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leman

macrumors Core
Oct 14, 2008
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I really don't mind having an HDMI port, especially given the fact that projector makers are hopelessly backwards. But not if this comes at the expense of the actually useful ports. As long as they retain the four USB-C ports and add HDMI + card reader, I'm fine. If they remove USB-C ports, I'll get upset.
 
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Stephen.R

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Why does Apple add HDMI to Mac mini and Apple TV?
The Mac mini is primarily sold as a 'bring your own monitor/kb/mouse' device.

Having HDMI isn't the problem with the mini, it's that it's hard-wired.

AppleTV has HDMI because it plugs into... TVs.

If USB-C was everywhere and great those devices should only have USB-C.
Did you not read this:
If they just added HDMI without stealing a dedicated display stream like it is on the mini (i.e. if the total number of displays supported could be used via USB-C ports in some manner) and without removing a TB3/USB4 port - I wouldn't care.
 

Kung gu

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The Mac mini is primarily sold as a 'bring your own monitor/kb/mouse' device.

Having HDMI isn't the problem with the mini, it's that it's hard-wired.

AppleTV has HDMI because it plugs into... TVs.
So people don't need HDMI when it comes to MacBook Pros because you just assume most people use thunderbolt displays.

People do plug there MacBooks Pros into TVs or projectors or HDMI monitors so having HDMI is useful.

HDMI is not dying tomorrow.
You didn't give an example, you asked which I'd prefer to use of two products. Neither of them is even remotely suitable for my workload, so, neither.
Ok what is your preferred laptop? Cause Apple can't please everyone. They certainly did not with the 2016 redesign.
 
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leman

macrumors Core
Oct 14, 2008
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Ok what is your preferred laptop? Cause Apple can't please everyone. They certainly did not with the 2016 redesign.

That is true, you can't please everyone. I think Apple has been dong a reasonable job with delivering the most flexible I/O on the market, even if you sometimes need additional equipment (hubs) to connect some of your other devices. Compare this to some other manufacturers (cough, Microsoft, cough), who charge an arm and a leg for their laptops and don't even give you a high-speed connectivity option al all.
 

Kung gu

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As long as they retain the four USB-C ports and add HDMI + card reader, I'm fine. If they remove USB-C ports, I'll get upset.
If you do lose 1 usb-C will that stop you from buying the next gen MacBook Pro?

For me at least there are far more positives with the next gen that I would not fussed/upset over a lack of 1 USB-C port.
 
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Kung gu

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That is true, you can't please everyone. I think Apple has been dong a reasonable job with delivering the most flexible I/O on the market, even if you sometimes need additional equipment (hubs) to connect some of your other devices. Compare this to some other manufacturers (cough, Microsoft, cough), who charge an arm and a leg for their laptops and don't even give you a high-speed connectivity option al all.
Don't even start with Microsoft on their surface line. :p Microsoft's port line up makes apple removing 1 USB-C port seem like nothing.

All they give is 1 USB A and C and surface connect vs the rumoured 3 USB-C/TB, HDMI, SD and Magsafe on the new MacBooks pros.

Microsoft refusal to put thunderbolt baffles me.
 
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leman

macrumors Core
Oct 14, 2008
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If you do lose 1 usb-C will that stop you from buying the next gen MacBook Pro?

Of course not. Even with one port less that laptop will be much better suited to my needs than anything else out there. Hell, I would buy it if it only had one port, since that is still ok for my workflow :D

But I would be disappointed by the decision.


Microsoft refusal to put thunderbolt baffles me.

They want you to buy their ridiculously overpriced dock. Good business.
 

Stephen.R

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As long as they retain the four USB-C ports and add HDMI + card reader, I'm fine. If they remove USB-C ports, I'll get upset.

Prepare to be Surprised.gif
 

Stephen.R

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So people don't need HDMI when it comes to MacBook Pros because you just assume most people use thunderbolt displays.
You're really missing the point aren't you.

A TB3 port can drive a HDMI display or projector. You need a small adaptor or different cable but it works fine.

A HDMI port cannot drive a TB3/USB-C, or DisplayPort display.

It's not that I assume any one group uses things more than the other. It's that one port can be used for all of them.

I don't use USB-C or Thunderbolt displays. I use Dell displays with DP and Mini DP and an ancient HDMI port (30hz).

I'm not advocating for inclusion of full sized or Mini DisplayPort, just so I don't need an adapter. I'm advocating for a port that can adapt to anything, as opposed to one that cannot adapt to anything.

It really is that simple.

People do plug there MacBooks Pros into TVs or projectors or HDMI monitors so having HDMI is useful.
Literally no one ever said people don't do that. The point is that it's not universally used by everyone, and replacing a port that can be used universally, is a detriment to those who don't use the added single-use port.

This concept really isn't hard to grasp. I feel like you're making it harder than you need to.
 

Stephen.R

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Ok what is your preferred laptop?

It needs at least 64GB of memory, and it needs at least 4 TB3 ports. The 16" MBP currently fits that description, but it also tends to get hot as **** with external displays attached, which is a concern.

If a future ~16" had 4 TB3 ports and 64GB+ that would likely be ok (intel/arm CPU differences aside) but it all depends on the particulars. The current Intel model supports 4x 4K displays + the internal - so far we haven't seen an Arm Mac with more than 2 displays supported, so there's a lot of ground to make up before they can offer a useable pro machine.
 

