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What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?
- Thread starter senttoschool
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Yes, it's the outdated single-function ports that make a device "Pro".
4 magical ports, where each single one easily expands IO to more than that of a modern desktop PC with a bunch of PCIe cards while simultaneously delivering 100W of power = not "Pro". Being able to use external drives rivaling the speeds of the fastest internal NVMe SSDs on the market = not "Pro".
Honestly, nothing is as "Pro" as a computer enabling me to connect a bunch of my old junk because while I demand that the laptop itself becomes more advanced, all IO and peripherals should stay the same and keep being supported. "Pro" means 2012 because that's when I bought all my "Pro" equipment for my very "Pro" stuff that I use my laptop for. Because I'm a "Pro".
Apple Magic Trackpad has been 100% reliable for me for years. Bonus - keep using same gestures and such with it as I use with the laptop while mobile.
and broken after few month and rebuy it ..
. Long time history , 3 years i got this dam mess and long long time ago what usb c drive , pendrive even usb c hub dont even existed .I usually prefer buy shop instead online.
I am a hobbyist photographer and I refuse to buy a laptop without a SD Card slot. that is just silly not to have one, especially since Apple targets creative pros. even if my camera had wireless, I would not use it because it's too slow and it's not convenient.
Let me answer this poll by telling my story. I was the happy owner of a 2015 15" Macbook Pro, until I decided to upgrade to a 16" one year ago.
I struggled with the 16" for 8 months, until I sold it and got an iMac. The port situation was just one of the things that was driving me crazy about it.
I had to get a hdmi -> usb c cable (using external monitor).
I had to get a usb a -> usb c adapter for my mouse.
Every time I needed to print something, I had to disconnect the mouse to free the adapter slot, connect the printer, open the lid so I can use the trackpad instead, print, then disconnect, close the lid and reconnect the mouse. Same for connecting any other USB-A device.
Don't even get me started on the fan noise, the touch bar and other stuff, but we're going offtopic.
So to summarize:
- USB-A would be a much welcome, even needed addition. USB-C didn't have the success Apple was expecting; 5 years have passed and almost nothing has changed. I don't have a single friend who owns a single USB-C device other than phones. Everything else is still USB-A: mice, keyboard, printers, flash drives, security tokens, etc.
- HDMI would be useful but not as important
- MagSafe is nice, but I prefer the added value of using a universal charging standard
- SD is a niche port for a niche audience and it's no longer that relevant. Most amateurs are shooting with their phones today
- Ethernet - the nichest of all, extremely few need it.
I struggled with the 16" for 8 months, until I sold it and got an iMac. The port situation was just one of the things that was driving me crazy about it.
I had to get a hdmi -> usb c cable (using external monitor).
I had to get a usb a -> usb c adapter for my mouse.
Every time I needed to print something, I had to disconnect the mouse to free the adapter slot, connect the printer, open the lid so I can use the trackpad instead, print, then disconnect, close the lid and reconnect the mouse. Same for connecting any other USB-A device.
Don't even get me started on the fan noise, the touch bar and other stuff, but we're going offtopic.
So to summarize:
- USB-A would be a much welcome, even needed addition. USB-C didn't have the success Apple was expecting; 5 years have passed and almost nothing has changed. I don't have a single friend who owns a single USB-C device other than phones. Everything else is still USB-A: mice, keyboard, printers, flash drives, security tokens, etc.
- HDMI would be useful but not as important
- MagSafe is nice, but I prefer the added value of using a universal charging standard
- SD is a niche port for a niche audience and it's no longer that relevant. Most amateurs are shooting with their phones today
- Ethernet - the nichest of all, extremely few need it.
Sometimes, it feels like people hide behind the term “pro” as an excuse to not evolve and move with the times.
Which is ironic the more you think about it.
I used other laptop brands besides Apple laptops. The pitch of USB-C being everything you need is misleading, its either spending more money on a USB-C to multiple ports hub, or buying multiple dongles for what you need.
Never mind the computer geeks that say you don't need that or that, attracting more people to apple laptops has to be from the perspective of what can you do with it right out of the box, with what you own.
Do you know how many times I’ve tripped over my USB-C cable hoping it would act like the old MagSafe... to many times it’s sad to admit.
As mentioned many times before, you can buy a magnetic USB-C cable from Amazon right now for only a couple of bucks, but I guess it's easier to beg Apple to take more of your money by reintroducing an expensive proprietary charger which will be useless with any other device and will support charging on only 1 side, like the good old times. If you are lucky, the cable will be non-replaceable, so you can have the proper classic Mac experience of avoiding electrocution via damaged exposed wires every time you try to plug it into your laptop and if you are extra lucky you might even get to throw out all your chargers away after a few years so Apple can sell you MagSafe 4, now even thinner (but still way larger than USB-C) and with even weaker magnets.
