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Intentionally omitting a USB-C port kind of reveals how petty microsoft is being. Deciding to omit backtracks from a nice universal standard presumably to inten

Intentionally omitting a USB-C port kind of reveals how petty microsoft is being. Deciding to omit backtracks from a nice universal standard presumably to intentionally hinder Apple who put all there chips in it. Now accessory manufacturers (thumb drives, displays, etc) are forced to support older ports now longer, potentially forever, until MS adopts. Lest we forget, the dream that was USB-C was that we wouldn’t need half a dozen different cords and adapters to connect things, we could just use one port for everything. Sure dongles are slightly worse than cords, but one cord for everything is the best solution. So Mac users need dongles now, but MS is like “fuck that, give people what they immediately want and screw the future”.

ocdtrekkie 9y ago
Most people will have replaced their new Surface Pro long before they actually need a USB Type-C port. Apple chooses to act against it's own customers' interests by rushing to new ports and requiring they buy all new hardware. This will be the third generation of Surface Pro that does not require any new accessories. If I end up buying the new one (which I might for the built-in LTE), I won't have to buy a new type cover, pen, dock, or spare chargers. Everything is compatible. In my car I keep a Mini-DP video adapter, a portable DVD-RW drive, and an Ethernet adapter, all are USB Type-A, and all would still work with the new Surface Pro. Consider how much loathing I hear from Mac fans about Apple taking away MagSafe. Why would Microsoft do that to their Surface customers? This is Microsoft making a pro-consumer decision.
- marricks 9y ago
  Heck man, I didn’t say take away anything, just add USB-C. Perhaps take away a USB 3 port for it or something. They’re now making a stink about “People who love USB-C love dongles. so we have a dongle for you” so it seems like they’re going after the standard intentionally for short term gains.
  - ocdtrekkie 9y ago
    ...It only has one USB 3 port. The one everyone uses. The dongle method makes sense. People using USB-C right now, are indeed pretty used to dongles. And by offering a SurfaceConnect to USB-C dongle, they'll let you use your USB-C charger... while still having the full benefits of a magnetic charging port that won't yank your tablet off the desk if someone trips over the cable.
- dmix 9y ago
  My phone (Nexus 6p) uses USB-C and my GF's laptop uses USB-C (Macbook). I really don't see the problem with using USB-C in mid-2017. There are plenty of products out these days which use it. The key difference is that these products all purchased early last were all in the early adopter or luxury category. Surface Pro in mid-2017 should very obviously use USB-C. It fits in both luxury/pro categories. But even beyond that I could see the incentive to use it regardless, just based on it being the future interface for all devices.
- ovao 9y ago
  > Apple chooses to act against it's own customers' interests by rushing to new ports and requiring they buy all new hardware. I just moved to a 2016 MacBook Pro and the only "all new hardware" I've purchased is a pair of $10 adapters. I haven't replaced any of the hardware I already own, because I don't need to. I can only really criticize Apple for not including an adapter or two, and for not including more than two USB-C ports on the base 13" MBP. The latter's really pretty regrettable.
  - ocdtrekkie 9y ago
    Similar to your MacBook, you will be able to get adapters for the Surface Pro for your USB-C needs! They included the ports people use the most, and will support adapters for those of you who need less popular ports.
    - marricks 9y ago
      AKA, we don't care about the future, cater to what people want now. I guarantee most people would be thrilled with one cable for everything, making a step towards that halfway through 2017 seems reasonable...
      - ocdtrekkie 9y ago
        I am willing to bet you're still going to see USB 2.0 ports on desktop PCs in 2025. (Most come with at least a pair of non-3.0 ports today.) Some computers still ship with DB9 and DB25 ports today. VGA is still one of the most common video ports, and a lot of brand new PCs and monitors come with them to ensure people have compatibility with whatever PCs and monitors they already own. USB Type-C is nice in theory, but even if you assume they get all the compatibility issues with it worked out, we're gonna be using USB Type-A for many years to come. Type-C only accessories being common is a really long way away, and you'll have replaced your Surface Pro by then. This is an excellent explanation of USB Type-C: https://xkcd.com/927/ https://xkcd.com/927/ (That isn't to say that USB Type-C is bad, but pretending we're all moving over to it in 2017 is silly.)
    - ovao 9y ago
ovao 9y ago
Although it's odd, I suspect it's more a reaction to USB-C blowback than a conscious decision to harm Apple. These days, Microsoft is not generally one for going out of their way to put the pain on Apple. Besides, Microsoft's products occupy only a portion of the PC hardware market, and several vendors have USB-C products out now. If it slows adoption of USB-C products, I think the effect will be fairly negligible.

