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Minor correction, but it's the Macbook with one port, not the Air. The Air that is still available has two USB and one Thunderbolt port + an SD slot and the Mag
by csydas 10y ago
Minor correction, but it's the Macbook with one port, not the Air. The Air that is still available has two USB and one Thunderbolt port + an SD slot and the Magsafe connector and so on.
And quite honestly, the single port Macbook isn't a completely horrible idea, Apple is just trying to push a new standard like they always do. It's an entry level computer that does just the basics. How many peripherals are necessary on a computer with those specs? You certainly can't do any games on it, most printers nowadays have a wireless function to connect to, it has Apple's trackpad which is pretty darn good for navigation, else it has Bluetooth for external mice, which can be had for very cheap now with good performance.
I'm all for more options; I don't have a Macbook because my old 2012 Macbook Air feels about right to me in terms of minimalist form with enough function to still do what I want. But I can see how you'd work with a Macbook without running into issues with the port. The majority of the time I use my laptop is just having it plugged in, or I have it when I'm traveling and don't want a bunch of stuff plugged in anyways.
Apple's idea isn't far off from how most people use the laptop.
- SomeStupidPoint 10y agoI like being able to plug in a thumbdrive without mucking about with my power cable. Or plug in to a monitor without mucking about with my power cable. Or... Just about anything, really. I don't get the choice of a single port over 2 or 3, besides they wanted to push a "unified" (read: confusing) standard but didn't have the board room to operate 2+ of the ports (eg, if they had two, you probably couldn't charge from both).
- simonh 10y agoThen get an Air or a Pro. Or a Dell, or a Lenovo. There are these things called market segments. For some people the MacBook is a great design. For others, it isn't. No developers were harmed in the making of this laptop.
- imron 10y ago> Then get an Air or a Pro. Or a Dell, or a Lenovo Exactly! And that's the entire premise of the original article, people who used to be highly satisfied Apple customers are leaving for other, more suitable hardware after feeling that Apple is neglecting their needs.
- SomeStupidPoint 10y agoI did. And steered others to do similar, because I don't want to have to troubleshoot the USB-C mess for friends and family. It won't make or break Apple, but that's 3 or 4 less laptops they've sold. And I don't think I'm the only one making that choice.
- willtim 10y agoHaving only a single port on one side is indeed a horrible idea; and the MacBook is in no way an entry-level machine (at well over a thousand dollars). Try and step out of the RDF.
- csydas 10y agoI'm not really sure why it's automatically reality distorting when the majority of my use time with my current laptop that has more ports than the newest MacBook is almost exactly in line with apple's idea with the single port. My needs certainly aren't everyone's, and I've never claimed as such. But really, with the specs on the current MacBooks what else are you going to be doing besides Facebook and some movies? I'm not even confident it can play some high quality YouTube videos much less higher quality rips. With the price, this is how they've always operated; their initial adopters always pay a premium to be first, and the second or third iteration is accompanied with a price drop and design changes to address initial complaints. The MacBook Air gen1 was filled with issues. The update handled all of these pretty gloriously.
- nicky0 10y agoHaving a MacBook myself, I haven't found any problem only having one port. It's an excellent computer in general use, and very portable. But I agree it's not at all entry level, this is a a luxury computer. It's an exceptionally well made machine. Their best product IMO. It's not for everyone, sure. But it's great for me.
- adrianN 10y agoAn entry level computer that provides just the basics... for 1300 dollars.