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

[Maconplasma]

It's dead. But what about the billions of perfectly good USB-A accessories that have already been made? What about the fact that the majority of accessories sold at this moment still use USB-A?

It's a really good thing you're not running Apple or any other big company in the tech industry. The tech world would be stuck in the past. You seem to think companies like Apple are just moving to the next generation in tech just for the sake of doing it and for no other good reason. By your logic there were billions of perfectly good floppy disks and accessories to run them so why bother with change? Also by your logic Windows 95 and MacOS 9 were perfectly good OS's with thousands of pieces of software running on them so why should Microsoft and Apple upgrade the OS's and lose software compatibility?
Tech cannot improve unless the industry makes changes and moves with them. You don't progress by leaving old ports and features just to satisfy the minority crowd of whiners.

 

[537635]

USB-C fails because a USB-C port is not always compatible with a device that can be physically connected to it. That's also the case for the Mini DisplayPort connector.

This is or was true for USB-C ports that weren't Thunderbolt compatible (like Macbook 12''). For newer devices everything should work.

Of course you also need a proper cable, they are tiered.

- charging (up to 100W) and USB 2.0
- charging (up to 100W) and USB 3.0
- charging 100W and Thunderbolt

Last one does everything. With first two there might be issues, depending on the device connected.


I'll admit this adds some confusion to the "it just works" mantra. But still better than USB-A, where there issues even for low power devices.

 

[alien3dx]

This is or was true for USB-C ports that weren't Thunderbolt compatible (like Macbook 12''). For newer devices everything should work.

Of course you also need a proper cable, they are tiered.

- charging (up to 100W) and USB 2.0
- charging (up to 100W) and USB 3.0
- charging 100W and Thunderbolt

Last one does everything. With first two there might be issues, depending on the device connected.


I'll admit this adds some confusion to the "it just works" mantra. But still better than USB-A, where there issues even for low power devices.

yeah as mention its scary . Normal people would ehmm if can charge my m1 , wouldnt be more faster in my ipad usb c or maybe can charge oh cheap samsung a20 usb c .

** i try it and it broke my old phone.

 

[JouniS]

You seem to think companies like Apple are just moving to the next generation in tech just for the sake of doing it and for no other good reason.

That's a good default assumption.

Tech is full of solutions looking for a problem. Things that are technically superior to the established alternatives but may not solve any real problem. Engineers must keep developing them to justify their continued employment. Companies must push them to market or go out of business. The market then decides which new solutions are good and which are simply meaningless technical achievements.

 

[Maconplasma]

That's a good default assumption.

Tech is full of solutions looking for a problem. Things that are technically superior to the established alternatives but may not solve any real problem. Engineers must keep developing them to justify their continued employment. Companies must push them to market or go out of business. The market then decides which new solutions are good and which are simply meaningless technical achievements.

Thanks for the post. Glad you've convinced yourself.

 

[darngooddesign]

USB-C fails because a USB-C port is not always compatible with a device that can be physically connected to it. That's also the case for the Mini DisplayPort connector.

Can you give an example of a USB-C peripheral which claimed MacOS support but didn't work when you plugged it into a Mac.

 

[537635]

Can you give an example of a USB-C peripheral which claimed MacOS support but didn't work when you plugged it into a Mac.

LG Ultrafine 5k. Kinda... It works well on Thunderbolt supported devices. On others it defaults to 4k. This happens with Macbook 12'', iPad Pro and the whole Windows bunch.

 

[Rashy]

"It's a really good thing you're not running Apple"
"Just to satisfy the minority crowd of whiners"

The kind of arguments, when there are no arguments left. Smh

Anyways:
- Success isn't solely defined by radical decisions ('remove all ports and just keep one type left to make it even thinner')
- Macbooks from 2016-2018 had been regarded as regression by most users and reviewers, compared to the 2015 and 2019
- Listening to the people you called 'whiners' can help to improve products, the Macbook Pro 16" proved it

I certainly don't think VGA, RJ45 or FW800 are expected in the future Macbooks, and nobody requested the USB-C ports getting removed again, so there is no reason for any concern. The majority of people would agree though that adding back at least some useful ports, like Magsafe, SD, USB-A or HDMI would be beneficial for a Pro device that fulfills multiple users cases and scenarios, with as few dongles as possible.

 

[neinjohn]

Certainly don't think it'll come with Macs on 2021 but since we have mmWave being deployed on mass, Apple bought the Intel's modem division and they have their own custom chips designs the future could be wireless transmission that can reach Thunderbolt 3 speed without huge latency on a 10-20 meters (the maximum I found over-air but with lasers is 100GB/s) on a hub/dock which has a more diverse ports selection as it doesn't need to be traced on every MacBook logicboard or inserted on the outer frame. Less cables ruining far away or staying 1/2 meters from a TV with the laptop. It would also allow for a portless MacBook and universal for all Apple products with the custom receiver/transmitter chip.