ocdtrekkie 9y ago

Most people will have replaced their new Surface Pro long before they actually need a USB Type-C port. Apple chooses to act against it's own customers' interests by rushing to new ports and requiring they buy all new hardware. This will be the third generation of Surface Pro that does not require any new accessories. If I end up buying the new one (which I might for the built-in LTE), I won't have to buy a new type cover, pen, dock, or spare chargers. Everything is compatible. In my car I keep a Mini-DP video adapter, a portable DVD-RW drive, and an Ethernet adapter, all are USB Type-A, and all would still work with the new Surface Pro. Consider how much loathing I hear from Mac fans about Apple taking away MagSafe. Why would Microsoft do that to their Surface customers? This is Microsoft making a pro-consumer decision.

marricks 9y ago
Heck man, I didn’t say take away anything, just add USB-C. Perhaps take away a USB 3 port for it or something. They’re now making a stink about “People who love USB-C love dongles. so we have a dongle for you” so it seems like they’re going after the standard intentionally for short term gains.
- ocdtrekkie 9y ago
  ...It only has one USB 3 port. The one everyone uses. The dongle method makes sense. People using USB-C right now, are indeed pretty used to dongles. And by offering a SurfaceConnect to USB-C dongle, they'll let you use your USB-C charger... while still having the full benefits of a magnetic charging port that won't yank your tablet off the desk if someone trips over the cable.
dmix 9y ago
My phone (Nexus 6p) uses USB-C and my GF's laptop uses USB-C (Macbook). I really don't see the problem with using USB-C in mid-2017. There are plenty of products out these days which use it. The key difference is that these products all purchased early last were all in the early adopter or luxury category. Surface Pro in mid-2017 should very obviously use USB-C. It fits in both luxury/pro categories. But even beyond that I could see the incentive to use it regardless, just based on it being the future interface for all devices.
ovao 9y ago
> Apple chooses to act against it's own customers' interests by rushing to new ports and requiring they buy all new hardware. I just moved to a 2016 MacBook Pro and the only "all new hardware" I've purchased is a pair of $10 adapters. I haven't replaced any of the hardware I already own, because I don't need to. I can only really criticize Apple for not including an adapter or two, and for not including more than two USB-C ports on the base 13" MBP. The latter's really pretty regrettable.
- ocdtrekkie 9y ago
  Similar to your MacBook, you will be able to get adapters for the Surface Pro for your USB-C needs! They included the ports people use the most, and will support adapters for those of you who need less popular ports.
  - marricks 9y ago
    AKA, we don't care about the future, cater to what people want now. I guarantee most people would be thrilled with one cable for everything, making a step towards that halfway through 2017 seems reasonable...
    - ocdtrekkie 9y ago
      I am willing to bet you're still going to see USB 2.0 ports on desktop PCs in 2025. (Most come with at least a pair of non-3.0 ports today.) Some computers still ship with DB9 and DB25 ports today. VGA is still one of the most common video ports, and a lot of brand new PCs and monitors come with them to ensure people have compatibility with whatever PCs and monitors they already own. USB Type-C is nice in theory, but even if you assume they get all the compatibility issues with it worked out, we're gonna be using USB Type-A for many years to come. Type-C only accessories being common is a really long way away, and you'll have replaced your Surface Pro by then. This is an excellent explanation of USB Type-C: https://xkcd.com/927/ https://xkcd.com/927/ (That isn't to say that USB Type-C is bad, but pretending we're all moving over to it in 2017 is silly.)
  - ovao 9y ago

ovao 9y ago

Although it's odd, I suspect it's more a reaction to USB-C blowback than a conscious decision to harm Apple. These days, Microsoft is not generally one for going out of their way to put the pain on Apple. Besides, Microsoft's products occupy only a portion of the PC hardware market, and several vendors have USB-C products out now. If it slows adoption of USB-C products, I think the effect will be fairly negligible.