What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?

[svanstrom]

I have to say reading through all of these back and forward arguments, one thing that stands out to me as a bit of an indictment of the move to USB C only is the fact dongles and adapters are even still necessary now, 5 plus years on from Apple going 'all in' on it. That shows Type C is still 'the future', not 'the now'. While some desk-bound people have adjusted ok, just swapping out cables, for the mobile (i.e. those who actually need a laptop not just a desktop stand in) it's a pain to have to take the adapters with you, and being screwed if you forget one or it breaks or doesn't work for whatever reason.

I would get surprised if I arrived somewhere and was presented with a USB-C cable and no HDMI option.

Personally I wouldn't even want to use it if I can avoid it, because I have a huge dislike for putting anything with data wires in it into my equipment.

But, I wouldn't exactly say that USB-C is for the future and not the now; it's just that USB-C isn't everything that everyone expects it to be. Like it isn't something you'd use as the one port to rule them all in your tv; but it is a great expansion port. Like PCMCIA was back in the day; but no one expected PCMCIA to be the way for you to connect your video player and your tv. And so on.

 

[Stephen.R]

Personally I wouldn't even want to use it if I can avoid it, because I have a huge dislike for putting anything with data wires in it into my equipment.

Guess you don’t use hdmi either then?

 

[svanstrom]

Guess you don’t use hdmi either then?

You know what I meant; even though I absolutely expressed it wrong.

 

[Stephen.R]

You know what I meant; even though I absolutely expressed it wrong.

No I don’t apparently. You said you don’t like cables with data wires but have also said you want to use hdmi.

do you also claim to not eat pork, while chewing on a ham sandwich?

 

[cupcakes2000]

Thread full of unspecified people fully failing to understand anything about modern computing I/O. From usba being a modern standard to hdmi being only worthwhile with a dedicated port. It beggars belief that many on here claim to be ‘tech heads’. Some are so stuck in the past it’s hilarious. For some, carrying an ½g adaptor v a dedicated port defines their ability to be a ‘pro’. It’s a brilliant if slightly bemusing read.

 

[DMike]

I have to say reading through all of these back and forward arguments, one thing that stands out to me as a bit of an indictment of the move to USB C only is the fact dongles and adapters are even still necessary now, 5 plus years on from Apple going 'all in' on it. That shows Type C is still 'the future', not 'the now'. While some desk-bound people have adjusted ok, just swapping out cables, for the mobile (i.e. those who actually need a laptop not just a desktop stand in) it's a pain to have to take the adapters with you, and being screwed if you forget one or it breaks or doesn't work for whatever reason.

I might add it's also a small indication of the teething issues with Bluetooth as it was promised to take over lower speed interfaces seamlessly a long time ago. The higher speed BT 2.0 dates back to around 2005, so there was a decade for low speed devices to switch prior to the all in on USB-C. Yet here we are five years after the USB-C switch and fifteen after high speed BT talking about dongles for wired mice to make them work with USB-C to get required performance.

 

[darngooddesign]

I have to say reading through all of these back and forward arguments, one thing that stands out to me as a bit of an indictment of the move to USB C only is the fact dongles and adapters are even still necessary now, 5 plus years on from Apple going 'all in' on it. That shows Type C is still 'the future', not 'the now'. While some desk-bound people have adjusted ok, just swapping out cables, for the mobile (i.e. those who actually need a laptop not just a desktop stand in) it's a pain to have to take the adapters with you, and being screwed if you forget one or it breaks or doesn't work for whatever reason.

Part of the issue is people using dongles instead of just changing their cables.

 

[JouniS]

Part of the issue is people using dongles instead of just changing their cables.

The alternative to dongles is buying additional cables, not changing cables.

My gaming PC (2017) does not have USB-C ports. My TV (2018) does not have USB-C ports. My home NAS (2019) does not have USB-C ports. My iMac (2020) does not have enough USB-C ports to go use them exclusively. Most of my USB chargers are USB-A. My solar charger is USB-A. For most devices, I still need the cables that connect them to USB-A (or to HDMI), and the USB-C cables would be an additional inconvenience.

