Does someone find the "new ports" the same useless as me ?

[ugru]

It’s classic “short term pain for long term gain”. It sounded good on paper, but I guess this is one area where Apple tried to push users in one direction, and they ended up pushing back.

"Can't innovate anymore my ass"

Those were the years after the trashcan MP, a project so flawed that they had to apologize and rethink totally the way they conceive a professional computer.

Nevertheless, it was probably already too late to kill the 2016 MBP in the crib, IMHO the worst Apple laptop ever made for the reason you highlighted and more. They even fired the "thin evangelist" Jony Ive...

The last thing they should let burn in hell is the notch, I know that brand recognition is the priority but that thing is really hideous...

 

[Fishrrman]

abazigal wrote:
"My guess is that the move to all usb-c was also in part to enable this thinner form factor. Looking at the side of the MBP, there was clearly no space for a HDMI port, and having 2 ports on each side made for a cleaner symmetrical look.
I also believe that going all-in on USB-C was also intended to force the hand of manufacturers and consumers everywhere. Yes, in the short run, users may be inconvenienced when they find they don’t have a desired adaptor on hand, but perhaps the ideal was that in the long run, everyone is using USB-C for everything, from power to data to display."

My observation is that USBc did not turn out to become the panacea that Apple proclaimed for it when it was first introduced on the 2016 MacBook Pros.

Apple pressed "form" over "function", and function prevailed, as USBa is still around and will be for years and years to come.

And Apple's attempt to "force the hand of manufacturers" was a way of trying to force "the invisible hand" of market forces.

The return to "more ports than just USBc" is an acknowledgement that market forces cannot be ignored, but rather need to be accomodated...

 

[leman]

Apple pressed "form" over "function", and function prevailed,

You probably mean to say that Apple pressed function over legacy support but sadly both the industry and the users had too much inertia to let go of their old obsolete interfaces.

I am really not sure in what world a universal communication interface counts as “form over function”. Then again, Apple has reaped the same criticism for introducing USB-A or thunderbolt back in the day.

 

[jinnyman]

Only port I miss is USB-A. I want at least one port available on right side.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Only port I miss is USB-A. I want at least one port available on right side.

I agree.
It drives me crazy

I use USB-A plug stuff every single day.
(No I don’t want to buy new cables or a bunch of adapters)

 

[JouniS]

I am really not sure in what world a universal communication interface counts as “form over function”. Then again, Apple has reaped the same criticism for introducing USB-A or thunderbolt back in the day.

USB-C is not a true universal port. It replaces USB-A and many proprietary charging cables, and you can use it to connect monitors on your desk, but that's about it.

It's not a replacement for HDMI, because cable length restrictions would force you to use expensive optical cables in many common situations. It's not a replacement for Ethernet for similar length restrictions (and because you can't cut the cable and attach the connector with hand tools). And nobody is trying to replace SD cards with something that connects directly to USB-C, for reasons I don't really understand.

The form-vs-function question is whether to have those ports that cannot be replaced by USB-C in the device itself or in dongles.

 

[wilberforce]

And nobody is trying to replace SD cards with something that connects directly to USB-C, for reasons I don't really understand.

I have wondered about this myself. A USB-C connector is so compact, that it seems a camera, or any other device, could very easily accommodate a card that had a USB-C connector protruding from one end, instead of those rows of exposed contacts. It seems there is sufficient bandwidth in USB-C, without having all those contacts. Feels like a legacy thing.

 

[Wando64]

I find a bit funny hearing that everybody keeps stumbling over the cable all the time

I found this thread and I thought of you:

Welp it finally happened, just dropped the M1 Max

Can't really put into words the current pain... but basically had it plugged in USBC charging, foot got caught, dropped about 3ft off table and hit the top left corner near the esc button. Top screen is scuffed and the bottom keyboard part has a dent. When closed the gap between left side and...

forums.macrumors.com

EDIT: Sorry, thread no longer available as it descended into chaos.

 

[sb in ak]

Magsafe saved my 2013 MBP several times during its career when using on the couch. I welcome its return and also love that I can alternatively charge my MBP with USB-C via my external monitor when working at my desk. Best of both worlds!