Kind of funnily, Microsoft Surface products seem perfect for Apple users based on this thread. Proprietary magnetic charging/expansion port, multiple USB-A ports, SD card reader, USB-C port, even mini display port on some models. But with every new release, Windows community has a meltdown because the magnetic port still isn't dropped and replaced with a TB port.
Even with my work laptop (a HP elite X2) which comes with one usb A port, I use a Bluetooth mouse because I don’t see the point of monopolising the port like that (especially if I want to use thumb drives).
At my desk, I have a usb c adaptor that is connected to:
HDMI (an old 23” monitor)
Usb c (the power charger)
Usb A (a 7-port usb hub)
A combined wireless keyboard and mouse dongle and a headphone jack adaptor are attached to the hub.
The advantage of usb C for me is that it means that the ports available on my computer are not set in stone. They are whatever I need at that particular point in time, assuming that I have the right adaptor of course.
So at my desk, I need to connect just one cable to my laptop to get display, power and data. And when it’s time to go for class, I just unplug one cable and walk away with my laptop. The adaptor stays at my desk.
I don’t need to get an SD card adaptor if I am not into photography. Someone else who still needs VGA or DVI can get that with the appropriate adaptor without impacting other users who don’t need said port.
My conclusion is that usb c can be better, but only for the people who are willing to adapt to the paradigm shift maximising its benefits entails. It’s like the people who complain that the iPad can’t be used for real work. That ship has long sailed, and we are at the inflection point where this statement says more about the people making them than the device itself.
apple is missing a great opportunity, by not creating the Dongle Starter Pack, and the Dongle Pro Pack, packaged in a nice little apple case. "Everything you need for a Pro on the go"
But seriously, I have a feeling the rumors are completely wrong, and the more ports will just be the higher spec 4 port models. If we do see a MagSafe I doubt it will be a physical connector, but something more akin to the iPhone 12 magnetic adapter, with the option of using one of the USB-c ports for charging.
But seriously, I have a feeling the rumors are completely wrong, and the more ports will just be the higher spec 4 port models. If we do see a MagSafe I doubt it will be a physical connector, but something more akin to the iPhone 12 magnetic adapter, with the option of using one of the USB-c ports for charging.
How about putting all the ports in a separate unit that wirelessly connects to the MacBook? That way you could use your laptop on your lap.
What if the dongle not only had lots of ports and slots, but also contained the M1 and battery too, and it connected wirelessly to the laptop? (Or a phone or iPad)
Basically every tech has had an "over ethernet", and/or "over TCP/IP", period of it's existence; but it usually never really catches on.
Go search for it and you'll find all kinds of things that you could do over wifi rn; but not even Apple's own wireless backup-solutions actually became mainstream enough to stick around.
And the know-it-alls/forum-warriors wouldn't buy it, because they'll be too busy talking about how absolutely pro they are they couldn't possibly work with anything less than the faster wireless standards that are 5 years out (and that they won't be able to afford to install in their metaphorical parents basements anyways).
Disclaimer/context: this was written pre-morning coffee.
HDMI is the standard for televisions, for monitors DisplayPort has taken over
To those saying that USB-C is that one connector making everything so super simple that that's the only port needed and everything will just work for all the users: https://people.kernel.org/bleung/no...b-c-cables-are-there-usb4-update-september-12
Seriously, it's a PITA just to buy the right cable nowadays. ?
Seriously, it's a PITA just to buy the right cable nowadays. ?
USB Type-A is not a part of any current standard. The USB4 specification supersedes the USB3.2 specification, and it mandates Type-C connectors only. USB Type-A fits the definition of a legacy port perfectly. It's a superseded format that still has wide-usage. Thankfully, it's a complete non-issue to use a hub or adaptor to support those devices which have legacy USB ports. Suggesting that use of USB-C will not increase (and therefor USB-A decrease) is either naive or disingenuous.
HDMI is the lowest common denominator (and lowest picture quality) for displays. It's the VGA D-SUB of the 21st century. There's a reason most video cards offer 3x DisplayPort and 1x HDMI.
display port rarely in purchase.Even last year i purchase lg 21 inchi also standard vga and hdmi. VGA much pretty standard in low price monitor and middle range with hdmi . Usb C super rare here.
... It's almost like they should have dedicated marketing names for the different cable types... off the top of my head what if they used these terms, maybe that would give people a clear idea of what the cable is capable of?
- SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps
- SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps
- SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps
- USB4 20Gbps
- USB4 40Gbps
And I'm confident they work "fine" (as well as they can anyway) with a USB-C/TB3 to HDMI or VGA adaptor.
broken 3 past 3 year so work fine is not practical for me . And it's hot . normal hdmi is not.