Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
the HDMI port is useless for 90%, prefer another TB3/USB-C port
Some people use HDMI monitors, others like me use the HDMI port for a device like the Looking Glass Portrait.
But yes, I admit an additional TB port would be more flexible as I could use an adaptor to get HDMI.
 
Use the HDMI port when I connect my MBP to my 4k Dell display.
When I visit relatives, when I am in a meeting, and when I am doing event production.
For that last one I really do not want to use a dongle. I've seen those overheat and fail. Never seen an HDMI port on a Mac just stop working.
As others have pointed out, having an HDMI frees up your other TB ports to do real throughput without preserving bandwidth for the display.
That you think only 10% use the port only proves you don't get around much.
HDMI ports and cables are more ubiquitous than ethernet now.
 
Use the HDMI port when I connect my MBP to my 4k Dell display.
When I visit relatives, when I am in a meeting, and when I am doing event production.
For that last one I really do not want to use a dongle. I've seen those overheat and fail. Never seen an HDMI port on a Mac just stop working.
As others have pointed out, having an HDMI frees up your other TB ports to do real throughput without preserving bandwidth for the display.
That you think only 10% use the port only proves you don't get around much.
HDMI ports and cables are more ubiquitous than ethernet now.

I wouldn't really care even if I didn't use it. My old 2012 has ports that I don't use, and I definitely don't mind them being there. Sure, it'd be a little thinner without them. But if I wanted thin, I'd get a Macbook Air.

I'm on a 13" Pro now, and plan on buying a 14" later this year. I'm personally thrilled that they brought the HDMI port and the SD reader back, and they will definitely get frequent use from me. I'll still have to carry around a couple of USB C -> A converters, but those are a lot more portable than an entire dongle.
 
In corporate conference rooms it is the most used port type; prior to now you had to remember your dongle before going to a meeting.
True, but I have a hard time believing that they've frequently been using this in conference rooms for in-person presentations since this machine has come out...not sure what your location and industry is, but most work places enforce strict COVID policies that prohibit in-person meetings/gatherings.
 
True, but I have a hard time believing that they've frequently been using this in conference rooms for in-person presentations since this machine has come out...not sure what your location and industry is, but most work places enforce strict COVID policies that prohibit in-person meetings/gatherings.
My regular use of HDMI was pre-Covid and the HDMI port will be there for many years after Covid restrictions have been eased/lifted. So the point remains that HDMI is used for presentations, people in business environments still need to present, and not requiring a dongle is better than requiring one when it comes to equipment you can't leave a dongle attached to.
 
My regular use of HDMI was pre-Covid and the HDMI port will be there for many years after Covid restrictions have been eased/lifted. So the point remains that HDMI is used for presentations, people in business environments still need to present, and not requiring a dongle is better than requiring one when it comes to equipment you can't leave a dongle attached to.
Fair. Just trying to an accurate read on how often people have actually used the HDMI port with this device. Not expected use.
 
Built in CFExpress instead of SD cards would be more useful for photographers in the future. I don't think SD will stick around in high end mirrorless cameras at least.
 
Several times a month for several years.

The simple fact is that HDMI ports are very important in business environments, and not needing a dongle is better than needing one.

Agreed. Granted, dongles aren't THAT inconvenient. I carry one around everywhere I go. But I also use my old 2012 MacBook for certain music purposes (mostly because I leave it on my desk where the rest of my equipment is). And every time I have to plug in a device, I realize how much more convenient it is to already have the port on the Mac and to not have to go reaching into my bag to grab my dongle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flapflapflap
how many times did you present from the time you purchased up to now?
Several times a week, pre-pandemic. Not just in the office, but when delivering presentations to customers worldwide. HDMI was the only available interface, and forgetting/losing a dongle is a big problem. Plus, the dongles wouldn't deliver 4K60.

And for a slick, attractive platform like Apple's, the dongles are very inelegant and kludgy looking. Unprofessional.
 
The HDMI port is useful in 90% of corporate offices.
Absolutely! Pretty much every monitor I have come across in corporate offices has HDMI and mostly FHD or sometime QHD monitors, plus just about every conference room with a large flat-screen TV or projector has an HDMI cable.

I have only rarely seen monitors with DisplayPort over USB-C or Thunderbolt in corporate offices, and I'm talking about large banks, utilities, and IT companies, not small to medium enterprises. I don't recall ever using a 4K monitor, but have seen a couple of 4K TVs in meeting rooms.

The assertion by folks that "we need HDMI 2.1" doesn't match my experience at all. Maybe in video production houses / TV studios with high-end AV gear...but not in typical western corporate offices.
 
Built in CFExpress instead of SD cards would be more useful for photographers in the future. I don't think SD will stick around in high end mirrorless cameras at least.
I expect CFExpress to become more popular in mid to high-end cameras in the next few years, but it still has relatively low penetration in consumer cameras as a whole. I know there are those who think SD cards are obsolete simply they don't personally use them, but it is still *far* more widespread (and used in different device types) than CFExpress.

Sony has taken an interesting approach with their hybrid SD/CFe Type-A readers, but they seem to be in a minority because CFExpress Type B looks set to become the standard. AFAIK, there are no hybrid readers that support SD and CFe-Type B, so at some point there might be a switch the CFe-Type B only readers on Macs. I think it will take a long time though (5+ years).

I'm not against CFExpress at at - it's a better standard, and at the high end is now cheaper than SDXC UHS-II/III. However, SDXC even if UHS-I form is good enough for a lot of people who just want to take some photos, record audio, or take FHD video. It's like USB-A - extremely widespread and good enough for the job, even if there are faster USB-C devices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: me55
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.