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the port selection. If I had to change anything, the SD slot seems a bit slow and I'd also happily take a USB-A port or two. I still also miss the days of swappable batteries. Battery failure/expansion is the main reason I'm getting Applecare...unless they have largely fixed these problems in the newer machines?

 

[kinchee87]

I found this thread and I thought of you:

Welp it finally happened, just dropped the M1 Max

Can't really put into words the current pain... but basically had it plugged in USBC charging, foot got caught, dropped about 3ft off table and hit the top left corner near the esc button. Top screen is scuffed and the bottom keyboard part has a dent. When closed the gap between left side and...

forums.macrumors.com

EDIT: Sorry, thread no longer available as it descended into chaos.

I loved that thread ? Hope that kid learnt a thing or two from the chaos ?

 

[highmayhem]

I went went from a 2015 MPB with SD (portable audio recorder) and HDMI ports that I used plenty to a new MBP 14, and am happy to see that those ports are still there. On the other hand I also use a lot of USB-A audio gear, and one of those ports would be welcome too.

 

[dark_skies]

After few years of USB-C only Apple added back some old pre-historic ports. I personally find them quite useless, while the fourth removed USB-C is often missing (for more external discs etc.).

HDMI is useless since there are cables HDMI- USB-C working perfectly (so it brings no advantage)

SD card: it is much quicker and easier to connect the camera via USB-C cable (not speaking of the fact that when you have 2 and more SD cards in the camera you see them all together.

Mag Safe charging connector: makes no sense at all (plus keeps disconnecting as soon as you move with the laptop)

The only thing that would be really useful is the normal USB connector which for some strange reasons is not there ... (because many older devices have only this connector and one has to look for a reduction all the time)

So I don't find this old stone age connectors renovation useful at all.

Yeah, no - not for me. I have a 2015 MBP with all the ports, and I use them often. External hard drive(s): USB-A. Presentations at work (newly renovated building): full-size HDMI on all projector connections. SD cards from DSLR, 4K video camera: SD slot (in MBP or iMac). Charging: magsafe. And I've seen others carrying around old MBPs with all the ports, so it isn't just me. The difference now is you can choose to use them, or not. Before, no choice; arguably convenient only for Apple to make laptops with all USB-C. For a company that prides itself on the user experience, dumping ports back when was a lousy decision.

 

[Micka88]

Now when having an external monitor connected via USB-C - display port I have only 2 USB-C ports left which is like on some Macbook Air (and can't connect all I need) while I look at empty SD card and HDMI ports. Not very happy about it

 

[bobcomer]

Now when having an external monitor connected via USB-C - display port I have only 2 USB-C ports left which is like on some Macbook Air (and can't connect all I need) while I look at empty SD card and HDMI ports. Not very happy about it

That's not like an Air, an Air would have *no* ports left after plugging in power and an external monitor.

 

[Michael Scrip]

That's not like an Air, an Air would have *no* ports left after plugging in power and an external monitor.

Unless the monitor provided passthrough-power...

⚡

 

[bobcomer]

Unless the monitor provided passthrough-power...

⚡

The same can be said of the MBP, if you have a monitor with passthrough power. Anyway, it's not like an Air in any case, we also don't have an SD Card port of an HDMI port, and I'd use both of those if I had them. (and one more USBc port and 2 more controllers) HDMI would free up one of the USBc ports too for me, as my external monitor is only 4k.

 

[Micka88]

That's not like an Air, an Air would have *no* ports left after plugging in power and an external monitor.

But the previous MBP i9 had 4 USB-C ports. This new one has only 3.

 

[mashoutposse]

But the previous MBP i9 had 4 USB-C ports. This new one has only 3.

You have a dedicated power port now, which leaves you with the same 3 USB-C ports after plugging in.

Curious, what 3/4 devices are you plugging in simultaneously via USB-C?

 

[Micka88]

You have a dedicated power port now, which leaves you with the same 3 USB-C ports after plugging in.

Curious, what 3/4 devices are you plugging in simultaneously via USB-C?

One is used for usb-c - display port connection. Only 2 left. You want for example to connect 2-3 external SSD discs, camera connected via cable and you can't.

The previous one could run on battery so you had 4 usb-c free.

