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TB MBP - will you use your return window?
- Thread starter HughMabin
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A multi-billion dollar company the valuation of which is based almost solely on the success of one product - where this product is (for the moment at least) in decline and the company is in dire need to show it has multiple other sources of revenue.
No one is saying Apple is trying to convert into a dongle producer (or a coffee book publisher), but they surely know how to milk the customer. I don't mind, I know that's what companies are for, but there's should be just a little decency...
The USB-C cables that support faster speeds have more conductors, so they are thicker and less flexible. I suspect Apple chose this cable to make it smaller and easier to wind up for carrying.
The beauty of USB-C is that it's none proprietary, and can be used for everything. It's essentially the culmination of the last 20 years of different connection standards rolled into one free solution for manufacturers. It also means the tooling cost is significantly less, as you can use the same connector for each of your products, so you only need one supplier and forgo any redesign costs.
Desktops have always had an array of ports, mostly because as the tech ages it becomes cheaper to add them, and space is not limited. But what that means is there's several connectors that just aren't utilised. Looking at my PC (About 5 years old) I have USB-2, USB-3 (Same port, but different...), E-Sata (Cause that was a thing), Then there's stuff like HDMI, VGA, DVI, and DisplayPort, which essentially do the same thing. Audio like 3.5mm and Optical; and of course many others. But what does that mean? Well it means manufacturers will take the cheapest option to keep costs down, so it has E-Sata which is fast, but most things use USB, and 2 speeds at that. Audio you're likely to have a 3.5mm and likely loose any DAC ability. It would be great if everything was Optical, DP, USB-3 right instead of the slower cheaper connectors? Well that's what USB-C is!
Anyway the point is this will force manufacturers to drop older tech and embrace the newer standard, as they have little reason not to.
The genius way Apple is doing this is by having Thunderbolt 3 ports at the USB-C ports, which are significantly faster. However Thunderbolt is proprietary, so still unlikely to have a widespread adoption however when manufacturers can use the same port, it's more likely that more will produce a slightly more expensive product to take advantage of it.
Desktops have always had an array of ports, mostly because as the tech ages it becomes cheaper to add them, and space is not limited. But what that means is there's several connectors that just aren't utilised. Looking at my PC (About 5 years old) I have USB-2, USB-3 (Same port, but different...), E-Sata (Cause that was a thing), Then there's stuff like HDMI, VGA, DVI, and DisplayPort, which essentially do the same thing. Audio like 3.5mm and Optical; and of course many others. But what does that mean? Well it means manufacturers will take the cheapest option to keep costs down, so it has E-Sata which is fast, but most things use USB, and 2 speeds at that. Audio you're likely to have a 3.5mm and likely loose any DAC ability. It would be great if everything was Optical, DP, USB-3 right instead of the slower cheaper connectors? Well that's what USB-C is!
Anyway the point is this will force manufacturers to drop older tech and embrace the newer standard, as they have little reason not to.
The genius way Apple is doing this is by having Thunderbolt 3 ports at the USB-C ports, which are significantly faster. However Thunderbolt is proprietary, so still unlikely to have a widespread adoption however when manufacturers can use the same port, it's more likely that more will produce a slightly more expensive product to take advantage of it.
The cable that comes with the computer is for charging only due to the length. There is only 1 USB3.1/TB3 cable on the market that is 2m long and it is relatively unreliable.
There are so many threads about this. Ethics comes up, but it's criminality as far as I'm concerned. Your taking money, probably in the hundreds, from another party. To make it even worse, they laugh and snicker that 'they asked for it'. Legally, who knows, but there's civil court, and options if defrauding could be proved. Reminds me of all the illegal software piracy. Same mentality. And to be honest, I've done this more than once myself (software). So
Usually, when I post something like this, I get very angry responses. From who I wonder
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If you're happier with the surface then you should return the MBP and spend the money elsewhere instead. I like most of what Apple creates, but I'm a strong believer in consumer choices and competition, because they help drive innovations. So one should purchase/use whatever system that fits their needs and make them happy. The MBPs are not cheap. If you're spending that amount of money, you'd want to make sure that you are completely happy with your purchase.
Yes. Surface is great for some people, very good stuff. It's good that they exist, because it offers great options, being fairly different in concept
This is why Apple is so stupid. When you introduce a new porting technology then you have to allow the YEARS to pass where you have overlap to see if the new porting technology even catches on. It's absurd to only have USB-C an no others while forcing users to use dongle to get access to defacto standard ports. USB-C will take at least 5 years to make any inroads.
Stupid, maybe (really). Stubborn? yes. They are just of a strong opinion about it. Can't blame them. You don't like it, don't buy it. Dongles blow, but at least I get to write 'dongles' 50 times. That's something.
So only 3 more years! Yay! You don't need dongles, just different cables. USB-C is already prevalent on mobile phones, and most/all modern computers. So pretty sure it's catching on, stupid Apple!
