oh ok.. nuclear department also need one floppy if applicable.What? No SCSI and DVI ports? And internal floppy disk drive as well.
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What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?
- Thread starter senttoschool
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What would you prefer though? MagSafe, USB-A, HDMI and an SD card slot? Or 8 Thunderbolt ports instead of 4?
Except, that's not an equal exchange. MagSafe, USB-A, HDMI and an SD card slot would, together, require about half the I/O/GPU resources of one extra Thunderbolt 4 controller... and if you want to settle for 'dilluted' TB4 with one controller shared between multiple ports you can now get Thunderbolt 4 hubs (...because needing external hubs and docks is no big deal, right?)
What? Why? All HDMI needs is a DisplayPort stream and a DP-to-HDMI bridge chip (as you'll find in most USB-C to HDMI cables).... That's assuming that the video output from the SoC itself can't be configured as HDMI, the way that the Intel iGPUs could. Yes, obviously some extra space will be taken up, but the switch to Apple Silicon SoCs has freed up a ton of space on the logic board.
Irrelevant. The M1's number one priority was to enable fanless/silent ultra-thin entry-level MacBooks and, as such, only supporting a single external display was a sensible compromise to keep the size, complexity and power consumption of the SoC down.
If the new 16" MacBook Pros turn out to feature nothing better than warmed-over M1 chips then they are going to be such a huge disappointment that nobody will care what ports they have. Heck, the M1 isn't even capable of qualifying as Thunderbolt 4. They need - and will probably have - more high-performance CPU cores, more RAM, more GPU cores and more supported displays regardless of what ports they have.
So it's a pretty weak argument to extrapolate the weaknesses of the M1 to these hypothetical new MBPs. Especially as Apple now have far more control over what features they build into their SoCs. Having a second direct DP or HDMI output from the SoC is perfectly feasible, as is sharing that with the on-chip TB4 controllers (even the M1 can share it's single spare DP stream between its two controllers).... although if the GPU supports 5 streams (like the current 16") "losing" one to HDMI is not a serious problem, esp. since DP1.4 is finally here and the days of 5k+ displays needing two DisplayPort streams are coming to an end. If the new MBP can "only" drive two 5-6k displays via Thunderbolt plus a third 4k display via. HDMI then I really don't see the problem...
Even the Intel Mini didn't have enough GPU horsepower to make "losing" a display to HDMI a significant issue - the solution there was to use an eGPU. Since Apple seem to be ruling out eGPUs in the future, all the more reason why the new SoCs will need to seriously up their game on graphics.
The leaks show three display support though I take leaks with a grain of salt.
If they are going to replace the Intel devices, then they will need to support at least 3x4k.
As far as controllers go, it's Apple's SOC - they can add whatever they want to. I don't see any way the 16 gets the M1. I would buy an Air 16, though, with the M1.
The M1 was the right decision as my checks indicate that they are selling huge volumes of these things. Most of us here want more but we're not the typical Apple customer.
You are probably right. I've looked at specs of some low-level chips and it seems they have no problems supporting multiple video streams. It seems I am overestimating the engineering complexity..
Oh, you won't get any argument from me here. Having limited display support can be forgiven for a first-generation entry-level product. But it can't become a "signature feature". There is no question whatsoever that upcoming prosumer Macs MUST have better display support, or Apple will have failed. In fact, future Air etc. models should have better display support.
Just revisiting this thread after yesterday's announcement.
I still believe they should keep pushing USB-C and Thunderbolt (4). As far as it looks, HDMI is just 2.0. This means for "pro" monitors you'll need a dongle again and HDMI will go unused.
Same for MagSafe when travelling. USB-C is just so much more convenient.
I do appreciate it'll make some people's workflows easier.
I still believe they should keep pushing USB-C and Thunderbolt (4). As far as it looks, HDMI is just 2.0. This means for "pro" monitors you'll need a dongle again and HDMI will go unused.
Same for MagSafe when travelling. USB-C is just so much more convenient.
I do appreciate it'll make some people's workflows easier.
Anyone who has a display to take advantage of HDMI 2.1 should be prepared to use Thunderbolt instead.
The HDMI 2.0 port is just there for those times you need to present at random places or you go to a hotel and the TV only has HDMI.
There were reports of Apple even considering adding USB-A to it. I would have loved one USB-A port. But it's fine for me.
its not about pushing, its about providing.
You want to connect an 8K screen? Us the correct cable from screen to USB-C port.
You don't like to carry MagSafe cable when traveling? Well DON'T.
