Using USB-C wasn't the problem. The real problem is - they put only one port there. You cannot charge while you are connected to an HDMI projector / external HDD or a pen-drive.
But the latest Google Chromebook "Pixel" has two USB-C ports on either sides of the device.
But if I have external storage plugged in (I'm copying a large file), and I need to charge the laptop, then I need to disconnect the drive in order to charge the laptop?
There are countless examples where daisy-chaining these devices becomes very inconvenient.
Why would you ever start the copy without plugging in first? One answer is that a plug isn't handy, but it starts to become a rare scenario when you want to copy a huge file, don't have ample battery and plugging in first isn't convenient.
(I continue to suggest not buying computers with 1 port as a great solution to the problem)
Is checking your battery status before you start doing something, a usual occurrence in your usage? It isn't for me, and I'm sure it's something I would adapt to do, but in the mean time, it's an inconvenience.
For instance, I often work outside and keep my charger at my desk inside. Sometimes I'll start something, check in on it in 10-15 minutes, see its going to take a while to complete, then go plug the machine in, inside, if it's going to take a while.
Sure, it's not something that can't be overcome (I'm not suggesting it is), but the need to check my battery (and to remember to check my battery) before doing something is an unnecessary inconvenience.
It's almost like I'm saying how wonderful the magsafe connector is for when I trip over the cable, and your response is "well, you don't need that—just don't trip over the cable". Sure, I don't need it, but it's just better with it.
Look at my first comment. I objected to you calling something that is less convenient than you would like "very inconvenient". We don't have to agree about the "very", it probably isn't worth any more attention from either of us.
By limiting the number of ports they were able to make it even thinner than the Macbook Air. While it can be disturbing not to have multiple port, you will be able to charge and connect an HDMI BUT... you will need an (expensive) adaptator from Apple or a (hopefully cheap) from another manufacturer.
As all our stuff is held in the cloud - which I dislike very much - less and less stuff we want to connect to our machine.
A few years back it was so annoying when they started to get rid of optical drives, but now nobody misses it. Soon we wont give a rats ass about USB as well. Especially on laptops, because on a desktop you will still need it for a few peripherals. But on a laptop where everything is built in...
My opinion is, that magsafe was awesome. I hate having everything in the cloud.
And yes, these guys will do whatever they want. Because 98% of their customer base don't give a damn and even if they do, they will still buy it, because of brand loyalty and other reasons.
The only times I see most people with MacBook Airs have an issue is when they swap files on thumbdrives or need to download photos. The average (non-techie) user still isn't tech-savvy enough for Dropbox, AirDrop, etc. to swap files.
Then if they have a DSLR, they still need an SD card reader. (Surprising how often they don't even know what that is.) Even if they have an iPhone full of photos, getting them to their MacBook Air is beyond most users. Apple really should just blow out the amount of included space for iCloud photos and make sync easier.
I really hope Apple isn't going to make this a trend across their line, and that others don't follow suit. That said, given that they made it a "new" line, I think it may have a place. e.g. for some moderate to high percentage of people that use a laptop they rarely or never plug anything into it. And those same people are usually the ones on the go a lot, so this might really have a good fit for those people (e.g. weight savings and super thin).
For developers it is IMO a horrible fit; however, for traveling sales force it might be a decent fit, especially with so many Projectors being WiFi and more businesses now have Airplay available (this one shocked me but it is nice).
I am far from a Apple fan boy, in fact it took me a forever to purchase a Macbook pro, but I will say it has been one of the nicest pieces of hardware I have owned. That said, I also still own and love my Toshiba laptop too as it is a power house and was easy to upgrade and expand.
> I really hope Apple isn't going to make this a trend across their line
This model is a shot across the bow from Apple, but this model also isn't intended for programmers and IT professionals. It's meant for grandparents and a "lay about the house as needed" computer for (currently, rich) people. Apple differentiates things with a Pro line on purpose.
The original MacBook Air had a serious lack of ports and that didn't really trend across their line. It did not come with an Ethernet port, which instilled some major, major outrage. But since then, some of those bowshots have gained a foothold in the industry.
I have a MacBook Pro, and now it doesn't have a built-in Ethernet jack. But it's not a big deal at this point. Even as a network engineer, I only pull out my TBolt Ethernet adapter a couple times a week. The end effect is that I have less cables to deal with on a daily basis and I'm more mobile. I can plop down anywhere at work, open the laptop, get on wireless, and get chucked onto my special VLAN. This is way better than before.
Yep, I can see your points. My MacBook Pro is slightly older so I still have a ethernet port, but I can't remember the last time I plugged it in so its basically a waste of space. So it makes sense they are really looking at what's used etc.
Where I get nervous is things like USB, if you blow out one port you are ok if you have 2-3, but if you only have 1 its a bad day. Not that this is some regular or common occurrence, and typically I use a hub when connecting custom hardware, but it would suck if something failed and it blew out my only port on a machine. Hence my reason for hoping they keep the Pro series a little more flexible.
I imagine that when monitors with USB-C hubs start being released, the one-port hassles will be reduced --particularly if the hubs include Ethernet ports and device charging-- at least for a significant percentage of developers.
Agreed, but I personally would still prefer external hub versus one built into a monitor or other piece of hardware. Just because when you do custom hardware work, it is not totally unreasonable that a USB port might get taken out by someone wiring something wrong. Having it be integrated to a $1000 monitor would make me want to hurt someone, having it in a $5-20 hub I wouldn't really care as much.
But for the average person not doing that type of work, your right a simple hub in the monitor is an easy and fairly elegant solution. Effectively a docking station would also be a simple solution as likely the extra ports are not needed when on the go most of the time.
