11 ms·

I'll even dispute the "widespread developer backlash" -- it looks good to me, and this reception seems no different from the reception to previous Apple product

I'll even dispute the "widespread developer backlash" -- it looks good to me, and this reception seems no different from the reception to previous Apple products that broke with the past (no floppy drive, USB for keyboard & mouse, etc.) It's temporarily painful, but USB C seems like a tremendous improvement, and 4 full ports is mighty.

DigitalJack 10y ago
I'm inclined to agree with you, but I sure will miss the magsafe. I knock mine out at least once or twice a week. Maybe someone will make a USB-C cable with a magnetic breakaway in the middle.
- unprepare 10y ago
  you can already find those on amazon fyi https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=magnetic+usb+c https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...
  - hinkley 10y ago
    What I really want is a dongle that lets me use my existing magsafe bricks with the new MBP. Is there one of those coming?
    - tim333 10y ago
      There's a cheap Chinese one on Amazon but apparently it doesn't work properly https://www.amazon.com/HIOTECH-MagSafe-Adapter-Converter-Connector/dp/B0167WMHP0 https://www.amazon.com/HIOTECH-MagSafe-Adapter-Converter-Con...
      - FireBeyond 10y ago
        Sounds exactly like something I want to plug into my brand new up-to-$4K laptop...
      - jrcii 10y ago
        This looks a little more promising https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQTK6GU/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQTK6GU/
      - hinkley 10y ago
        The other guys managed to design one with a < 3mm profile. It should be possible, shouldn't it? The big problem would be with the voltage. But it looks like the USB-3.1 spec supports 20 volts (same as the 85W brick that comes with high end MBPs), and the mac power bricks only send 3-7V until they've had a handshake with the computer. So it seems at least within the realm of physics that you could make a dongle about the size of the old magsafe-1 to magsafe-2 adapter...
  - gknoy 10y ago
    Wow, that's cool. There are apparently ones for micro USB, which means that ... I can have a magsafe adapter for my phone. I might have to buy one, as my kids destroyed the last charger they tried to unplug from my phone.
    - seanp2k2 10y ago
      Now they just need to get USB-C on the next iPhone, and everyone will complain that Lightning was fine. They should have done USB-C from the beginning for lightning, but it wasn't ready yet (and still really isn't in terms of ecosystem and standardization in practice).
      - eltoozero 10y ago
        > USB-C on the next iPhone Not gonna happen, iOS devices are Apple devices. The best you can hope for is a short 1st party lightning to USB-C female, but this probably won't happen for a while as USB-C spec requires ANYTHING with a receptacle to talk to the thing on the other end.
      - AlphaSite 10y ago
        USBc was a response to lighting, so that would be difficult.
  - inopinatus 10y ago
    Please do not recommend the Griffin product for the MacBook Pro. It is not rated for 87W.
    - bri3d 10y ago
      Shouldn't it negotiate with the Source using its Cable Identifier and simply provide 60W (20V @ 3A) maximum to the MBP? So a slow charge, but not dangerous? Has anyone tested this scenario in real life? I'd imagine that if the machine is idle, 60W would at least provide break-even, and in sleep, should be able to charge it. But that's assuming that the identity negotiation works properly with this hardware combination.
    - bartvk 10y ago
      I haven't calculated it, but I don't see that laptop consume more than 60W. Unless you've got all CPU and GPU cores blazing, and one or more devices quick-charging. And then it'll temporarily dip into the battery.
    - unprepare 10y ago
      I wasnt trying to recommend a specific product, which is why i linked to the search rather than a specific product page. I havent used any of them so wouldnt feel comfortable recommending any individual model
- mpweiher 10y ago
  While I haven't tried it yet, as far as I can tell the USB-C connectors have a lot less friction than other connectors, so maybe magsafe is just simply less necessary now?
  - hartator 10y ago
    Less friction?
aarpmcgee 10y ago
Personally, as a developer, I also have no trouble whatsoever with the new macbook pro. shrug
thescriptkiddie 10y ago
Four ports is not enough. If you plug in three displays and a charger, they're all taken already. At the very least a fifth port for a usb hub, or a usb hub integrated into the charger, should have been included.
- stephenr 10y ago
  You expect to have four usb-c/tb3 displays, but none of them to provide power to your laptop? If you want a hub, plug in a usb-c hub that provides power and it will power the laptop. Do people even read about how things work before they make up crazy scenarios to justify their outrage?
- pg_is_a_butt 10y ago
  i know, right? i already plugged in 4 keyboards... WHY AREN'T THERE MORE PORTS?!
- purerandomness 10y ago
  If you plug in three displays, why would you get a portable laptop in the first place?
  - hatchoo 10y ago
    Because one may occasionally needs to also bring it out? You have the option of "docking" a portable but you will never be able to conveniently lug along something like a desktop unless you carry some display device along with it.
- mikestew 10y ago
  If you plug in three displays and a charger... ...then you're the kind of person that has no problem plugging all of that stuff into a hub so that you only have one cable to connect. It's a made-up problem with an easy solution that is arguably the only correct solution. If Apple put five ports on there, I suspect your imaginary scenario would then involve four displays.
  - 10y ago
qyv 10y ago
USB type-C/Thunderbolt 3 is a fantastic technology, but I guarantee you that USB type-A devices will still be around by the time these new USBC-only MBP's are replaced. Embracing the future at the expense of the present is not innovative or courageous, it is intentionally designed to sell more accessories.
- apetrovic 10y ago
  Oh, come on. Just a quick search "usb c to usb a" on Amazon gives lots of options. This [1] is two compact adapters for $8. Buy couple of these, put it on every cable you're using and you're golden. [1] https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapter-MacBook-Google-OnePlus/dp/B01AUKU1OO/ https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapter-MacBook-Google-OnePlus/...
  - qyv 10y ago
    That's not the point. Here is what you can say about USB-A: * Ubiquitous; it is literally everywhere on this planet * Extremely cheap, reliable and easy to use * Not actually a competitor to USB-C/TB3 * Does not prevent the inclusion of USB-C/TB3 * Does not present packaging or legacy support issues USB-C/TB3 is a great technology and I wouldn't want to buy a system without at least one port, but it is NOT a replacement for USB-A yet. USB-A will continue to be the most prevalent peripheral connector for long after these new MBP's are retired. I will add: USB-C/TB3 is not exactly easy to use at this point. The convenience of using that same port for both protocols (TB3 and USB3.1) is introducing confusion. Not every USB-C port/peripheral is also a TB3 port/peripheral, this includes adapters and dongles. Additionally, the power options of USB-C/TB3 add another wrinkle: what hubs/docks/devices can provide enough power to charge specific devices? Not to mention that the current crop of USB-C/TB3 accessories don't always 'just work'[1]. Hopefully this will get better, but again it is not going to displace USB-A for a long, long time. [1] http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/reviews/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/reviews/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital...
  - EugeneOZ 10y ago
    Pay for new shiny ports and then pay for cheap adapters to make ports less new and less handy and less portable, but usable. Awesome idea.