 

[darngooddesign]

LG Ultrafine 5k. Kinda... It works well on Thunderbolt supported devices. On others it defaults to 4k. This happens with Macbook 12'', iPad Pro and the whole Windows bunch.

From the description you only get 5K over Thunderbolt.
Connect the UltraFine 5K Display to your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air via an included Thunderbolt 3 cable, which supports full 5K video, audio, and data simultaneously. Or connect the display to your MacBook or iPad Pro via an included USB-C cable, which supports stunning 4K video, audio, and data simultaneously.

So this isn't really a USB-C failure any more than plugging a USB-3 drive into a USB-A port and not getting USB-3 speeds is; and those, unlike USB-C and Thunderbolt, have the same shaped USB port.

 

[UBS28]

HDMI and ethernet are pretty much essential. The world doesn’t use thunderbolt displays like Apple wants you to believe. HDMI is the standard.

And ethernet is also required in case Wifi doesn’t work in an unknown enviroment.

 

[jz0309]

none of the listed ports should "return" other than of course USB-C/TB.
all the others listed are legacy and do not belong in a new 2021 release laptop/notebook

 

[UBS28]

Certain individuals making Windows 95 and floppy disk comparisons, telling other users to 'better not run companies', calling the majority of people 'whiners' and on the same time reporting my post - bravo! ?

So, stating this again:
- Success isn't solely defined by radical decisions ('remove all ports and just keep one type left to make it even thinner')
- Macbooks from 2016-2018 had been regarded as regression by most users and reviewers, compared to the 2015 and 2019
- Listening to the people called 'whiners' can help to improve products, the Macbook Pro 16" proved it

I certainly don't think VGA, RJ45 or FW800 are expected in the future Macbooks, and nobody requested the USB-C ports getting removed again, so there is no reason for any concern. The majority of people would agree though that adding back at least some useful ports, like Magsafe, SD, USB-A or HDMI would be beneficial for a Pro device that fulfills multiple users cases.

Yep, these new Macbook Pro’s are not progression, but a regression. I have a 2020 13” MBP and 2018 15” MBP and they are donglebooks.

I rather have my 2013 15” MBP updated with 2021 specs than any of these generation of MBP or DongleBooks.

 

[KPOM]

I can see a remote possibility for a card reader having a comeback, but not anything else. USB-A has been deprecated for years ago and it is not compatible with current USB standards. As to MagSafe... I am sure that the leakers have misinterpreted something. With MagSafe having been rebranded as a wireless charging technology last autumn, it would make zero sense to "revive" the old connector in any form or fashion. If "new" MagSafe comes to the Mac, it will most likely be a variant of the wireless charging, either for the laptop or for accessories.

But basically, given Apple's approach to design, I wold be VERY surprised if they suddenly reverse on the 20 years of functional minimalism and start offering an array of obsolete fixed-function ports.

I think “MagSafe” could also be a TB4-compatible cable with a magnetic break-off tip. There are dozens of charging-only cables and some with USB-C data on the market. An Apple-branded cable that provides TB4 would be popular and still allow plugging in the MacBook Pro from either side.

 

[darngooddesign]

I think “MagSafe” could also be a TB4-compatible cable with a magnetic break-off tip. There are dozens of charging-only cables and some with USB-C data on the market. An Apple-branded cable that provides TB4 would be popular and still allow plugging in the MacBook Pro from either side.

You could have that it just wouldn't be a port you could plug a USB-C cable in.

 

[Maconplasma]

USB-C fails because a USB-C port is not always compatible with a device that can be physically connected to it. That's also the case for the Mini DisplayPort connector.

Well that may have been your experience but I have a 16" MBP (now) but I also had 2017 and 2018 MBP's with Thunderbolt 3. I have multiple USB-C to xx-connector cables and nothing has failed to connect. My Blue Yetti microphone directly connects to my MacBook Pro via Mini USB to USB-C cable and it's perfect. I have two 8 year old external hard drives that I use a USB-C to mini USB cable to connect them to my 16" MBP and they worked instantly and mounted on the desktop with no special driver installs. The same goes for my Canon Office printer that I bought a USB-B to USB-C cable to connect to my MacBook Pro. The Mac instantly recognized it. Furthermore I bought a USB-C to HDMI cable to connect my MacBook Pro to my 64" Samsung Plasma TV. Connects with zero hassle. All my peripherals were purchased long before USB-C was introduced. So it's not a hit or miss when it comes to connecting external peripherals to the USB-C connectors on the Mac.