 

[cupcakes2000]

The alternative to dongles is buying additional cables, not changing cables.

My gaming PC (2017) does not have USB-C ports. My TV (2018) does not have USB-C ports. My home NAS (2019) does not have USB-C ports. My iMac (2020) does not have enough USB-C ports to go use them exclusively. Most of my USB chargers are USB-A. My solar charger is USB-A. For most devices, I still need the cables that connect them to USB-A (or to HDMI), and the USB-C cables would be an additional inconvenience.

Then we must all wait for you to update your tech or change a few cables. ?

 

[darngooddesign]

The alternative to dongles is buying additional cables, not changing cables.

Man.... people who will spend $1600 on a laptop, but not $3 on a new cable, which is cheaper than a dongle.

 

[JouniS]

Man.... people who will spend $1600 on a laptop, but not $3 on a new cable, which is cheaper than a dongle.

It's more about convenience than price.

A single multi-port adapter is more convenient than having two sets of cables for everything. The adapter also works when the cable is already in place and cannot be replaced easily. A laptop with HDMI and USB-A ports would be even more convenient.

 

[darngooddesign]

Sure but that's why cables with USB-A on one side and USB-C on the other exist.

 

[unchecked]

It's more about convenience than price.

A single multi-port adapter is more convenient than having two sets of cables for everything. The adapter also works when the cable is already in place and cannot be replaced easily. A laptop with HDMI and USB-A ports would be even more convenient.

Would it though? I like to plug in my USB A keyboard and mouse receiver, 3.5mm and HDMI into one dongle and then just only remove the dongle in action when I need to pack and take away my MBP.

It’s a small thing but still more convenient than unplugging multiple things.

 

[JouniS]

Sure but that's why cables with USB-A on one side and USB-C on the other exist.

The cables I usually carry around are USB-A to Micro-USB and USB-A to USB-C. USB-A connects to the computer or the charger and the smaller port connects to the other device. Without adapters, I would have to add USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Micro-USB.

A couple of years ago I also needed USB-A to Mini-USB for my old camera, but that's luckily a thing of the past.

 

[JouniS]

Would it though? I like to plug in my USB A keyboard and mouse receiver, 3.5mm and HDMI into one dongle and then just only remove the dongle in action when I need to pack and take away my MBP.

It’s a small thing but still more convenient than unplugging multiple things.

A dongle is more convenient at a fixed location, but a laptop is also a mobile computer.

Back when things were normal, I used to spend 2-3 months a year traveling abroad. I often had to plug in single devices at inconvenient places such as taxis, airports, planes, trains, and hotel rooms. The dongle was inconvenient, and sometimes it was just hanging from the port with nothing to support it.

 

[537635]

I have to say reading through all of these back and forward arguments, one thing that stands out to me as a bit of an indictment of the move to USB C only is the fact dongles and adapters are even still necessary now, 5 plus years on from Apple going 'all in' on it. That shows Type C is still 'the future', not 'the now'. While some desk-bound people have adjusted ok, just swapping out cables, for the mobile (i.e. those who actually need a laptop not just a desktop stand in) it's a pain to have to take the adapters with you, and being screwed if you forget one or it breaks or doesn't work for whatever reason.

It's a good observation.

I guess USB-A was just too damn good. Like Windows XP or Windows 7, which still refuse to disappear.

I see two types of people here:

1. Why fix if ain't broken.
2. I want Star Trek ASAP.


These are two radical positions. First one stays fixed in the past not appreciating the progress. Second one mindlessly gets rid of the old just for the sake of the new, without caring for function or necessity.

I'll admit I'm more towards the second option and the whole debate for me isn't really about the ports but about people who impede progress. USB-A is clearly outdated, not supported in the standards and only the sheer number of devices is holding it afloat.