 

[HardBall]

I agree.
It drives me crazy

I use USB-A plug stuff every single day.
(No I don’t want to buy new cables or a bunch of adapters)

USB-A adaptor is literally barely the size of the USB-C head itself, no sane person would mind using an adaptor for it, just keep it permanently attached to your USB-A cable, it literally weighs about a nickel.

 

[HardBall]

I will find limited utility for HDMI when teaching or giving talks, card reader is entirely useless for me and MagSafe seems like a total waste of board space. I would have taken an additional USB port instead. Having only three ports does limit your connectivity options, even if the ports themselves are more capable. Basically, I need to get a USB hub for my office where with the Touch Bar models I didn't need it.

Yeah, that HDMI port, especially with that ancient 2.0 version (it was release around the time of Obama's second inauguration). They might as well brought back some ports from the Reagan era.

The only people who still use that stuff are 1) ultra-conservative in upgrading their technology, 2) people who are largely technology illiterate probably would not have the knowledge to know that it's an obsolete standard that has been replaced multiple times over), or 3) cheap-skate companies that upgrade their conference room once a decade or so.

 

[L T]

Now when having an external monitor connected via USB-C - display port I have only 2 USB-C ports left which is like on some Macbook Air (and can't connect all I need) while I look at empty SD card and HDMI ports. Not very happy about it

Get an HDMI to DisplayPort cable then?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

After few years of USB-C only Apple added back some old pre-historic ports. I personally find them quite useless, while the fourth removed USB-C is often missing (for more external discs etc.).

HDMI is useless since there are cables HDMI- USB-C working perfectly (so it brings no advantage)

SD card: it is much quicker and easier to connect the camera via USB-C cable (not speaking of the fact that when you have 2 and more SD cards in the camera you see them all together.

Mag Safe charging connector: makes no sense at all (plus keeps disconnecting as soon as you move with the laptop)

The only thing that would be really useful is the normal USB connector which for some strange reasons is not there ... (because many older devices have only this connector and one has to look for a reduction all the time)

So I don't find this old stone age connectors renovation useful at all.

I do !

wished we had 4 USB-c ports

I have an SD card but don't use it that often myself ,besides it's rather slow and not particularly convenient

the HDMI port doesn't have DDC which means...you can't control brightness from the Mac and have to reach the monitor to change it manually which is a f****g pain

hence why I use one of the USB-c ports with an USB-c to HDMI adapter

the second port is for my external SSD which is always plugged in

so I'm left with only one USB-c port , and that's not much

 

[acorntoy]

i've had issues in the past with dongles for hdmi, particularly with older displays.

sd card is useful for things other than camera's, on top of that not everyone has a brand new camera with type c. my main camera is from 2008, it still takes great pictures but other than SD there's no way to get data off of it.

magsafe has saved my macbook pro from death more times than i can count.

i agree that a USB A port would be the icing on the cake on the new ones.

this is why i still use a 2015 MacBook Pro that has all the old ports the new ones added back, + usb type a.

Id rather have one less port than a 2014 Intel CPU. I had the 2.8 + AMD and it ran HOT and LOUD. So hot it fried the motherboard after 2 years of solid encoding and I got a 1.2K repair for free with AppleCare+. To maximize performance id stick it outside when the temperature was 20-30F to help encoding time? Running on AMD would usually mean graphical problems. I mean the "it has ports" held up when the only thing better was the display and the performance difference was +10-15% from 2016-2017 but those days are long gone. Since intel started going to 6 and 8 core if you really push it its been worth it to upgrade. No brainer with the M1 Pro/Max. The 2015 was -ok- but it is not a god like people identify it as.

I want a USB-A port but not enough to go back in time for it. What would take that computer 3 days takes mine 1 (and took my 2018 intel about 2+). Well worth the dongle. What's your use case? If you push it you're fine dealing with the thermal constraints, the loud fan, on top of the old display and subpar GPU (even for that period)? All for USB-A?

On a side/interesting note: The 2015 top 13' MacBook Pro processor (3.1) matches/can compete against the original I7 27' iMac scores from 5 years earlier while using 1/5 of the power in a more confined form. Intel is making progress just not nearly fast enough.

 

[Micka88]

Get an HDMI to DisplayPort cable then?

Not sure if it would bring the same quality as usb-c - DP ?