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

  • USB-A

    Votes: 207 36.4%
  • HDMI

    Votes: 235 41.4%
  • SD Slot

    Votes: 242 42.6%
  • Magsafe

    Votes: 337 59.3%
  • None, just keep it USB-C only

    Votes: 135 23.8%
  • Ethernet

    Votes: 97 17.1%

  • Total voters
    568

537635

macrumors 65816
Mar 7, 2009
1,154
1,041
Slovenia, EU
I know the spec differences. Note that the sentence was talking about 3.5mm and Lightning. Not Lightning instead of USB-C.

When Apple eliminated the 3.5mm jack from the phone, the fanboys talked about how archaic and out of date the 3.5mm is. How glad they were to be rid of it. Schiller from Apple said, "Maintaining an ancient, single-purpose, analogue, big connector doesn't make sense because that space is at a premium." Since it is a digital output, the Lightning can be better than the crappy A2D/D2As that every computer manufacturer uses for their 3.5mm. As an audio connection it is objectively better or at least higher tech.

Yet the 3.5mm is still there on every single Mac and there has never been a Lightning port despite the fact that Apple critiqued it so much and primed the market with Lightning audio products (dongles, first and third party headphones). Apple chose just two ports for the MacBook: one USB-C and one 3.5mm. They could have swapped the 3.5mm with a Lightning and given the computer the better audio and more data connections, but didn't. Which is the point. Apple has a ready to go better solution for audio that they developed and have sold, but they continue to use the older format on 100% of Macs. The fact that Lightning could also be used as a data port for low speed USB is just icing on the cake of it being a technically more advanced solution. I would think that someone like yourself who is obsessed with generic ports over any dedicated ports would be all over replacing the 3.5mm jack.

But hey, obsess over and try to twist one example to your narrative. Because you have no actual argument against anything else.

I am not against removal of the 3.5mm jack. Because of iPad Pros there are plently compact USB-C to 3.5mm adapters available.

But this topic is about trading either existing ports or existing features (space inside the chassis) for outdated and single use ports. If as an engineer you cannot understand that, than I am really happy that you do not design products where use(r) experience is an important factor.
 

DMike

macrumors member
Nov 25, 2020
31
21
San Diego, CA
You from all people should know that everything you add to a space limited device comes at an expense of something else.
Right... it’s a device that doesn’t exist. To posit how space limited it is preventing a conversation about what people want is backwards to how engineers work. We start with requirements/objectives and design from there. Not the other way around.
 

537635

macrumors 65816
Mar 7, 2009
1,154
1,041
Slovenia, EU
Right... it’s a device that doesn’t exist. To posit how space limited it is preventing a conversation about what people want is backwards to how engineers work. We start with requirements/objectives and design from there. Not the other way around.

Well good luck with your designs then.


xkcd_phone_2000.png
 

537635

macrumors 65816
Mar 7, 2009
1,154
1,041
Slovenia, EU
Yup, I will just keep following the same methodology as NASA. Since it put people on the moon and probes throughout the solar system. You have no clue what you are talking about. That image is what happens when teams don’t start from objectives.
I agree that NASA is a perfect example here. Thank you.
 

Stephen.R

Suspended
Nov 2, 2018
4,356
4,747
Thailand
Right... it’s a device that doesn’t exist. To posit how space limited it is preventing a conversation about what people want is backwards to how engineers work. We start with requirements/objectives and design from there. Not the other way around.
... I understand the point you're trying to make, but you're either ignoring some important context or being disingenuous.

I am not an engineer, I am a software developer. We also have requirements and objectives for a given piece of work. But we also have another piece of input: constraints.

Time. Budget. Personnel. etc.

In the matter being discussed those aren't really relevant - perhaps cost/budget is slightly at the extreme end - but there are still constraints.