Like Macromedia Flash. But it has and will die someday. And I applaude Apple for doing this decision and striving towards the future.

 

[Stephen.R]

1. Why fix if ain't broken.
2. I want Star Trek ASAP.

except, the reported change is about going back to legacy ports.

so it’s more like

“why fix it if it ain’t broken”
Vs
“I want 2010 ASAP”.

the current MBP is not “broken” in terms of ports.

 

[537635]

except, the reported change is about going back to legacy ports.

so it’s more like

“why fix it if it ain’t broken”
Vs
“I want 2010 ASAP”.

the current MBP is not “broken” in terms of ports.

Well as much as I hate to see the return of legacy ports, I'll admit there were situations, where they would come handy. But at the same time I also realize that having them on the laptop would mean compromising other stuff.

So "why fix if ain't broken" sadly still holds today, but again, only because of sheer number of devices and longer turnover times than in the past.


PS: "Why fix if ain't broken" was meant to describe people, who want the old ports back. USB-C only ports are still after all these years kinda Star Trek .

 

[alien3dx]

hehe waiting iphone to be usb-c .. Why da heck i need usb c to lightning cable ?

** software development need to connect device then can test wireless

 

[Stephen.R]

PS: "Why fix if ain't broken" was meant to describe people, who want the old ports back. USB-C only ports are still after all these years kinda Star Trek

I understood your original intent, but you could re-word "Why fix it if it ain't broken" as "why change something that works" and the intent stays the same.

My point about flipping that comparison is that the "fix" or "change" at this point, would be to add back the legacy ports, the "aint broken" or "works" is the current line of Mac portables with TB3 ports.

waiting iphone to be usb-c

Agreed. I understand why they used lightning at the time (USB-C didn't exist), and I also understand that any change is going to draw countless complaints about accessories no longer working. The optimist in me says that people might realise that changing to USB-C means a lot of common connectivity with modern accessories, being able to re-use a charge cable between your phone, tablet, laptop, etc.

 

[svanstrom]

Thread full of unspecified people fully failing to understand anything about modern computing I/O. From usba being a modern standard to hdmi being only worthwhile with a dedicated port. It beggars belief that many on here claim to be ‘tech heads’. Some are so stuck in the past it’s hilarious. For some, carrying an ½g adaptor v a dedicated port defines their ability to be a ‘pro’. It’s a brilliant if slightly bemusing read.

It must be hard for you to be the only one understanding how the world should work; with everyone else clearly being idiots that just thrive instead of being neurotic about how everyone else is doing things wrong.

Seriously, why do you always return to adding hyperbole and insulting everyone simply because you in one particular group find your POV being in minority?

Personally I don't think that it's just in this particular group that you're wrong, though, because I IRL see people with a similar approach as yours; and they are always the ones huffing and puffing and judging and giving a bad vibe, while the rest of us just make things work. People like that aren't invisible when they think that they are superior, but it just doesn't connect with reality; so these people live in their own bubbles getting upset about things, and never even see how they actually are disconnected with most of the group that they think they are being social with. And that "I saved the presentation with my extra cable"-attitude is often left uncontested simply because no-one wants to deal with the weird one that just had to do the nerd-version of intruding with mansplaining because they couldn't even imagine anyone else doing anything right.

 

[Project Alice]

• USB-A​

  No need for this with USB-C adapters already common and many new devices moving to USB-C natively, keyboard, mice, webcams.

• HDMI​

  HDMI 2.1 is the correct answer here. Next gen monitors and TVs will need to support this.

• SD Slot​

  This is a nice to have but not necessary. Very niche, most pro cameras can sync wirelessly.

• Magsafe​

  Waste of time. USB-C charging is easy, ubiquitous. No more proprietary Apple connectors please.

• Ethernet​

  Makes no sense on a portable device. Fine for USB-C hub.

Disagree with everything.

