M1 Max MBP has all these unnecessary ports….WTF?!

[MajorFubar]

This thread is living proof that people just like to complain. Fives years ago it was OMG where have all the ports gone now it's FFS Apple I don't need these ports.

I for one would have been even happier had it also had a USB A port tbh, but seeing that it'll spend most of its time docked I can manage without. But if it wasn't, I'd still be buying dongles because, let's see, how many USB C memory sticks do I have...that'll be a big fat none.

 

[darngooddesign]

The people that need it, already have solutions. If not, then your argument for these ports, is even more akin to living in the past. People, who think like this, must also be complaining that life used to be better.

Life was better with mag safe and an sd slot, and life is better again now.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Like an adapter for SD cards and HDMI, right? What is the difference? No if pro ports was to be included, 10 Gb Ethernet is a must.

10 Gb Ethernet is nice but not that commonly used in offices or homes because the switches and routers are quite expensive. It’s definitely not mainstream for consumer devices, or even “pro laptops”. Outside of data centres, I’ve only seen it for fast connections to NAS devices.

 

[TrueBlou]

This may be the core of the problem. TB/USB-C is a good standard and forward looking, and has a bright future I think, but Apple misjudged how quickly even their existing customers would embrace it.

They tried this before with Firewire and TB1 and TB2. I did have a FW400 & 800 disk and it was good for connecting a Sony DV camera, but it didn’t really catch on outside of Apple. I only ever used TB1/2 to connect displays, and an ethernet adapter, and again it wasn’t widely found outside if Apple hardware.

I see the current mix of ports as recognition that things move much more slowly than many technophiles believe. I still come across VGA monitors in use and that’s 34 years old. I think we’ll still be using USB-A, SD cards and HDMI for the next 10 years, & gradually fading away for the next 15-20. New machines may not have all of these after about 5 years from now, but they will still be found in many homes and workplaces.

It is surprising just how long some technologies stick around. I don’t use myself as an average use case kind of person, because I still regularly use systems that go back over 40 years. So I tend to have a good amount of random cables and adapters.

But I was surprised, when my wife was working from home, that her company sent her with a very nice monitor, modern, lovely image, sleek design and only a VGA connector. For which they didn’t send either a VGA cable, or an adapter for her work laptop which had only USB-C and HDMI.

For once she was glad I’m a tech hoarder

 

[TrueBlou]

I have an sd card connector. In fact I just bought it like a month ago for my videos. ??‍♂️

I’ve invested in quite a few different USB-C to *insert whatever* adapters over the past couple of years. But they will still find use on my iPad Pro.

And some, USB-C to USB-A, for instance, will still be needed for the MBP.

 

[MajorFubar]

It's much easier for you to have those ports and not use them, than it is for people to need those ports and not have them.

Also your assumption is everyone will be upgrading from the pure USB-C/Thunderbolt Macs but many of us, a great many, in fact, skipped that generation and will be upgrading from older, better, MacBook Pros. You know, the ones that do have these ports. The ones that do have MagSafe. The ones that don't have a stupid emoji bar or broken keyboard.

Like me for example. Stayed loyal and steadfast with my 2011 i7 iMac and 2012 MBP, this is the first time I've felt really really tempted, not just because of the return of the sockets but because for once I'm not looking at the latest new MBP thinking 'why the heck did they do that' about some aspect of its design or execution.

 

[Fomalhaut]

It is surprising just how long some technologies stick around. I don’t use myself as an average use case kind of person, because I still regularly use systems that go back over 40 years. So I tend to have a good amount of random cables and adapters.

But I was surprised, when my wife was working from home, that her company sent her with a very nice monitor, modern, lovely image, sleek design and only a VGA connector. For which they didn’t send either a VGA cable, or an adapter for her work laptop which had only USB-C and HDMI.

For once she was glad I’m a tech hoarder

I used to have a “cable cupboard“ in my home office, until my wife forced me to move them to the garage. I stll find a use for old video and data cables several times a year though, or to lend to friends who know that I have at least one of everything!

 

[Darth Tulhu]

This may be the core of the problem. TB/USB-C is a good standard and forward looking, and has a bright future I think, but Apple misjudged how quickly even their existing customers would embrace it.

They tried this before with Firewire and TB1 and TB2. I did have a FW400 & 800 disk and it was good for connecting a Sony DV camera, but it didn’t really catch on outside of Apple. I only ever used TB1/2 to connect displays, and an ethernet adapter, and again it wasn’t widely found outside if Apple hardware.

I see the current mix of ports as recognition that things move much more slowly than many technophiles believe. I still come across VGA monitors in use and that’s 34 years old. I think we’ll still be using USB-A, SD cards and HDMI for the next 10 years, & gradually fading away for the next 15-20. New machines may not have all of these after about 5 years from now, but they will still be found in many homes and workplaces.

EXACTLY. I said it back then: Apple jumped too far forward.

People forget how ubiquitous HDMI is. It is the defacto standard for monitors and TVs; items that get replaced every 5 years or longer.

So is SD.

Even if Apple had not gone USB-C only in 2016 and waited until now, it STILL would have been premature and we would've been screaming about it today.