Just bought the base 13" touch bar. Will try it out but thinking of returning for 512gb and 16gb ram. Definitely keeping one of them but may decide on upgrading here in the next 2 weeks or so.
Apple is not listening to their customers. Customers don't want dongles. Customers want to use their legacy devices. Apple really needs to listen to what their customers want as Apple doesn't have Steve's intuition available to tell them where that puck is going to.
We so miss you, Steve.
Remind me how those legacy devices connect to a computer again?
Also putting only 4 identical ports on a computer and nothing else seems very much like something Jobs would have done.
Must be talking about brand new iPhone 7....
On the side note, The Verge made a great video about getting a life vs getting dongles.
Must be talking about brand new iPhone 7....
On the side note, The Verge made a great video about getting a life vs getting dongles.
Think what you will of the dongles or MBP, but that Verge video is stupid as hell. This is, what, the 10th article they have on dongles, and they even made a video now? Clickbait Verge, same as always. No one will use that many adapters, no one charges their phone and listen to music and they are basically ridiculing some users to cater to the majority of haters out there. Please, hate the new ports, hate the new Macs, but don't use Verge to prove anything, it's.... unhygienic.
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Because Steve was all about listening to customers and a fan of legacy devices.
Sigh....
No, I love it. Already took it to a client meeting today and at the end used a little USB-C/USB-A pen drive on my keyring to give them some files and get some from them. Zero hassle. Very quick and great screen.
All the people complaining about dongles are getting on my goat now - you know you have a choice? Move on. Maybe we should keep some syquests discs around for those people? I hope you do all feck off to Windows because it would make this forum a much happier place.
And don't get me started on people who bought this knowing they would likely return it. What about people who desperately need one and are at the back of the queue? Just because a whole bunch of people could have gone and tried one out in person before taking them out the stockpile. Unless there is something wrong with it, the whole attitude feels dirty and dishonest to me.
All the people complaining about dongles are getting on my goat now - you know you have a choice? Move on. Maybe we should keep some syquests discs around for those people? I hope you do all feck off to Windows because it would make this forum a much happier place.
And don't get me started on people who bought this knowing they would likely return it. What about people who desperately need one and are at the back of the queue? Just because a whole bunch of people could have gone and tried one out in person before taking them out the stockpile. Unless there is something wrong with it, the whole attitude feels dirty and dishonest to me.
Returning my 15" TB and ordering the 2015 from B&H for $1699.
Keyboard is too noisy for me and I'm not a fan of the feel. Also do not like the larger trackpad and prefer the MagSafe charger and no dongles.
Display is very nice and better than the 2015.
Touch bar did nothing for me. I rarely could see if while typing and it was hard for me to take advantage of since my other machines do not have it.
Not saying people shouldn't buy this machine if they like it. Just do not see any advantages over the 2015 and the $$ are very significant now.
Keyboard is too noisy for me and I'm not a fan of the feel. Also do not like the larger trackpad and prefer the MagSafe charger and no dongles.
Display is very nice and better than the 2015.
Touch bar did nothing for me. I rarely could see if while typing and it was hard for me to take advantage of since my other machines do not have it.
Not saying people shouldn't buy this machine if they like it. Just do not see any advantages over the 2015 and the $$ are very significant now.
Must be talking about brand new iPhone 7....
On the side note, The Verge made a great video about getting a life vs getting dongles.
Urr that video is just dumb! I stopped watching when one of the 'Exhibits' was when she missed a call because she was faffing with her headphones... Why couldn't just answer it? Okay... And why wouldn't you just use a Lightning to USB-C cable? So dumb.
It's such a none topic I just really don't get any complaints over it. There is literally no difference between plugging in different cables into a computer. I just picked up a USB-C to USB-B cable to replace a USB-3 to USB-B cable for my external drive, so what exactly is the difference there? Well for one it'll be nice to see USB-C on both ends so I don't need a new cable, but otherwise you don't need dongles, adapters or anything, just a different cable!
Also I really don't get this whole 'Dongle hell' scenario, people seem to be mocking the idea of a computer with loads of dongles projecting from it. Exhibit A, take a 2015 MBP and connect everything to it, it'll look like a mess. Exhibit B, take a 2016 MBP and connect 1 Hub to it, it'll look clean... People just seem to be whining about something that makes zero sense if they actually bothered to think about it rather than jump on some bandwagon of pointless hate.
And yes the Verge, that pretty much sums them up! Dumb!
Future proof is another peculiar topic. How long do people want these things to last? I'd guess 4-7 years for most people? Anything will last that long.
Truth of it is nothing is future proof, and once Siri grows to her full power and takes over the world, only ZX Spectrums and BBC Micro's will be 'future proof'.
I just
I just meant USB C is becoming the norm these days
The 2015 may not be as future proof