USB-C is incredibly obscure unless you own a semi new android phone. I have one device that uses it. ONE. An external 2.5" SATA enclosure. I've got more Mini USB-B cables laying around than I do C's.
I love USB C as a mobile connector. Mobile as in phones. Not laptops, not desktops. I find it asinine that its used at all on such devices.

HDMI, fine.

Magsafe should have never, ever been removed in the first place. Most laptops use proprietary power connecters; and literally every magsafe adapter can be bought for around 15 bucks.

I don't care about SD cards. I don't think they're a requirement. I've never used them anyways. They might be useful for some people I guess. But most people have a USB A adapter for them anyways.

Ethernet should be on every computer. EVERY. My phone uses Wifi, nothing else. Including if I'm sitting on my couch browsing. Ya know what "doesn't make sense on a portable device"? Having to carry around a bunch of stupid dongles instead of just the device and it's charger.

 

[mrkek]

I don't understand all these people arguing USB-A should not make a return.
How much will this impact you?
It won't change anything on the MacBook. This should have ZERO impact on you if you don't need it.
If you don't need it, don't use it, but those that need it will be happy for it to return.

I'd like to see 1xUSB-A, MagSafe. HDMI I can go either way, I have my USB-C to HDMI cable, but if it's on the MacBook it's no issue. If I really need ethernet I'll use my hub, and if I need ethernet I'll more than likely be at a desk, so again, no big issue using my dongle for that.

Again, if you don't need these ports, it will make no impact to you if they are there, which really baffles me about the arguments people are making for them to not make a return.

On MagSafe, I'd like to see both USB-C and MagSafe be able to charge it though. Cause for some reason if you need to use up all the USB-C ports, at least you can charge via MagSafe, though with that said the battery life on Apple Silicon should give you all the time you need to use the USB-C devices for whatever then just unplug and plug in the charger again.

I don't need an SD card reader. Will I lose my mind with anger if it's included. No! Hey, I might need to use it one day, and great, it'll be there.?‍♂

Having more ports can only be a good thing. Use the ports you need, and ignore the ones you don't, I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[537635]

Disagree with everything.

USB-C is incredibly obscure unless you own a semi new android phone. I have one device that uses it. ONE. An external 2.5" SATA enclosure. I've got more Mini USB-B cables laying around than I do C's.
I love USB C as a mobile connector. Mobile as in phones. Not laptops, not desktops. I find it asinine that its used at all on such devices.

HDMI, fine.

Magsafe should have never, ever been removed in the first place. Most laptops use proprietary power connecters; and literally every magsafe adapter can be bought for around 15 bucks.

I don't care about SD cards. I don't think they're a requirement. I've never used them anyways. They might be useful for some people I guess. But most people have a USB A adapter for them anyways.

Ethernet should be on every computer. EVERY. My phone uses Wifi, nothing else. Including if I'm sitting on my couch browsing. Ya know what "doesn't make sense on a portable device"? Having to carry around a bunch of stupid dongles instead of just the device and it's charger.

Are you a time traveller from 2010? Welcome to 2021! Please make yourself at home but you will need to update your devices in due time.

There are no new phones with microUSB.
USB-A / microUSB is mostly reserved for devices, which are due for design update (like iMac, Mini, etc.).
Even most stubborn companies like Lenovo are moving to USB-C charging.

You argue that Magsafe shouldn't have been replaced with an universal port, because everybody else still used proprietary connectors? This is exactly what I was talking about before. You are stuck in the past unwilling to accept anything new or progressive. If everybody had this attitude, we would still be riding horses for transportation. I mean it was fine 200 years ago, right?

 

[537635]

I don't understand all these people arguing USB-A should not make a return.
How much will this impact you?
It won't change anything on the MacBook. This should have ZERO impact on you if you don't need it.

Useless single-functionality ports take up space. Space that could be used for other things.

How much will it impact you to carry a small USB-C hub for all these ports you so desperatly need? It won't change anything on the current MacBook. This should have ZERO impact on you.