Anyone else dislikes Magsafe for charging?

[exoticSpice]

Previous models featured four ports,

You had to use one for charging anyway if you didn't have a dock or if your on the go. Also the 2021 USB-C ports have more bandwidth allocated to them. Many users wanted HDMI and SD back.

Maybe in 2-4 years we can can have more USB ports due to more lanes on the SoC.

 

[exoticSpice]

does this added safety balance out the need for another proprietary cable and a loss of a universal IO port? From me at least, it’s a firm no.

It's good to have options and MagSafe is designed for trips and accidents. I have no problem with proprietary cables if thry are good and MagSafe 3 is actually removeable from the charger. HDMI and SD are also proprietary designs and if they serve a function then keep them.

 

[leman]

It's good to have options and MagSafe is designed for trips and accidents. I have no problem with proprietary cables if thry are good and MagSafe 3 is actually removeable from the charger.

Again, I would fully agree with you if not the matter of reduced connectivity on the new Macs. After connecting my USB-C monitor I’m down to two high-speed ports, on the previous model it was three. And as I’ve said before, it’s not a big deal, but it is a downgrade.

HDMI and SD are also proprietary designs and if they serve a function then keep them.

Something that is ubiquitous on different kinds of hardware from different vendors hardly deserves the moniker “proprietary”

 

[Saturn1217]

I hear what you are saying and actually do miss being able to charge from either side.

But for the most part no. I still prefer magsafe over usb-c charging. It is easier to set the cable correctly, especially in the dark. Unplugging is also easier. And I just feel like the magsafe connection is more robust than usb-c.

What I DO wish is that the HDMI port was another thunderbolt 4 port. I got really used to having access to 2 thunderbolt ports on either side of my computer (coming from a 2017 15" MBP).

I know this isn't a popular opinion and everyone hates dongles (I don't love them either) but I'm starting to think Apple MAYBE had a point that having the max number of completely flexible ports is the way to go vs having a dedicated single use display out port. Can't believe I'm typing that, but there you go. I wish there was NOT HDMI on the latest MBPs. I bet it is super useful for those who give presentations all the time (as I did at one point in my career) but most Mac users have been trained for AGES to have a display adapter with them so I'm not sure how big a benefit this is.

 

[MK500]

Some have mentioned they don’t like the MagSafe because it cost them a 4th USB-C port. I do not believe these things to be related. The MagSafe is wired into the charging circuitry but doesn‘t use any high speed data (maybe some low speed i2c type data for monitoring charge).

There are already 2 USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the side with MagSafe; so they wouldn’t have put another USB-C on that side. The tradeoff was on the right side where they swapped the second USB-C port for the HDMI/SD ports; it’s basically a built in dongle.

I don’t think the cost of the actual MagSafe port is very substantial in terms of $ or lost ports.

 

[Playfoot]

Anyone else doesn't like that they switched back to Magsafe for the new Macbook Pros?
I preferred usb-c because of 3 reasons:
1) I could charge on both sides of the laptop, depending on the most convenient
2) I could use standard cables to share with other devices
3) Before I had 4 usb-c ports, when not charging, now I only have 3
You can still charge with usb-c and solve 1) and 2), but you lose 1 additional port and go down to 2 available.

What I don't understand the most is the big outcry a few years back when it was removed. I have been using laptops for 20+ years and not once did I trip on the cable, nor do I know of anyone that did it. Does it happen so often?

I am in agreement.

Initially when we purchased the late 2016 15"'s with Touch Bar I missed the MagSafe. However, I quickly came to appreciate the versatility to be able to charge on both sides of the laptop, as did much of my team. When travelling or at a presentation, you would be surprised how often a cable doesn't reach by just 10 inches.....

And while this is specific to our group, due to the quality issues with the late 2016 MacBook Pro's we allowed for the first time since the Titanium Powerbooks, specifically the Dell XPS. And I like the ability to use the same charging - one of the perks as a senior partner, I can rely on a junior to have a cable when I am out all day and caught short on power. One less thing for me to carry.

And I am upset with the loss of versatility - In all the presentations to date, I have had to connect to serial display video, and even a couple of times on Display port. I would estimate the need for HDMI is less than 20%. So, on a bad day, I have to use one port for charging, one port for a video, and sometimes a port of memory stick, copying, etc. And no port left to charge up the phone....