If you build just based on requirements/objectives, and ignore constraints, and you were taking this thread alone as defining "requirements" (just using the "I want/need ..." statements, rather than the "x is not required/needed" statements) you'd end up with a "laptop" that has 8 or more TB3/USB-C ports, HDMI, a handful of USB Type-A, dual 10Gbit Ethernet, Firewire 800 and 400, at least 4 different card reader slots, a ****ing SCSI port, oh a floppy disk drive, a CD drive, a 56K modem, oh a Serial port, what else, oh at least one Mini DisplayPort, 2 MagSafe - both the old high current one, and the new inductive type... oh did someone mention an ADB port? what else?

So sure, you can start with objectives but those objects have to be able to fit with the given constraints.

Yup, I will just keep following the same methodology as NASA. Since it put people on the moon and probes throughout the solar system. You have no clue what you are talking about. That image is what happens when teams don’t start from objectives.

I don't work for NASA. But I'm pretty sure NASA understands the concept of 'constraints' pretty well.
 

alien3dx

macrumors 68020
Feb 12, 2017
2,193
524
... I understand the point you're trying to make, but you're either ignoring some important context or being disingenuous.

I am not an engineer, I am a software developer. We also have requirements and objectives for a given piece of work. But we also have another piece of input: constraints.

Time. Budget. Personnel. etc.

In the matter being discussed those aren't really relevant - perhaps cost/budget is slightly at the extreme end - but there are still constraints.

If you build just based on requirements/objectives, and ignore constraints, and you were taking this thread alone as defining "requirements" (just using the "I want/need ..." statements, rather than the "x is not required/needed" statements) you'd end up with a "laptop" that has 8 or more TB3/USB-C ports, HDMI, a handful of USB Type-A, dual 10Gbit Ethernet, Firewire 800 and 400, at least 4 different card reader slots, a ****ing SCSI port, oh a floppy disk drive, a CD drive, a 56K modem, oh a Serial port, what else, oh at least one Mini DisplayPort, 2 MagSafe - both the old high current one, and the new inductive type... oh did someone mention an ADB port? what else?

So sure, you can start with objectives but those objects have to be able to fit with the given constraints.



I don't work for NASA. But I'm pretty sure NASA understands the concept of 'constraints' pretty well.
hehe. that the mess apple created .

one year new male /female extension..

macbook air okay because the purpose but macbook pro ?
 

Stephen.R

Suspended
Nov 2, 2018
4,356
4,747
Thailand
it’s a device that doesn’t exist.
I meant to reply to this with the one just before, and got side-tracked.

It's true that theoretically a 2021 MacBook Pro could be anything. Before it's anything else it's still an Apple portable, which means that while some variations to greater weight or size are possible, they're generally unlikely (especially as the 16" just got bigger than the 15" it replaced) and even then, quite small increases.

Full-sized HDMI for example is going to be a stretch. The current 13 and 16 inch MBPs are 15 and 16mm thick, respectively. A HDMI Type-A receptacle has an inner dimension of 14mm.
 

Stephen.R

Suspended
Nov 2, 2018
4,356
4,747
Thailand
I really wish OP had included a question to gauge feedback of how many want a port, if they know it means losing or crippling some of the existing TB3 ports (e.g. if a HDMI port would mean one less display supported via TB3/USB-C, or if MagSafe would negatively affect the ability to charge via USB-C).

Some are claiming (without any evidence) "you won't lose the current ports" or "nobody is asking to trade ports" - while others are flat out saying they want <X> instead of TB3/USB-C.

So what I really want to know, is how many that are clamouring for legacy ports, would still want them if they come at the expense of current functionality.
 

svanstrom

macrumors 6502a
Feb 8, 2002
787
1,745
??
Yet the 3.5mm is still there on every single Mac
Just the other day I was thinking about that, because I don't see the market for it.

Like literally, I don't see people using it at all. It's either something wireless, or speakerphone.

Admittedly I'm not spending every day in video calls, and my usual crowd of people are usually not that representative of "the average worker"; so I'm genuinely curious if there's a whole 3.5mm market out there that I just don't see.
 

alien3dx

macrumors 68020
Feb 12, 2017
2,193
524
Just the other day I was thinking about that, because I don't see the market for it.