DigitalJack 10y ago

I'm inclined to agree with you, but I sure will miss the magsafe. I knock mine out at least once or twice a week. Maybe someone will make a USB-C cable with a magnetic breakaway in the middle.

unprepare 10y ago
you can already find those on amazon fyi https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=magnetic+usb+c https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...
- hinkley 10y ago
  What I really want is a dongle that lets me use my existing magsafe bricks with the new MBP. Is there one of those coming?
  - tim333 10y ago
    There's a cheap Chinese one on Amazon but apparently it doesn't work properly https://www.amazon.com/HIOTECH-MagSafe-Adapter-Converter-Connector/dp/B0167WMHP0 https://www.amazon.com/HIOTECH-MagSafe-Adapter-Converter-Con...
    - FireBeyond 10y ago
      Sounds exactly like something I want to plug into my brand new up-to-$4K laptop...
    - jrcii 10y ago
      This looks a little more promising https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQTK6GU/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQTK6GU/
    - hinkley 10y ago
      The other guys managed to design one with a < 3mm profile. It should be possible, shouldn't it? The big problem would be with the voltage. But it looks like the USB-3.1 spec supports 20 volts (same as the 85W brick that comes with high end MBPs), and the mac power bricks only send 3-7V until they've had a handshake with the computer. So it seems at least within the realm of physics that you could make a dongle about the size of the old magsafe-1 to magsafe-2 adapter...
- gknoy 10y ago
  Wow, that's cool. There are apparently ones for micro USB, which means that ... I can have a magsafe adapter for my phone. I might have to buy one, as my kids destroyed the last charger they tried to unplug from my phone.
  - seanp2k2 10y ago
    Now they just need to get USB-C on the next iPhone, and everyone will complain that Lightning was fine. They should have done USB-C from the beginning for lightning, but it wasn't ready yet (and still really isn't in terms of ecosystem and standardization in practice).
    - eltoozero 10y ago
      > USB-C on the next iPhone Not gonna happen, iOS devices are Apple devices. The best you can hope for is a short 1st party lightning to USB-C female, but this probably won't happen for a while as USB-C spec requires ANYTHING with a receptacle to talk to the thing on the other end.
    - AlphaSite 10y ago
      USBc was a response to lighting, so that would be difficult.
- inopinatus 10y ago
  Please do not recommend the Griffin product for the MacBook Pro. It is not rated for 87W.
  - bri3d 10y ago
    Shouldn't it negotiate with the Source using its Cable Identifier and simply provide 60W (20V @ 3A) maximum to the MBP? So a slow charge, but not dangerous? Has anyone tested this scenario in real life? I'd imagine that if the machine is idle, 60W would at least provide break-even, and in sleep, should be able to charge it. But that's assuming that the identity negotiation works properly with this hardware combination.
  - bartvk 10y ago
    I haven't calculated it, but I don't see that laptop consume more than 60W. Unless you've got all CPU and GPU cores blazing, and one or more devices quick-charging. And then it'll temporarily dip into the battery.
  - unprepare 10y ago
    I wasnt trying to recommend a specific product, which is why i linked to the search rather than a specific product page. I havent used any of them so wouldnt feel comfortable recommending any individual model
mpweiher 10y ago
While I haven't tried it yet, as far as I can tell the USB-C connectors have a lot less friction than other connectors, so maybe magsafe is just simply less necessary now?
- hartator 10y ago
  Less friction?