So, all of this led me last week to breakout the old laptop, ask IT to have the failed battery and keyboard replaced by Apple. Just for the record, it is the 5 keyboard, and I believe 4 battery. Not to mention second screen. However, the loss of versatility, ports I just don't use, and the DARNED notch have convinced me to use the old laptop for as long as possible. Not to mention now that I am on the move, I miss the backlit keyboard....specifically the ability to alter using keys.

 

[TheRdungeon]

I've got a USB hub but still prefer to charge with magsafe for the 140w charging. Extremely happy it's back

 

[exoticSpice]

However, the loss of versatility, ports I just don't use, and the DARNED notch have convinced me to use the old laptop for as long as possible.

You can still charge via USB-C on the new 2021 MBPs. There are 3 USB-C ports. 2 on one side and 1 on the other side. So you can still charge both sides. If you need more USB-C ports buy a dongle that includes multiple USB-C ports. Users who needed a SD card or HDMI port during the 2016-2019 era Macs also brought dongles becaused they needed the ports of the 2015 MBP.

The power in the 2021 Macs makes a notch not even a big deal for me.

 

[MrGunny94]

I'm fine with Magsafe, when I'm on travels I don't take it and just charge with a regular USB-C thunderbolt cable next to my 65w charger.

 

[platinumaqua]

the DARNED notch

The notch can be completely disabled using a custom resolution switcher. It will look like an older mac without the notch after.

 

[doboy]

Don't hate it but I'd rather have 4 USB-C ports.

 

[Playfoot]

The notch can be completely disabled using a custom resolution switcher. It will look like an older mac without the notch after.

So, why must I download a custom app to correct a design flaw?

 

[Playfoot]

You can still charge via USB-C on the new 2021 MBPs. There are 3 USB-C ports. 2 on one side and 1 on the other side. So you can still charge both sides. If you need more USB-C ports buy a dongle that includes multiple USB-C ports. Users who needed a SD card or HDMI port during the 2016-2019 era Macs also brought dongles becaused they needed the ports of the 2015 MBP.

The power in the 2021 Macs makes a notch not even a big deal for me.

Yes, I know. However, still doesn't change the fact it is a loss of versatility compared to previous version. However, it would seem EVERYONE wanted to return to dedicated single use ports such as HDMI, MagSafe and card reader.

So, as noted above, I have passed as I am in the minority. And can only hope there is a correction in the future.

 

[platinumaqua]

So, why must I download a custom app to correct a design flaw?

It's a workaround if you like the machine otherwise besides the notch. The application doesn't need to be running in the background. I hate the notch too and I'm using this workaround full time without issues.

 

[Playfoot]

It's a workaround if you like the machine otherwise besides the notch. The application doesn't need to be running in the background. I hate the notch too and I'm using this workaround full time without issues.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Unfortunately, given the number of other failings from simply design language and consistency, to the loss of versatility, the one sided charging, the notch, the loss of Windows emulation etc. I fail to see why I should reward Apple for so many mistakes.

I will stay with the yet again repaired older Mac. And if our group is any market indicator, with the growing use of XPS machines, perhaps others are of the same mind.

 

[platinumaqua]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Unfortunately, given the number of other failings from simply design language and consistency, to the loss of versatility, the one sided charging, the notch, the loss of Windows emulation etc. I fail to see why I should reward Apple for so many mistakes.

I will stay with the yet again repaired older Mac. And if our group is any market indicator, with the growing use of XPS machines, perhaps others are of the same mind.

I feel you! I really didn't want to reward Apple for the notch and soldered down components too, but the purchasing experience of 2xThinkPad T14 AMD were so bad (dead pixel, backlight bleeding, and shipping delays) I ended up buying the Mac because I'm tired of waiting. sigh for me haha

 

[Playfoot]

I feel you! I really didn't want to reward Apple for the notch and soldered down components too, but the purchasing experience of 2xThinkPad T14 AMD were so bad (dead pixel, backlight bleeding, and shipping delays) I ended up buying the Mac because I'm tired of waiting. sigh for me haha

Well, I will use the yet again repaired late 2016 custom MacBook Pro. And who knows, I might convert, although I doubt it, to the increasing numbers of XPS in the group. Only time will tell.