The port combo in the MBPs today are the right move: both current and future proof.

But whatever, I'm sick of talking about this. Those complaining about USB-C can dock and dongle like everyone had to do for the last 6 years.

 

[HQNYC]

Life was better with mag safe and an sd slot, and life is better again now.

You're telling me that life was better with a device that had 2015-2017 technology vs the current tech? Lol.

This reminds me so much about the Porsche redesign. When they decided to go buttonless, a lot of people cried about it. Did they have a bad year? Nope. One of their best years. Likewise, Apple.

It's no wonder the US is losing it's place in the world. People in the US, are so resistant to change. Coal workers say they're angry and unemployed, but when you reach out to them and help them learn a new skill such as coding, they say they're too old for it.

Apple partnered with Intel, to champion a new solution for consumers. Its a solution that provide full functionality to the device of your choosing. If you want HDMI, plug in a usb c to HDMI cable. If you want a card reader, plug in an usb c to card reader. You get full advantage of the bandwidth that usb c/tb offers utilizing the same procedures as individual ports with their HDMI to HDMI cable, etc. and will future proof your computer for the next 4-5 years. And why is it important? Because based on this thread, the "critics" seem to be coming from 2011-2015 MacBooks. Ports are the #1 feature for them. Why not future proof then?

 

[darngooddesign]

You're telling me that life was better with a device that had 2015-2017 technology vs the current tech? Lol.

First of all, SD is still current technology in the camera industry so yes, when I don’t need a dongle reader or cable to access my camera’s photos and can easily add extra storage; not to mention, MagSafe regularly prevents my dogs from pulling my 2014 MBP off the table. HDMI I’m ambivalent about but I know how nice it is to have that port in office environments since USB-C/HDMI adapters can be unreliable. So life is better now that they put back what they unnecessarily removed.

 

[HQNYC]

Yes, when I don’t need a dongle reader or cable to access my camera’s photos and can easily add extra storage, not to mention MagSafe regularly prevents my dogs from pulling my 2014 MBP off the table. HDMI I’m ambivalent about but I know how good that port is top have in office environments. So life is better now that they put back what they unnecessarily removed.

Nothing else mattered, but ports, huh? Anyways you do you. It's your life. If you love the ports, ok. I'm glad Apple's outdated ports has made you happy.

 

[bobcomer]

Where is the ethernet port?

I wish it had one. It's either wireless or a dongle. Luckily ethernet ports on USBA dongles are quite common. They're not as fast as when it's on a Windows or Linux PC, but they get the job done. (The driver is very rudimentary)

 

[darngooddesign]

Nothing else mattered, but ports, huh? Anyways you do you. It's your life. If you love the ports, ok. I'm glad Apple's outdated ports has made you happy.

Well the awful keyboard and horrible thermals from Apple’s thin-at-all-costs approach certainly didn’t matter to me. I really have nothing to complain about in the new laptops, they are a great upgrade with all the great ports I could want.

But really, your condescending response makes me happy that the ports annoy you like they obviously do.

 

[HQNYC]

Your condescending response makes me happy that the ports annoy you like they obviously do.

Nope, I own AAPL shares. If you guys are buying, I'm happy too. I stated in the previous posts that I don't like backwards thinking. I don't have anything against the ports other than that Apple obviously threw in outdated ports to quiet it's critics. (I mean how can anyone be happy these ports are already outdated in a new MBP release?)

Humans should always strive to keep learning. The glass is never full.

Change can be good or bad. We should learn about whether said changes help to improve our lives or not. Otherwise, you'll be bitter when the standards change and you're left behind.

 

[darngooddesign]

(I mean how can anyone be happy these ports are already outdated in a new MBP release?)

People who use those ports are happy, people who don’t aren’t. I use them so I’m happy.

Humans should always strive to keep learning. The glass is never full. Change can be good or bad. We should learn about whether said changes help to improve our lives or not. Otherwise, you'll be bitter when the standards change and you're left behind.

Apple learned that some aspects of the 2016-2020 change were bad and people want those ports. Apple added MagSafe, which gives the computers fast charging in a way that USB didn’t, all without removing the USB-C functionality of regular charging.

 

[iPadified]

10 Gb Ethernet is nice but not that commonly used in offices or homes because the switches and routers are quite expensive. It’s definitely not mainstream for consumer devices, or even “pro laptops”. Outside of data centres, I’ve only seen it for fast connections to NAS devices.

So high speed NAS connections are not useful for pro? IMac Pro 2017 has a 10 Gb Ethernet. A selection of “pro ports” will always include 10 Gb Ethernet or at least 1 Gb. Mac Pro has 2 X 10 Gb.

 

[Rashy]

Nothing else mattered, but ports, huh? Anyways you do you. It's your life. If you love the ports, ok. I'm glad Apple's outdated ports has made you happy.

Stop being salty and behaving like a sorehead. It's getting tiresome. Yes, it's our life and we love the convenience of having standard ports integrated, no matter if they are outdated for a few people or not.