Stephen.R

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If you do lose 1 usb-C will that stop you from buying the next gen MacBook Pro?
Yes.

Edit, to add:

But as I said there are other factors that could also stop me buying it.

If they added HDMI (and left 4TB3 ports), but display output was say, 3 total - one built in, one hardwired HDMI and one TB3/USB-C; that would also stop me buying it.

If they had four or six or even 8 tb3 ports and supported 10 external displays, but only support 32GB of memory; that would also stop me buying it.



Are you seeing a pattern: I don't care if I need to buy an adapter for some other cable type. I care if I literally cannot do something with it.
 

Stephen.R

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the one in the upcoming MacBook Pros is UHS II and I am 100% sure they won't use USB2 this time.
I almost forgot about this post.

So a rumoured 2021 "Professional" laptop, is going to make a spectacular "return to ports" by having an SD card bus from.... 2011...

Ahuh.gif
 

Stephen.R

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It needs at least 64GB of memory, and it needs at least 4 TB3 ports. The 16" MBP currently fits that description, but it also tends to get hot as **** with external displays attached, which is a concern.

If a future ~16" had 4 TB3 ports and 64GB+ that would likely be ok (intel/arm CPU differences aside) but it all depends on the particulars. The current Intel model supports 4x 4K displays + the internal - so far we haven't seen an Arm Mac with more than 2 displays supported, so there's a lot of ground to make up before they can offer a useable pro machine.
Actually I misspoke here...

Theoretically, if it had three TB3 ports, and two DP/MiniDP ports, I could also work with that setup. Or at a push I guess even one DP port, if Apple supported DP MST (I'd need to buy a DP MST splitter though, these Dell displays don't support MST at 60Hz).

But I'd imagine that one TB3/USB-C port is probably more useful to more people than two DP/MiniDP ports.
 

ArPe

macrumors 65816
May 31, 2020
1,281
3,325
Let's start with MacBook Pro 2021
Why do some people think more types ports are bad?

It increases functionality and decreases clutter when on the go. It's a laptop, so if am travelling It's good to have an SD Card on my laptop, so I have no need to carry the dongle.

If I am in a meeting or presenting its good to have an HDMI port on my laptop. I don't need to worry about HDMI dongles.

The MBP is laptop so when on the go, people won't have their Thunderbolt docks in their bloody bags.

Yes, I know that people have various needs but lets be real Apple will still include 3 USB-C ports for your dongle needs. It's not like they are getting rid of ALL the USB-C ports.

As to why Apple is including 3 TB/USB-4 ports and not 4 is because the bandwidth is used for the HDMI lane now.



DID you guys know the Mac Pro has 2 USB-A ports? oh the horror.

Simple answer.

When Apple put USB ports on iMac in 1998 within a year almost no companies made serial port devices anymore.

When USB-C spec came out then there was over expectations by Apple, Intel etc that USB-C would quickly replace USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort and all that.

But it hasn’t happened after 5 years and there are still so many devices shipped with USB-A. HDMI and DisplayPort are progressing fast also so they are hard to replace. They are 8K ready and will be ready for 16K before USB-C is.

It is unbelievable that even last two years there were still products with terrible USB-B and B-mini and B-micro. Those are the worst most fragile ports ever made.
 

Kung gu

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Why? Oh right, it’s because you can use a tb port for it.
If next gen was intel then no I would get it even if it had HDMI.

For me the performance is more important then comes I/O. Although if the next M1 MacBook Pro comes with only 1 port
I would not get it.

There needs to be a balance for me. The rumoured MacBook Pro does that IMO.
 
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Stephen.R

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within a year almost no companies made serial port devices
That's some revisionist history if I've ever heard it.

When USB-C spec came out then there was over expectations by Apple, Intel etc that USB-C would quickly replace USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort and all that.
People keep saying this, but I just think you understand the premise of USB-C.

It's easy to say "oh look one port to rule them all except it hasn't taken over". But I've never seen any evidence that anyone expects USB-C to take over every other port type - it's just able to adapt to those port types really well.

When Ethernet ports started becoming rarer on laptops, and USB3 ethernet adapters were the 'recommended' replacement, nobody started screaming about how USB won't replace Ethernet.


USB-C (and more specifically, USB4/TB{3,4}) ports mean that a computer can support USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort and all that, without needing to either (a) limit you to one of each, or (b) be the size of a party-size pizza box.
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,037
5,429
People keep saying this, but I just think you understand the premise of USB-C.

It's easy to say "oh look one port to rule them all except it hasn't taken over". But I've never seen any evidence that anyone expects USB-C to take over every other port type - it's just able to adapt to those port types really well.
Exactly this.
 

ipponrg

macrumors 68020
Oct 15, 2008
2,309
2,087
All I can say about USB-C is that not all dongles were created equally. When plugging in my magewell, I had to use my personal USB-C dock over the company provided one due to either speed/compatibility issues

I currently use at most 2 USB-C ports (1 for Usb-a and Ethernet dongle hub and 1 for ext monitor). And yes, I had been expecting since 2016 that USB-C was going to be the new “standard”. But here we are today
 
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