5 ms·

> I mean, I get standardizing on USB-C only for peripherals, but I don't get it for power. * A dedicated power port takes up space; now you can use it for data

by Osmium 10y ago

> I mean, I get standardizing on USB-C only for peripherals, but I don't get it for power. * A dedicated power port takes up space; now you can use it for data too. * If a USB-C cable breaks, it's a lot cheaper to replace than an entire power brick. * There are ports on both sides of the laptop, so you can now charge from either side – this reduces cable strain. * And, as you say, it's a standard. As USB-C cords become ubiquitous, you'll be able to charge anywhere (or from a battery pack even). It seems like a good decision all told, though I'll miss MagSafe too.

pyrophane 10y ago
Griffin is already selling a usb-c cable with a MagSafe type feature: https://griffintechnology.com/us/products/cables/usb-c-cables/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-power-cable https://griffintechnology.com/us/products/cables/usb-c-cable...
- wineisfine 10y ago
  That's great from Griffin, kudos to them for doing this. And shame on Apple for dropping the ball. It's too bad we'll never know what would have happened under Jobs. What annoys me is that for example Lenovo has 30 notebook models... so how much effort would it have been for Apple to release a laptop that accommodates real professional users a little bit, with, say: a 5th laptop option?
  - grzm 10y ago
    I don't think it's a question of effort: it's a decision on the part of Apple to keep a minimal product line.
  - derefr 10y ago
    Apple's assumption (which is probably backed up by usage studies) seems to be that "real professional users" use their laptops portably, and use lots of weird ports, but almost never at the same time. So the laptop itself can be lighter to encourage that portability, while the ports can live on a dock at a desk (e.g. the Cinema Display, an older iMac, or that multi-port USB-C dongle that will probably just hang permanently off all the cables it's been joined to.) For those exceptions to the "almost" never—mostly IT people doing field support—they make a litany of adapters. Adapters make sense for this use-case: the target type of user already carries many in a "toolbox", and this is just adding on a few more. And don't forget the Mac Pro. Apple's own internal "real professional users" are, as far as I know, more likely to use a Mac Pro at their desks and then a MacBook for mobile portability—but they won't bother to try to do work with the MacBook that'd be better done on the Mac Pro. Which includes plugging strange peripherals into it.
    - huac 10y ago
      it'd be pretty helpful then to have an updated Mac Pro
- robhu 10y ago
  That's cool, but it's rated to 60W and I believe the 15" MBPs are 87W.
  - rwc 10y ago
    The 87W product is slated for February
jakobegger 10y ago
MagSafe is a product from a different era. It was invented at a time when you needed to be connected to power all the time because batteries didn't last long enough, laptops where mostly made from plastic, heavy, fragile, had spinning hard drives, and would immediately break when dropped. Today, I only charge my Macbook Pro at my desk, where there's no danger of accidental cable-yanking. A full charge easily lasts all day, so when I'm out it's never actually connected to anything. The aluminium unibody construction and solid state drives also make it a lot more sturdy. So when it does drop, chances are good it wont actually break. For these reasons, I don't think that Magsafe chargers are necessary anymore. And considering how expensive replacement Apple chargers are, I'm happy they're moving to an open standard!
- grzm 10y ago
  "Today, I only charge my Macbook at my desk, where there's no danger of accidental cable-yanking. A full charge easily lasts all day, so when I'm out it's never actually connected to anything." This is a good take. I hadn't thought of this argument before. It makes sense. I know I'm in the habit of keeping my laptop plugged in as much as possible for those times when I do need to rely on the battery. I generally get only half a day with my MBA (13" early 2015) running multiple JVMs, Mail, and Safari with lots of tabs. I do find I get better performance when I turn off WiFi and dim the screen. According to the tech specs, my laptop should get "Up to 12 hours wireless web". The 13" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar specs at "Up to 10 hours wireless web". I wonder if this means I'll get less unplugged time with the MBP.
  - dom96 10y ago
    > I know I'm in the habit of keeping my laptop plugged in as much as possible for those times when I do need to rely on the battery. I do this too. But also for another reason, I try to reduce battery usage to increase the lifetime of the battery. I should probably research whether this is something I should actually be concerned about (anyone any ideas?)
    - grzm 10y ago
jsz0 10y ago
IMO improved battery life and standby time have reduced the need for a feature like MagSafe. When you're charging less often it's easier to avoid charging in hostile conditions. The break away adapter seems like a good solution for the people who still need it.