You can keep dreaming and rambling about past and USB-C-only future, the rest of us Pro users are pragmatic and simply content to have ports back that meet the given standards on the majority of devices. This goes for HDMI (tell me what TV, office monitor or projector of the last 10 years doesn't have at least one HDMI port) as well as SD (widley used in cameras, drones, GoPros, recorders, synthesizers, drum machines, Dj-gear, etc.) while Magsafe is more robust, has a status LED and is now modular. And btw I am speaking as an European here, we just hate dongles like most Americans.

People complaing about the lack of LAN or USB-A: I can feel you, most of the recent high-end DJ gear from Denon or Pioneer is still USB-A only, so I still need some dongles for that myself - but lets be glad we are not stuck with just USB-C anymore, like on those miserable 2016-2019 MBP models. I am happy with the current mixture of ports, its a good compromise for the majority of people and adds well to the other improvements (keyboard, webcam, thermals, display) we had been asking for.

 

[HQNYC]

Stop being salty and behaving like a sorehead. It's getting tiresome. Yes, it's our life and we love the convenience of having standard ports integrated, no matter if they are outdated for a few people or not.

You can keep on dreaming and babble about past and USB-C-only future, the rest of us Pro users are pragmatic and simply content to have ports back which cater to the given standards on the majority of devices. This goes for HDMI (tell me what TV or projector of the last 15 years doesn't have at least one HDMI port) as well as SD (widley used in cameras, drones, GoPros, recorders, synthesizers, drum machines, Dj-gear, etc.) while Magsafe is more robust, has a status LED and is now modular. And btw I am speaking as an European here, we just hate dongles like most Americans.

People complainging about the lack of LAN or USB-A: I can feel you, but just be glad we are not stuck with just USB-C anymore, like on those miserable 2016-2019 models.

How did I become the one who's salty? Lol. I've been purchasing MBPs whenever I needed it. You guys were holding out on purchases because there were no ports.

I'm not as emotional as you guys. If I need a computer, I'll get it regardless of whether ports are there or not because hubs/dongles provide a cheap and powerful solution. The computer, itself, is the real gem with it's updated processors and a profit generator to me.

 

[darngooddesign]

So high speed NAS connections are not useful for pro? IMac Pro 2017 has a 10 Gb Ethernet. A selection of “pro ports” will always include 10 Gb Ethernet or at least 1 Gb. Mac Pro has 2 X 10 Gb.

The iMac is a desktop and generally doesn't move from the desk, you’re probably not moving the NAS to your couch either, so wouldn’t the equivalent be hooking the NAS up to a thunderbolt dock which plugs into your MBP when your re at your desk?

 

[darngooddesign]

How did I become the one who's salty? Lol. I've been purchasing MBPs whenever I needed it. You guys were holding out on purchases because there were no ports.

The awful butterfly keyboards and rapid overheating weren’t appealing to me either.

I'm not as emotional as you guys. If I need a computer, I'll get it regardless of whether ports are there or not because hubs/dongles provide a cheap and powerful solution. The computer, itself, is the real gem with it's updated processors and a profit generator to me.

Sounds like the addition of ports has made you emotional.

But still, I didn’t need to upgrade so there was no reason to buy a computer which I considered inferior. It’s not like the 16-20 13”s provided massive performance increases over my 2014. I certainly didn’t want to be like my friend who had to get his crappy butterfly keyboard serviced three or four times.

 

[MajorFubar]

I'm amazed how much the inclusion of some sockets on a computer has p*ssed some people off, but there you go...

 

[TrueBlou]

I used to have a “cable cupboard“ in my home office, until my wife forced me to move them to the garage. I stll find a use for old video and data cables several times a year though, or to lend to friends who know that I have at least one of everything!

Why do wives never understand why we need to keep things for as long as they’re still serviceable, or for as long as they can provide spare parts.

My wife’s current obsession is trying to get me to dispose of the 30 odd old laptops I have in the spare room. They’re doing no one any harm. I’ve even suggested she can use one of the boxes as a footstool when she’s doing her crafts. But is that good enough for her, nooooo

 

[Krizoitz]

If the SD card slot was replaced with a USB port, I’d have more ports and two on each side. The math is pretty simple.

And what makes you think that would happen? Maybe Apple would just have kept it to 3 USB-C ports? Maybe they would have added another MagSafe on that side. Or audio Jack. Or mini-display port. You have no evidence whatsoever to demonstrate that this was a choice between another USB port OR an SD Port. Heck Apple could have done BOTH.

 

[darngooddesign]

Why do wives never understand why we need to keep things for as long as they’re still serviceable, or for as long as they can provide spare parts.

My wife’s current obsession is trying to get me to dispose of the 30 odd old laptops I have in the spare room. They’re doing no one any harm. I’ve even suggested she can use one of the boxes as a footstool when she’s doing her crafts. But is that good enough for her, nooooo

You need to demonstrate their value. This winter set them up around the house doing 3d rendering so she’ll appreciate them as space heaters.

 

[Krizoitz]

SD isn’t required on the MBP, full stop. I find arguments about what “Pro” means absurd.

The only “required” port is power. Everything else is optional.
Meanwhile for someone who finds arguments about what “Pro” means absurd you sure do seem to be spending a lot of time arguing about that.