need dongles while ignoring the fact that you don’t need a dongle because you can get a normal HDMI USBC cable for years now. But it’s all moot because you don’t even have one of these machines despite your excited hand-waiving.
Call it a dongle or a cable, whatever it is it is one more thing to carry just to get back basic functionality for us pros that actually present stuff…
Implying that anybody who doesn’t present stuff is not a pro? What about people who would prefer mDP ports or whatever else for their niche use case? The number of people plugging into HDMI are a minority. Put an adapter on your keychain so you don’t forget it if you can’t remember the one tool you need to get a presentation done. Do you not also have to remember to pack your power brick? A remote?
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
Almost as ridiculous as brining up the fucking dongle argument again. My god get over it already. It's not that big of a deal. Shame on Apple for making a laptop more practical without having set in stone ports on the sides.
Less practical for anyone that ever does presentations though. And for a company that does great design those dongles are just fudging ugly.
Then buy USBC cables and stop using them. But you don’t even have one so it’s all moot.
So… your best attempt at a personal attack is based on that I’m still hanging on to a MBP with an HDMI port? That’s kinda sad…
It’s not a personal attack. Your spouting some bullshit about need dongles while ignoring the fact that you don’t need a dongle because you can get a normal HDMI USBC cable for years now. But it’s all moot because you don’t even have one of these machines despite your excited hand-waiving.
Call it a dongle or a cable, whatever it is it is one more thing to carry just to get back basic functionality for us pros that actually present stuff…
Yeah words. Dongles and cables aren’t the same thing at all. Plugging an HDMI-to-USBC into MBP is exactly the same as using an HDMI-to-HDMI cable on the old machines.
Oh, but your imaginary scenario is one where you carry *no cable* at all and expect to rely on your meeting room’s cable, which is ridiculously stupid. Any serious presenter brings his own cable. So again, there is absolutely no difference here.
Also, most pros don’t need it. Per Apple, most of their pros are software developers. As a pro software dev, we do not present very often, we code, which is the job. When doing the odd presentation, I pack a cable per the above (not doing so being stupid).
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
Almost as ridiculous as brining up the fucking dongle argument again. My god get over it already. It's not that big of a deal. Shame on Apple for making a laptop more practical without having set in stone ports on the sides.
Less practical for anyone that ever does presentations though. And for a company that does great design those dongles are just fudging ugly.
Then buy USBC cables and stop using them. But you don’t even have one so it’s all moot.
So… your best attempt at a personal attack is based on that I’m still hanging on to a MBP with an HDMI port? That’s kinda sad…
It’s not a personal attack. Your spouting some bullshit about need dongles while ignoring the fact that you don’t need a dongle because you can get a normal HDMI USBC cable for years now. But it’s all moot because you don’t even have one of these machines despite your excited hand-waiving.
Call it a dongle or a cable, whatever it is it is one more thing to carry just to get back basic functionality for us pros that actually present stuff…
Yeah words. Dongles and cables aren’t the same thing at all. Plugging an HDMI-to-USBC into MBP is exactly the same as using an HDMI-to-HDMI cable on the old machines.
Oh, but your imaginary scenario is one where you carry *no cable* at all and expect to rely on your meeting room’s cable, which is ridiculously stupid. Any serious presenter brings his own cable. So again, there is absolutely no difference here.
Also, most pros don’t need it. Per Apple, most of their pros are software developers. As a pro software dev, we do not present very often, we code, which is the job. When doing the odd presentation, I pack a cable per the above (not doing so being stupid).
Hey, as far as "dongle", "adapter" or "cable"… In this case the definitions and products overlap enough that the only real difference is the mental image people get. (But I'm personally sticking with "adapter" from now on.)
As far as people arguing about bring-your-own-cable… We clearly live in different worlds, with different expectations. To me it's amateurish to organise an event, or to have any presentation setup, without having everything needed for people. The only time that I make sure to bring a bag of adapters and cables (usually also a Chromecast and an AppleTV, just in case) is when I'm hosting an event. I've never seen any person that regularly give presentations get up on stage with their own cables; and I've always found it to look absolutely ridiculous when Apple users show up with those ugly white dongles attached to their otherwise nice looking computers.
The only case I can remember where things got a bit weird was almost two years ago, where I held a lil talk and they had the HDMI cable too far away from the stage, and instead offered people a bluetooth keyboard (that required its own USB-thingie to be plugged into the computer).
I'm very sensitive to Apple messing with the MacBook Air model as it seems to be the last remnant of practical computing.
Is USB-C for power better? It's really not, it's consuming a valuable port and MagSafe could be argued was an excellent design. USB-C for power feels like a step backward in that regard.
I was at an Apple event recently and watching the presenter carry his new MacBook Pro around with various dongles hanging off to be able to connect devices was quietly ridiculous.