aarpmcgee 10y ago

Personally, as a developer, I also have no trouble whatsoever with the new macbook pro. shrug

thescriptkiddie 10y ago

Four ports is not enough. If you plug in three displays and a charger, they're all taken already. At the very least a fifth port for a usb hub, or a usb hub integrated into the charger, should have been included.

stephenr 10y ago
You expect to have four usb-c/tb3 displays, but none of them to provide power to your laptop? If you want a hub, plug in a usb-c hub that provides power and it will power the laptop. Do people even read about how things work before they make up crazy scenarios to justify their outrage?
pg_is_a_butt 10y ago
i know, right? i already plugged in 4 keyboards... WHY AREN'T THERE MORE PORTS?!
purerandomness 10y ago
If you plug in three displays, why would you get a portable laptop in the first place?
- hatchoo 10y ago
  Because one may occasionally needs to also bring it out? You have the option of "docking" a portable but you will never be able to conveniently lug along something like a desktop unless you carry some display device along with it.
mikestew 10y ago
If you plug in three displays and a charger... ...then you're the kind of person that has no problem plugging all of that stuff into a hub so that you only have one cable to connect. It's a made-up problem with an easy solution that is arguably the only correct solution. If Apple put five ports on there, I suspect your imaginary scenario would then involve four displays.
- 10y ago

qyv 10y ago

USB type-C/Thunderbolt 3 is a fantastic technology, but I guarantee you that USB type-A devices will still be around by the time these new USBC-only MBP's are replaced. Embracing the future at the expense of the present is not innovative or courageous, it is intentionally designed to sell more accessories.

apetrovic 10y ago
Oh, come on. Just a quick search "usb c to usb a" on Amazon gives lots of options. This [1] is two compact adapters for $8. Buy couple of these, put it on every cable you're using and you're golden. [1] https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapter-MacBook-Google-OnePlus/dp/B01AUKU1OO/ https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapter-MacBook-Google-OnePlus/...
- qyv 10y ago
  That's not the point. Here is what you can say about USB-A: * Ubiquitous; it is literally everywhere on this planet * Extremely cheap, reliable and easy to use * Not actually a competitor to USB-C/TB3 * Does not prevent the inclusion of USB-C/TB3 * Does not present packaging or legacy support issues USB-C/TB3 is a great technology and I wouldn't want to buy a system without at least one port, but it is NOT a replacement for USB-A yet. USB-A will continue to be the most prevalent peripheral connector for long after these new MBP's are retired. I will add: USB-C/TB3 is not exactly easy to use at this point. The convenience of using that same port for both protocols (TB3 and USB3.1) is introducing confusion. Not every USB-C port/peripheral is also a TB3 port/peripheral, this includes adapters and dongles. Additionally, the power options of USB-C/TB3 add another wrinkle: what hubs/docks/devices can provide enough power to charge specific devices? Not to mention that the current crop of USB-C/TB3 accessories don't always 'just work'[1]. Hopefully this will get better, but again it is not going to displace USB-A for a long, long time. [1] http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/reviews/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/reviews/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital...
- EugeneOZ 10y ago
  Pay for new shiny ports and then pay for cheap adapters to make ports less new and less handy and less portable, but usable. Awesome idea.