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M1 Max MBP has all these unnecessary ports….WTF?!
- Thread starter AdonisSMU
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I thought this was going to be a satirical or “just kidding” post.
Using one standard everyone has an incentive conform to that. Instead we get to have a weird mishmash of connectors.
Everyone was already going to buy the new MacBooks with or without the extra ports because theyve already found work arounds. Im a pro user and I prefer not to have ports that is over very little use especially if it doesnt conform to a standard like usb-c thats universal and ubiquitous and only becoming more so.
Apple was thinking into the future.
A MacBook Pro is still a freaking laptop at the end of the day. Yeah it has some desktop level performance in some cases but that doesnt mean you need to make it a desktop by adding unnecessary ports for the .000001% who might use it twice.
Its like Apple lost the confidence to follow through on a consistent vision for the future.
What are ultra books?
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I guess if your corporation has a hard time progressing past 2006. ??♂️??♂️
People were already dealing with the issues with hdmi and working around it.
Somewhat agree. I capitulated last night and ordered the 14 and 16 with same day delivery. I can tolerate the extra chunk, given that these will stay home most of the time, but the port situation is very strange. Definitely not forward thinking. Apple probably added the ports and made this super thick to play the retro inspiration card and exploit its sheep for a few years of good profits before reverting to a thinner, more forward thinking MBP. In 3-5 years, when Apple releases another brand new MBP, it will be thinner and it will not have the SD card slot/HDMI and people will praise and salute Apple and give them more of their money.
I feel like Apple couldve cut down on cost. Its like they did like 10 good things then added 3 bad things.
Its like adding the cord back to the airpods. ??♂️ It doesnt make any sense. It feels like Apple lost its confidence. The 2016-2020 MacBook Pros were flying off the shelves despite all the naysayers. No reason to go backwards in time.
That reads so much like parody that I kept waiting for the /s in the end
Sadly parody sounds too similar to an actual matter these days
Just imagine that Apple actually did some market research before making the design decision to add ports....they presumably didn't ask you personally, but I bet they looked into it.
Yes, USB-C is all fine and dandy, but it's also a confusing standard....can you tell the difference between a cable to supports USB 3.0, 3.1 gen1, 3.1 gen2, 3.1 gen2x2, 3.2, 4.0 even USB 2.0? That will support power delivery or DisplayPort video, or Ethernet? I already have a collection of different USB-C cables for different things - some charge some devices, others don't. Some only transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds....you get my drift.
The target audience for the MBP is tilted towards media consumption and creation, other users that need good performance and for other professionals who just want a reliable and robust computer. So it makes good sense to have some "commonly used ports" . I suspect a lot of MacBook Pro users enjoy photography or videography, and what the most common media for consumer/pro-sumer cameras? Yes, SD cards. They may also want to project said media to a domestic TV or "average" external monitors. What do these nearly always have? HDMI. What projector connection is mostly commonly found in corporate meeting rooms? HDMI.
In other words, Apple made this computer for people like me. The new (old) ports will be more convenient for me and add some value. And I bet there a lot of similar people in their target market...this is why you have ports.
Imagine you are Apple and you want to sell your new computers to as many people as possible.
You conduct your market research and find that a lot of people say they they want plug their computers into HDMI screens and upload their photos without having to buy a dongle.
You have 2 choices:
1) "Traditional Apple response": "those are old standards - the new ones are much better so we going to look to the future, so you need to live with dongles until the rest of the world catches up". Bear in mind that they moved to USB-C in 2016 and in most cases, the world has not yet caught up in many places - only the most expensive monitors have USB-C inputs, but nearly all have HDMI. There are still a lot of USB-A peripherals and cables around. External drives (particularly SSDs) are better - a lot of these are now USB-C
2) "New Apple response": "USB-C adoption has been slower than we expected. people want a combination of the new and the familiar - by giving them both we keep the majority of our users happy, without sacrificing too much of the new stuff".
Apple decided that they will sell more MBPs with option (2). End of Story.