Almost as ridiculous as brining up the fucking dongle argument again. My god get over it already. It's not that big of a deal. Shame on Apple for making a laptop more practical without having set in stone ports on the sides.
Less practical for anyone that ever does presentations though. And for a company that does great design those dongles are just fudging ugly.
Then buy USBC cables and stop using them. But you don’t even have one so it’s all moot.
So… your best attempt at a personal attack is based on that I’m still hanging on to a MBP with an HDMI port? That’s kinda sad…
It’s not a personal attack. Your spouting some bullshit about need dongles while ignoring the fact that you don’t need a dongle because you can get a normal HDMI USBC cable for years now. But it’s all moot because you don’t even have one of these machines despite your excited hand-waiving.
Call it a dongle or a cable, whatever it is it is one more thing to carry just to get back basic functionality for us pros that actually present stuff…
Yeah words. Dongles and cables aren’t the same thing at all. Plugging an HDMI-to-USBC into MBP is exactly the same as using an HDMI-to-HDMI cable on the old machines.
Oh, but your imaginary scenario is one where you carry *no cable* at all and expect to rely on your meeting room’s cable, which is ridiculously stupid. Any serious presenter brings his own cable. So again, there is absolutely no difference here.
Also, most pros don’t need it. Per Apple, most of their pros are software developers. As a pro software dev, we do not present very often, we code, which is the job. When doing the odd presentation, I pack a cable per the above (not doing so being stupid).
Hey, as far as "dongle", "adapter" or "cable"… In this case the definitions and products overlap enough that the only real difference is the mental image people get. (But I'm personally sticking with "adapter" from now on.)
As far as people arguing about bring-your-own-cable… We clearly live in different worlds, with different expectations. To me it's amateurish to organise an event, or to have any presentation setup, without having everything needed for people. The only time that I make sure to bring a bag of adapters and cables (usually also a Chromecast and an AppleTV, just in case) is when I'm hosting an event. I've never seen any person that regularly give presentations get up on stage with their own cables; and I've always found it to look absolutely ridiculous when Apple users show up with those ugly white dongles attached to their otherwise nice looking computers.
The only case I can remember where things got a bit weird was almost two years ago, where I held a lil talk and they had the HDMI cable too far away from the stage, and instead offered people a bluetooth keyboard (that required its own USB-thingie to be plugged into the computer).
I agree with you on one point:
The net difference between using an adapter or a cable with appropriate ends is just the amount of wire between the connectors. There's no inherent advantage to the cable. In fact, carrying an adapter and an ordinary HDMI-to-HDMI cable actually provides more flexibility since it provides both male and female connectors and thus can accommodate whatever hookup orientation the venue provides. How you connect depends as much on how the venue is configured as what you bring with you.
Where we differ is that I think the current port configuration BETTER addresses that issue than older machines with dedicated ports.
In the case of a venue that uses an HDMI connector, the benefit of a Mac with a dedicated HDMI port is that you don't need an adapter. Now let's say you arrive at a venue to find it's one of those annoying holdouts that still uses a VGA connection (or DVI, or S-Video). A dedicated HDMI port on your Mac is useless in that situation, but the new machine with multi-function ports is only an adapter away from solving your problem.
After the presentation you go back to the office to prepare a video for tomorrow's presentation. You may have a Thunderbolt audio/video interface, a USB jog/shuttle control, a DisplayPort monitor, and maybe a wired keyboard. What's that dedicated HDMI port doing for you now? Taking up space, doing nothing. Or maybe it's driving your external monitor, though there's a chance even that requires an adapter. The new machines let you connect any of those devices to any port, or even all of them, plus power, to just one port. If the only obstacle to that kind of flexibility is needing a couple little adapters, I think it's absurd to complain. The supposed "downside" is trivial at worst, to the point of being insignificant compared to the advantages.
Comments
As far as the MagSafe argument... it's actually not really needed any more. The reason is that we now have laptops that last hours on a charge. The paradigm has shifted slightly where most of the time we can use these devices without being plugged in, but when they are, they are likely on a desk. In addition, the devices are all solid state and built with unibody construction. What this means is that even if the computer falls off the table, it's not going to be damaged. That was the use case of the original MagSafe port which is simply not a very valid case any more. I do agree that having some kind of indication as to the of charging status would be nice. But it's not a huge deal to me really, just something that changed.
You need one adapter. One. And I hardly ever plug my MacBook Pro in when it's not on my desk. I simply don't need to. I get at least 4 hours of run time on a charge, plenty for a meeting. Just saying you're using a lot of hyperbole with the "bag full of dongles" bit. It's time to upgrade your various peripherals you may carry then. I just haven't seen an issue in my own use since 2016.