The only positive I can think of is if there is an easy to plug in hub with thunderbolt/hdmi out along with a few usb-c ports that would allow me to use one plug when setting up with my external monitor and timemachine drive. Then I'd be ok with one plug.
It would be nice to have one on each side and avoid having to purchase/use a hub. And be able to plug in on either side to charge.
Because most folks don't use more than a port at a time. Stroll through a university campus and you'll notice that most folks with a Macbook pro/air aren't using even 1 port (the charger) as the battery life has gotten good enough such that you can charge in your dorm and then be good for mixed use throughout the day.
I remember how much pushback there was about getting rid of the CD drive too, but the truth was they weren't being used that much anymore anyway.
I feel on the one hand, they could have retained both ports and the retina screen.
On the same token, you want to increase the legacy of a market driven product line. Correct me if I'm wrong here but you want to "intentionally" flaw the product to provide room for improvement on the next generation.
I'm sure the Product Dev. team has an idea on their pipeline as to what the 5th generation should look like and what their prospective specs are for the 6th generation product after the 5th is finally locked down for confirmation.
30 comments
[ 4.6 ms ] story [ 66.7 ms ] threadBut the latest Google Chromebook "Pixel" has two USB-C ports on either sides of the device.
I hear this repeated a lot but I don't believe it is true. You could either:
1) Connect to a monitor or other USB-C peripheral that supports sending power down USB-C, or
2) Use an adaptor that exposes HDMI or USB3, and also provides a USB-C passthrough like:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av...
I realise that it is inconvenient, but I think its misleading to repeat the same inaccuracy over and over.
But if I have external storage plugged in (I'm copying a large file), and I need to charge the laptop, then I need to disconnect the drive in order to charge the laptop?
There are countless examples where daisy-chaining these devices becomes very inconvenient.
I don't really get the vision behind 1 port, but I don't get the angst either (not buying things is pretty easy).
(I continue to suggest not buying computers with 1 port as a great solution to the problem)
For instance, I often work outside and keep my charger at my desk inside. Sometimes I'll start something, check in on it in 10-15 minutes, see its going to take a while to complete, then go plug the machine in, inside, if it's going to take a while.
Sure, it's not something that can't be overcome (I'm not suggesting it is), but the need to check my battery (and to remember to check my battery) before doing something is an unnecessary inconvenience.
It's almost like I'm saying how wonderful the magsafe connector is for when I trip over the cable, and your response is "well, you don't need that—just don't trip over the cable". Sure, I don't need it, but it's just better with it.
Source: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/176001/how-does-usb...
My opinion is, that magsafe was awesome. I hate having everything in the cloud.
And yes, these guys will do whatever they want. Because 98% of their customer base don't give a damn and even if they do, they will still buy it, because of brand loyalty and other reasons.
The only times I see most people with MacBook Airs have an issue is when they swap files on thumbdrives or need to download photos. The average (non-techie) user still isn't tech-savvy enough for Dropbox, AirDrop, etc. to swap files.
Then if they have a DSLR, they still need an SD card reader. (Surprising how often they don't even know what that is.) Even if they have an iPhone full of photos, getting them to their MacBook Air is beyond most users. Apple really should just blow out the amount of included space for iCloud photos and make sync easier.
For developers it is IMO a horrible fit; however, for traveling sales force it might be a decent fit, especially with so many Projectors being WiFi and more businesses now have Airplay available (this one shocked me but it is nice).
I am far from a Apple fan boy, in fact it took me a forever to purchase a Macbook pro, but I will say it has been one of the nicest pieces of hardware I have owned. That said, I also still own and love my Toshiba laptop too as it is a power house and was easy to upgrade and expand.
This model is a shot across the bow from Apple, but this model also isn't intended for programmers and IT professionals. It's meant for grandparents and a "lay about the house as needed" computer for (currently, rich) people. Apple differentiates things with a Pro line on purpose.
The original MacBook Air had a serious lack of ports and that didn't really trend across their line. It did not come with an Ethernet port, which instilled some major, major outrage. But since then, some of those bowshots have gained a foothold in the industry.
I have a MacBook Pro, and now it doesn't have a built-in Ethernet jack. But it's not a big deal at this point. Even as a network engineer, I only pull out my TBolt Ethernet adapter a couple times a week. The end effect is that I have less cables to deal with on a daily basis and I'm more mobile. I can plop down anywhere at work, open the laptop, get on wireless, and get chucked onto my special VLAN. This is way better than before.
Where I get nervous is things like USB, if you blow out one port you are ok if you have 2-3, but if you only have 1 its a bad day. Not that this is some regular or common occurrence, and typically I use a hub when connecting custom hardware, but it would suck if something failed and it blew out my only port on a machine. Hence my reason for hoping they keep the Pro series a little more flexible.
But for the average person not doing that type of work, your right a simple hub in the monitor is an easy and fairly elegant solution. Effectively a docking station would also be a simple solution as likely the extra ports are not needed when on the go most of the time.
- They giveth Retina
- They taketh ports
It would be nice to have one on each side and avoid having to purchase/use a hub. And be able to plug in on either side to charge.
I remember how much pushback there was about getting rid of the CD drive too, but the truth was they weren't being used that much anymore anyway.
I feel on the one hand, they could have retained both ports and the retina screen.
On the same token, you want to increase the legacy of a market driven product line. Correct me if I'm wrong here but you want to "intentionally" flaw the product to provide room for improvement on the next generation.
I'm sure the Product Dev. team has an idea on their pipeline as to what the 5th generation should look like and what their prospective specs are for the 6th generation product after the 5th is finally locked down for confirmation.