As the first gen of the Apple Silicon Pro lineup, Apple has to make them truly appealing to the influencers. Thus the SD card and HDMI ports, while ignoring the fact that the new Macbook Pro lose one Thunderbolt port.
Imo, people made a big deal about Apple's "dongle problem" simply because Apple doesn't include any dongles with the Macbooks. You have to purchase them separately. Meanwhile, dongles are also commonplace in the Windows world, yet you don't have as loud as the complaints on Apple. I'm guessing it's because majority of Windows laptop OEMs include a basic dongle (usually USB-C to HDMI/USB-A) with the laptop.
Instead of putting back HDMI and SD card slot, I'd prefer Apple to put in additional USB-C/YB ports, and just bundle in an HDMI/USB-A dongle.
Instead of putting back HDMI and SD card slot, I'd prefer Apple to put in additional USB-C/YB ports, and just bundle in an HDMI/USB-A dongle.
Its unwritten law that says better to have and not need it than need it and dont have
These are proper professional content creation & app development machines & not prosumer machines. Thus the ports are for what these professionals tell Apple they need.
I’m not any of the above, but I know that trying to connect machines without HDMI ports at places Ive worked for presentations, has been a nightmare.
I’m not any of the above, but I know that trying to connect machines without HDMI ports at places Ive worked for presentations, has been a nightmare.
I think you mean HDMI/USB-C dongle don't you? These are relatively expensive and some of them are quite large.
I can see that people who use all 4 USB-C ports will feel that they are getting less value out of the ports. I think Apple's approach was to give (most) people back a USB-C port by giving them MagSafe. So you still have 3 usable TB3 ports plus are able to plug an external screen into the HDMI. For the majority of people, I assume this would a net win.
For my use I was nearly always using one USB-C for power because my hub couldn't supply 96W. It would trickle charge, but under load, the battery would still run down.
On my MBP16, I would typically have:
TB 1: power
TB 2: display 1 (or connect to dock)
TB 3: display 2 / external disk (media, backup etc.)
TB 4: Other peripherals, e.g. camera capture dongle, SD card reader, audio-interface, 2nd external disk
I would fairly often run into the situation where I had my two screens connected and wanted to copy from one external device to another. Have to unplug the power or one screen.
In the new world
MagSafe: power
TB 1: display 1 (or connect to dock)
TB 2: external disk or device
TB 3: 2nd external disk or device
HDMI: display 2
SD: camera media
So the new configuration is better for me.
I'm still using FHD/QHD 60Hz displays so HDMI 2.0 is quite sufficient for the foreseeable future.
HDMI is good if you want to hook up to a monitor instead of using USB-C on-the-go quickly. Also, macOS Monterey seems to fix some of the issues with HDMI coloring and clarity with my LG 27UL850-W monitor using HDMI (to my surprise).
If you are out on a set or at a conference or doing a presentation etc., the ports comes in handy. You don't have to fumble around looking for a doggle. SD card slot is nice and I would use it for quickly reviewing of a shot. Again, when in a hurry, you don't have to grab a doggle.
Saying all of that...I have doggles now for what I need and prefer four USB-C ports since I had already adjusted (or "evolved" my workflow) to accommodate using USB-C. Even USB flash drives etc. I am use to an all USB-C world now and like it. It was a pain a few years ago when I was "made" to evolve...but eventually now like it. I also, like the "thin" lighter laptop...but compensating for thermals and thickness...I can live with "thicker and more power"!
The MagSafe is a plus. I was saved just a few weeks ago when a clumsy person ran into my power cord. I was using an old MacBook Air 2013 at the time and the power cord ripped-out of the side, leaving the laptop unmoved on the table during a presentation. Saved me having to buy a new MacBook Air. Also, you can charge also using the USB-C ports, so you are not limited to the left side.
Looks like Apple brought in some "real" Pros and said, "Ok..we get it...what do you need?" And they listened.
This is the laptop I would have love to buy when I bought my MacBook Pro 2018 fully loaded when it came out...(I still like it, including the touch bar...(don't throw eggs at my comment)
But...I am NOW looking to some how figure out why NOT to get this almost perfect "minus the notch" work-horse that I need for video editing...cutting my time down more than half or more...