Also, think about this, if a port goes bad in the old MacBook that are fixed to one specific type of port then you're fucked. Imagine going to your meeting only to find out that somehow, your fixed HDMI port doesn't work anymore. If you have a new MacBook Pro you have 4 other ports to choose from and you can either use your dongle, or the correct USB-C to HDMI Cable. Also, maybe you're going someplace where the it should be plugged in on the right side of the MacBook instead of the left as it would have to be on the older MacBook Pro. With the new MacBook Pro, you can choose to plug it in wherever you want...oh, same goes for power too.
I'm in favour of pushing the next thing, and never hanging on to legacy stuff just because it's "always" been around; and it makes sense to ditch as many ports as possible on products designed to be as small as possible (MacBook Air), or if they're the cheaper line (MacBook), but a "pro" line…?!
HDMI isn't just a legacy a port, it's a de facto standard; and it's a living standard that in many areas simply won't be replaced any time soon. Which means that in every damn boardroom, meeting room and so on, no matter if we're talking just a tv or a projector, there will be an HDMI cable ready for people to use.
My argument is simply that based on actual real life use I don't think it's unreasonable to keep the HDMI-port around a bit longer; because it seriously messes with that whole being for professionals and beautiful design thing that people can't just bring only their computer, but must bring their own damn adapter (no matter if it's just a cable).
To add on to that argument I've also been in situations where I've not been able to plug in my own cables, but instead have had to use some built-in stuff that does nothing but give me an HDMI-cable to plug into my computer; meaning that a single cable isn't always such a one-fit-all solution as many seem to think. (I.e. up on some sort of stage where you plug in your computer to what's basically just a long ass extension cord.)
There's one thing that could change my mind though, and that would be a new approach to connecting any Apple product to an HDMI-port…
Think https://lunadisplay.com/, but the other way around; a "wireless dongle" that's essentially a small AppleTV/Chromecast that's instantly recognised by any paired Apple device (computers, tablets, phones) as an external display. With enough juice in it for 2-3 hours.
Something like that would be Apple taking things to the next level for all their computers, tablets and phones (and I'd LOVE it if such a dongle could directly do presentations straight from my Apple Watch); and it wouldn't just be Apple ditching a port that is a must for a lot of people.
Oh, but your imaginary scenario is one where you carry *no cable* at all and expect to rely on your meeting room’s cable, which is ridiculously stupid. Any serious presenter brings his own cable. So again, there is absolutely no difference here.
Also, most pros don’t need it. Per Apple, most of their pros are software developers. As a pro software dev, we do not present very often, we code, which is the job. When doing the odd presentation, I pack a cable per the above (not doing so being stupid).
As far as people arguing about bring-your-own-cable… We clearly live in different worlds, with different expectations. To me it's amateurish to organise an event, or to have any presentation setup, without having everything needed for people. The only time that I make sure to bring a bag of adapters and cables (usually also a Chromecast and an AppleTV, just in case) is when I'm hosting an event. I've never seen any person that regularly give presentations get up on stage with their own cables; and I've always found it to look absolutely ridiculous when Apple users show up with those ugly white dongles attached to their otherwise nice looking computers.
The only case I can remember where things got a bit weird was almost two years ago, where I held a lil talk and they had the HDMI cable too far away from the stage, and instead offered people a bluetooth keyboard (that required its own USB-thingie to be plugged into the computer).
The net difference between using an adapter or a cable with appropriate ends is just the amount of wire between the connectors. There's no inherent advantage to the cable. In fact, carrying an adapter and an ordinary HDMI-to-HDMI cable actually provides more flexibility since it provides both male and female connectors and thus can accommodate whatever hookup orientation the venue provides. How you connect depends as much on how the venue is configured as what you bring with you.
Where we differ is that I think the current port configuration BETTER addresses that issue than older machines with dedicated ports.
In the case of a venue that uses an HDMI connector, the benefit of a Mac with a dedicated HDMI port is that you don't need an adapter. Now let's say you arrive at a venue to find it's one of those annoying holdouts that still uses a VGA connection (or DVI, or S-Video). A dedicated HDMI port on your Mac is useless in that situation, but the new machine with multi-function ports is only an adapter away from solving your problem.
After the presentation you go back to the office to prepare a video for tomorrow's presentation. You may have a Thunderbolt audio/video interface, a USB jog/shuttle control, a DisplayPort monitor, and maybe a wired keyboard. What's that dedicated HDMI port doing for you now? Taking up space, doing nothing. Or maybe it's driving your external monitor, though there's a chance even that requires an adapter. The new machines let you connect any of those devices to any port, or even all of them, plus power, to just one port. If the only obstacle to that kind of flexibility is needing a couple little adapters, I think it's absurd to complain. The supposed "downside" is trivial at worst, to the point of being insignificant compared to the advantages.