Like literally, I don't see people using it at all. It's either something wireless, or speakerphone.

Admittedly I'm not spending every day in video calls, and my usual crowd of people are usually not that representative of "the average worker"; so I'm genuinely curious if there's a whole 3.5mm market out there that I just don't see.
If normal ya can be .But if in macbook air quite odd when they prefer to use airpod instead
 

Stephen.R

Suspended
Nov 2, 2018
4,356
4,747
Thailand
Just the other day I was thinking about that, because I don't see the market for it.

Like literally, I don't see people using it at all. It's either something wireless, or speakerphone.

Admittedly I'm not spending every day in video calls, and my usual crowd of people are usually not that representative of "the average worker"; so I'm genuinely curious if there's a whole 3.5mm market out there that I just don't see.
I use it on my mini (with a basic set of 2.1 speakers), but I also wouldn't be particularly surprised if they removed it from laptops.
 

alien3dx

macrumors 68020
Feb 12, 2017
2,193
524
For those whom might want to know what my usage in real life port

Cheap China usb hub switcher 3 ports

  1. usb c hub pepper jobs
  2. usb c hub china brand
  3. Apple TV 4K
There are 3 HDMI connected to switcher
  1. MacBook m1 with 1 usb hub HDMI switch and lightning cable to the phone . You can test the app via wireless also but it need to connect first so Xcode can remember it .
  2. Apple TV 4K
  3. Imac 2017
The main hdmi are switch to LG 21 inch monitor.

The Imac 2017 usb c hub used for
  1. Usb hub C
  2. External sandisk usb-c 256 GB / hkvision 480 GB
  3. External E-GPU if required .
  4. hdmi
  5. android cable / iPhone cable
M1 usb c hub used for

1. hdmi
2. usb a - connected to the phone

Some limitation usb-c hub on M1.
  1. You need to restart it and it will not auto plug and play .
What will preferable for me
  1. More usb-c hub port either in MacBook Air/Pro(right side) or iMac
  2. Right side usb a instead of audio jack
  3. hdmi
** sorry no picture.
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,366
10,128
Atlanta, GA
So what I really want to know, is how many that are clamouring for legacy ports, would still want them if they come at the expense of current functionality.
My 2014 13" MBP has Magsafe, two thunderbolt ports, USB-A, and a headphone jack on the left and USB-A, HDMI, and SD on the right so I refuse to believe that eight years later Apple can't figure out how to have two USB-C and one additional port on each side without compromising the laptop.
 
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smoking monkey

macrumors 68020
Mar 5, 2008
2,363
1,508
I HUNGER
Just the other day I was thinking about that, because I don't see the market for it.

Like literally, I don't see people using it at all. It's either something wireless, or speakerphone.
Re the headphone jack. It's for music editing in garageband, FCP, Keynote or another other music app.
 

Stephen.R

Suspended
Nov 2, 2018
4,356
4,747
Thailand
My 2014 13" MBP has Magsafe, two thunderbolt ports, USB-A, and a headphone jack on the left and USB-A, HDMI, and SD on the right so I refuse to believe that eight years later Apple can't figure out how to have two USB-C and one additional port on each side.

Thats very true, and if you'd be so kind as to show me where I said "it's physically impossible to have more than two ports per side", you'd have a point.

I didn't say Apple can't, or definitely won't add ports without taking them away.

This is all based on a rumour about "more ports". But more could mean lots of things.

If someone had one hundred tuna sandwiches, and you said "you need more flavours", it's reasonable to think they might swap some of those hundred, for other flavours. If someone had two sandwiches and you said "you need more", it's reasonable to think they would probably get more sandwiches, of some kind.

So, to summarise, my point is not that its just physically and technically impossible to add ports without affecting the existing ones. No one has said that. But the question I wanted asked was: Would you want <X> if it would negatively affect the other ports. Or put more generically, would you want <X> if it would negatively affect the laptop in other ways (e.g. adding full size HDMI probably means making it thicker).
 
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