 

[senttoschool]

It's a really good thing you're not running Apple or any other big company in the tech industry. The tech world would be stuck in the past. You seem to think companies like Apple are just moving to the next generation in tech just for the sake of doing it and for no other good reason. By your logic there were billions of perfectly good floppy disks and accessories to run them so why bother with change? Also by your logic Windows 95 and MacOS 9 were perfectly good OS's with thousands of pieces of software running on them so why should Microsoft and Apple upgrade the OS's and lose software compatibility?
Tech cannot improve unless the industry makes changes and moves with them. You don't progress by leaving old ports and features just to satisfy the minority crowd of whiners.

First of all, I make product decisions for a very large real estate tech company. If you’ve looked up houses for sale online in the last 15 years, you used a product I made a ton of decisions on.

Second, you use extreme examples like floppy disks. Let’s be reasonable here. There’s tech better than USBC out there today. Why don’t we just deprecate USBC in 2021? Oh right, there’s more to adoption than superior tech.

Third, you make progress in tech industry by fulfilling a customer demand.

Lastly, as stated many many times in this forum now, USB-A is actually much more popular than USB-C today. So USB-C is actually the niche.

 

[Maconplasma]

I'll admit this adds some confusion to the "it just works" mantra. But still better than USB-A, where there issues even for low power devices.

I think people are either over-using or misunderstanding the Just Works mantra. That was introduced by Apple way back in the early days of Windows where people had trouble connecting nearly anything to a Windows computer without spending hours and days searching for reliable drivers. With the Mac a person could easily plug any peripheral and the Mac would already have drivers built into the OS or it automatically downloads them as it does today, at least for printers. That was how Apple sold the Mac over a Windows machine back in the day.

 

[Maconplasma]

First of all, I make product decisions for a very large real estate tech company. If you’ve looked up houses for sale online in the last 15 years, you used a product I made a ton of decisions on.

Second, you use extreme examples like floppy disks. Let’s be reasonable here. There’s tech better than USBC out there today. Why don’t we just deprecate USBC in 2021? Oh right, there’s more to adoption than superior tech.

Third, you make progress in tech industry by fulfilling a customer demand.

Lastly, as stated many many times in this forum now, USB-A is actually much more popular than USB-C today. So USB-C is actually the niche.

Thanks for your post and telling me about your job that I never asked you about. In terms of the rest of your post I'm glad you've convinced yourself. ?

 

[jeanlain]

Can you give an example of a USB-C peripheral which claimed MacOS support but didn't work when you plugged it into a Mac.

No, but that's not my point. All USB-C ports in current Macs are thunderbolt, but Apple is not going to put 6 thunderbolt ports on every iMac for instance. So should they use non-thunderbolt USB-C ports next to thunderbolt ports? That's where the confusion comes in and possibly part of the reason why iMacs still have USB-A ports.

 

[UltimateSyn]

MagSafe and USB-C are the only ports I really want. If it was going to get a third type I would prefer HDMI over USB-A/Ethernet/others.

 

[darngooddesign]

No, but that's not my point. All USB-C ports in current Macs are thunderbolt, but Apple is not going to put 6 thunderbolt ports on every iMac for instance. So should they use non-thunderbolt USB-C ports next to thunderbolt ports? That's where the confusion comes in and possibly part of the reason why iMacs still have USB-A ports.

USB-C may not have the throughput required for their 5K monitor which is why they require a Thunderbolt port and cable. But they re different shaped port so I don't see it as confusing, you only get 5K with a thunderbolt connect just as they said; this is different from the USBA/USB-3 example I gave where the port shape is the same.

 

[537635]

USB-C may not have the throughput required for their 5K monitor which is why they require a Thunderbolt port and cable. But they re different shaped port so I don't see it as confusing, you only get 5K with a thunderbolt connect just as they said; this is different from the USBA/USB-3 example I gave where the port shape is the same.

Thunderbolt 3 has USB-C connector. USB-C is a connector type. It can accomodate Thunderbolt, USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB Power Delivery and others.

 

[darngooddesign]

Thunderbolt 3 has USB-C connector. USB-C is a connector type. It can accomodate Thunderbolt, USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB Power Delivery and others.

USB-A is also a connector type, but not all USB-A ports support USB-3 speeds.

 

[537635]

USB-A is also a connector type, but not all USB-A ports support USB-3 speeds.

That's true.

But there is no such thing as Thunderbolt (3) port. It was for Thunderbolt 1 & 2 though.

And also NO USB-A connectors support USB 3.2.