Now...the harder sell...convincing my wife...
Apple's USB-C to HDMI+USB-A dongle is $69. Windows laptop OEMs like HP, Lenovo, Asus, Dell, tend to include this type of dongle with their laptops. So in reality, it is not that expensive. It's just Apple milking their own customers.
Most proper pro cameras don’t use these cards, or only these at least. Those that do are in the second card slot and generally for back up. All photographers that value their time use external card readers.
What is the ‘rest of the equipment’?
Those 4 ports can be anything anyone wants.
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Main cameras with secondary SD slots (Canon's 5D Mark IV, for example, has Compact Flash + SD card in the same camera), secondary cameras with SD-only, audio recorders that record to SD cards, GoPros/action cameras, drones... pretty much everything except flashes, really.
LOLZ.
You are going to get so much pushback on here.
See...the majority of Macbook Pro users really, really want a dedicated power connection that is proprietary, but where you don't have to worry about someone tripping over the cord!
Except if you're charging via one of the USB-C ports, in which case you then, in fact, do need to worry!
And antiquated SD card slots/HDMI ports? I mean...I am **shocked** Apple didn't include audio ports that haven't been used since the 70s!
I mean...a "pro" device should really have every conceivable port, amiright?
And it's not like USB-C can do anything but transfer both power and data. So there's that.
And the lovely thickness of these machines, Apple should've made them **thicker** in my opinion.
Full-size f-keys are also **muah** chef's kiss! So necessary!
And that design! It's like looking at a 2003-era Powerbook, such a lovely design. It's like looking at the future, through the past!
In no way am I being sarcastic and implying that these ugly pieces of sh*t are a huge step backward and proof that Jony Ive should never have left the company!
Ok, following that logic, these 3 Thunderbolt ports can be anything anyone wants, including 4 Thunderbolt ports. I mean if you are happy using dongles and docks, you can have as many Thunderbolt ports as you want (well up to 6 anyway, if you want to keep the same bandwidth as previous generations of MacBook Pro).
I honestly can't tell what is your loss here. If you don't like SD card slots, MagSafe, HDMI, than do use it. You have 3 full channel Thunderbolt ports than can be anything you want. You can even charge from them. There is no functionally removed for you.
Meanwhile, for the rest of us who like having things built in for diverse needs, we have more options.
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Exactly my thougts. Many would have needed HDMI and SD, I get it. Me and many others need a CF reader, microSD reader without an adapter that I'd lose so let's add them too. I'm pretty sure that many people still want USB-A too. Going one-port-for-all solved all the problems as Apple can't make everyone happy.
Even though I've ordered the new one, I'd really, really have preferred the 4 USB-C ports and the touch bar that I loved, insead of HDMI, SD, and MagSafe.
Aesthetics? Bulkiness? Many prefer Apple because of aesthetics and thinness, which has been a major step back with the latest ones.
The usual selfish posts "I don't need these ports, so why did Apple bother?" or "I have already bought plenty of dongles, what do I do with them now?"
I don't have a use for SD cards but I know how much nicer it must be for all those using cameras not to have to use a dongle.
And as a teacher and presenter, I love having HDMI. Projectors are either VGA or HDMI, If you have HDMI you only need a very small VGA adapter. That's what I have done with my Windows laptop with HDMI. With USB C only you need hubs or several dongles.
Pushing USB C over USB A I am all for it. But USB C is not replacing video connectos in projectors (or even in many monitors) anytime soon (projectors are not replaced often or at all...). Nor USB C is a replacement for a SD card reader...
I don't have a use for SD cards but I know how much nicer it must be for all those using cameras not to have to use a dongle.
And as a teacher and presenter, I love having HDMI. Projectors are either VGA or HDMI, If you have HDMI you only need a very small VGA adapter. That's what I have done with my Windows laptop with HDMI. With USB C only you need hubs or several dongles.
Pushing USB C over USB A I am all for it. But USB C is not replacing video connectos in projectors (or even in many monitors) anytime soon (projectors are not replaced often or at all...). Nor USB C is a replacement for a SD card reader...