Power your laptop through a cable to the USB-C port. No prob.
This whole debate was about all these arguments.
I do not agree with your position. Let's just leave it at this.
I am confident that in the future we'll again be seeing Macs with unified port designs.
Exactly what I was thinking....it is there for giving presentations and the last time I checked, you didn't require 4K144 to some crazy resolution/fps combination for giving presentations....
I will always prefer 3x USB + HDMI + SDXC + Magsafe = 6 ports over just 4x USB.
Those aesthetic nerds who celebrated their "unified" ports were in the minority... we have told you several months ago, Apple confirmed it with their decision by going for the best compromise of both worlds: You are just losing one of four USB ports (which you had occupied for a monitor, charging, or silly dongle anyway) and get three different ports in return.
Yes, HDMI may be "only" 2.0 but 4K @60Hz is still more than good to run presentations or watch movies without any dongle hassle, as pretty much all projectors and TVs by now have at least an HDMI port available, unlike USB-C.
Some people may argue about the SD-Slot, but it's convenient for many photographers (no need to carry the entire camera) and don't forget the huge music / DJing / producing branch either, a ******** of devices works with SD cards as well. Also, you can extend your storage for cheap!
And Magsafe, halleluja it's back. Magnetic, Status-LED and way more robust than those flimsy USB-C ports (which you can still use if you prefer that). Power brick remains modular, so you can use it with both cables!
Those aesthetic nerds who celebrated their "unified" ports were in the minority... we have told you several months ago, Apple confirmed it with their decision by going for the best compromise of both worlds: You are just losing one of four USB ports (which you had occupied for a monitor, charging, or silly dongle anyway) and get three different ports in return.
Yes, HDMI may be "only" 2.0 but 4K @60Hz is still more than good to run presentations or watch movies without any dongle hassle, as pretty much all projectors and TVs by now have at least an HDMI port available, unlike USB-C.
Some people may argue about the SD-Slot, but it's convenient for many photographers (no need to carry the entire camera) and don't forget the huge music / DJing / producing branch either, a ******** of devices works with SD cards as well. Also, you can extend your storage for cheap!
And Magsafe, halleluja it's back. Magnetic, Status-LED and way more robust than those flimsy USB-C ports (which you can still use if you prefer that). Power brick remains modular, so you can use it with both cables!
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My plan is to get an M1X mini for my 4k monitors but this M1X may have me changing my mind about how I will set things up. I will use the M1X MacBook Pro in the living room and it's best to use MagSafe there. I currently use a Retina and MagSafe is a really good idea. I'm not sure what I'll use if I plug it into external displays though. All I have for USB-C is two lightening cables and a 4-port USB-A adapter. A proper setup would have Ethernet, at least 7 USB-A, and a couple of HDMI ports. A hub like that is unlikely though. An M1X mini with Ethernet, HDMI, 2xUSB-A, 4xUSB-C would make it easy though. All of the ports in my M1 mini are currently occupied. I have 2 USB-A port hubs with 12 outlets. Using Audio jack, USB-C for display and lightening cable, Ethernet.
So USB-C dongles, port hubs and adapters are in my future.
So USB-C dongles, port hubs and adapters are in my future.
The CPU doesn't matter so much as the ports for connecting things. I have five monitors and a lot of peripherals and I was looking for an M1X (or Pro/Max) to either replace the M1 mini or augment it. It's possible that an M1X mini could replace my big Windows desktop.
Just to add to this... it appears that USB-C ports are limited to 100W. 140W goes only through MagSafe.
It may come across that way as there are no USB-C cables or USB-C chargers from 3rd parties that is compliant with the new USB PD standard of up to 240W.
That is true.
Yet why would they say, that 16'' cannot be fast charged via USB if that was the case? They would just say "coming soon".
It is also possible, that 140W is used only for fast charging and under normal load it never requires more than 100W.
Cash grab to get the extra $20 for those buying the base 14"? To my understanding the higher wattage charger comes with the higher-end M1 Pro & Max SoC when BTO'd with a 14".
I wouldnt worry about it too long though
I am disappointed that Apple did not put the Ethernet port into the USB-C charger like the iMac.Sorry to all those who chose USB-A, they could only pick the top three!
I know it wouldn't fit easily but having a CFExpress Type B slot for photographers would be nice. But not at the expense of the more universal SD card I think. Happy with this update. Things it gives people a little of what they wanted. No problems giving up one USB C port for all that.
USB-A would've made more sense than HDMI 2.Sorry to all those who chose USB-A, they could only pick the top three!