by Osmium 10y ago

pyrophane 10y ago

Griffin is already selling a usb-c cable with a MagSafe type feature: https://griffintechnology.com/us/products/cables/usb-c-cables/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-power-cable https://griffintechnology.com/us/products/cables/usb-c-cable...

wineisfine 10y ago
That's great from Griffin, kudos to them for doing this. And shame on Apple for dropping the ball. It's too bad we'll never know what would have happened under Jobs. What annoys me is that for example Lenovo has 30 notebook models... so how much effort would it have been for Apple to release a laptop that accommodates real professional users a little bit, with, say: a 5th laptop option?
- grzm 10y ago
  I don't think it's a question of effort: it's a decision on the part of Apple to keep a minimal product line.
- derefr 10y ago
  Apple's assumption (which is probably backed up by usage studies) seems to be that "real professional users" use their laptops portably, and use lots of weird ports, but almost never at the same time. So the laptop itself can be lighter to encourage that portability, while the ports can live on a dock at a desk (e.g. the Cinema Display, an older iMac, or that multi-port USB-C dongle that will probably just hang permanently off all the cables it's been joined to.) For those exceptions to the "almost" never—mostly IT people doing field support—they make a litany of adapters. Adapters make sense for this use-case: the target type of user already carries many in a "toolbox", and this is just adding on a few more. And don't forget the Mac Pro. Apple's own internal "real professional users" are, as far as I know, more likely to use a Mac Pro at their desks and then a MacBook for mobile portability—but they won't bother to try to do work with the MacBook that'd be better done on the Mac Pro. Which includes plugging strange peripherals into it.
  - huac 10y ago
    it'd be pretty helpful then to have an updated Mac Pro
robhu 10y ago
That's cool, but it's rated to 60W and I believe the 15" MBPs are 87W.
- rwc 10y ago
  The 87W product is slated for February

jakobegger 10y ago

MagSafe is a product from a different era. It was invented at a time when you needed to be connected to power all the time because batteries didn't last long enough, laptops where mostly made from plastic, heavy, fragile, had spinning hard drives, and would immediately break when dropped. Today, I only charge my Macbook Pro at my desk, where there's no danger of accidental cable-yanking. A full charge easily lasts all day, so when I'm out it's never actually connected to anything. The aluminium unibody construction and solid state drives also make it a lot more sturdy. So when it does drop, chances are good it wont actually break. For these reasons, I don't think that Magsafe chargers are necessary anymore. And considering how expensive replacement Apple chargers are, I'm happy they're moving to an open standard!

grzm 10y ago
"Today, I only charge my Macbook at my desk, where there's no danger of accidental cable-yanking. A full charge easily lasts all day, so when I'm out it's never actually connected to anything." This is a good take. I hadn't thought of this argument before. It makes sense. I know I'm in the habit of keeping my laptop plugged in as much as possible for those times when I do need to rely on the battery. I generally get only half a day with my MBA (13" early 2015) running multiple JVMs, Mail, and Safari with lots of tabs. I do find I get better performance when I turn off WiFi and dim the screen. According to the tech specs, my laptop should get "Up to 12 hours wireless web". The 13" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar specs at "Up to 10 hours wireless web". I wonder if this means I'll get less unplugged time with the MBP.
- dom96 10y ago
  > I know I'm in the habit of keeping my laptop plugged in as much as possible for those times when I do need to rely on the battery. I do this too. But also for another reason, I try to reduce battery usage to increase the lifetime of the battery. I should probably research whether this is something I should actually be concerned about (anyone any ideas?)
  - grzm 10y ago

jsz0 10y ago

IMO improved battery life and standby time have reduced the need for a feature like MagSafe. When you're charging less often it's easier to avoid charging in hostile conditions. The break away adapter seems like a good solution for the people who still need it.