8 ms·

My work recently bought me a new laptop. I could have picked anything. I went with the now-3-years-old mbp, with sane ports. The fact they still sell them new p

by abtinf 8y ago

My work recently bought me a new laptop. I could have picked anything. I went with the now-3-years-old mbp, with sane ports. The fact they still sell them new probably means there are a lot of people who think like me. If I’d purchased a new model, I would’ve also needed to purchase a fistful of dongles. It makes no sense. And I would have had to use the awful keyboard. I don’t like the feel of it, but I can deal with that. What I can’t deal with is the keys randomly failing due to minor dirt, as so many reports indicate. I travel for work and it would be a catastrophe if the space key stopped working. I also really wish they would add a lightning port to the mbp, so I could take just one set of headphones with me.

danielbln 8y ago
As written below, we've done the same for some devs here. The 2015 model just as too many useful features that are now missing for no apparent reason. The new MBP has tinny sound, no magsafe, no hdmi, crappy keyboard, failing usb-c ports, the whole dongle fiasco.. it's just not a good value proposition for the price, compared to the predecessor.
- Zak 8y ago
  I think replacing the proprietary magsafe plug with standard USB-C is a good idea, but not if the implementation is failure-prone. Tangentially related, I wonder why they haven't replaced the proprietary plug on their phones and tablets with USB-C.
  - no1youknowz 8y ago
    I have to agree with jwr on this one. Replacing the magsafe was not a good idea. I've had my MBPr for 5 years now. I can't even count the number of times I didn't need to think about it being connected. As a dedicated notebook user for 14 years now. The previous MBPr was the sweet spot. I'm holding onto my current macbook and refuse to upgrade. I hope some sanity returns to Apple and soon.
    - dismal2 8y ago
      I think the chances of MagSafe coming back are slim. I’m debating getting the last updated 15 with the old style keyboard and MagSafe to hold me over for a while...
  - itchyouch 8y ago
    The lightning connector licensing revenue they get from 3rd parties for being "Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod" etc
  - jwr 8y ago
    Why do you think it's a good idea? My Magsafe has been yanked out at least hundreds of times. I think it is a fantastic solution and I really do not understand what is "better" about the USB-C connector?
    - tolien 8y ago
      There's no real reason that Apple couldn't have had USB-C and some sort of magnetic detachment, like MagSafe - a bunch of third parties sell cables that do exactly that [1]. 1: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/7/12/15960594/magc-vinpok-bolt-s-magsafe-magnetic-charging-usb-c-macbook-pro https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/7/12/15960594/m...
      - happertiger 8y ago
        This is the real point. It was removed and in no way did it need to be. I miss it. The new mbp is no bueno.
    - DRW_ 8y ago
      Because it's a standard. You're no longer required to spend a lot of money on Apple's proprietary chargers, anyone can make a good charger. And you can get magsafe-like USB-C chargers. I don't see why, given that option, you'd choose to limit your options to only being able to buy a legitimate charger from Apple, and that charger only being useful for that one device.
      - jwr 8y ago
        I heard that argument and I don't buy it. First, "it's a standard" ignores reality: there are very few devices out there that implement the standard correctly. Second, I don't buy chargers every day. Third, even if I wanted to buy a charger, I would definitely want to spend the money on Apple's "proprietary" chargers, because they are safer and better than the cheap ones (see http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and... or http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and... for examples). I like Magsafe, I've been very happy with it, and I think it is silly of Apple to abandon it for no good reason.
7ewis 8y ago
I've had the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar) for almost a year now at work, and honestly haven't been too bothered about the ports. I leave a HyperDrive[0] on my desk to connect my screens and power and very really need to plug anything else in. I use a wireless trackpad and keyboard, wireless headphones. What else do you need to plug in? I have unlimited cloud storage, all my code is in GitHub, photos in Google Photos. iPhone backs up to iCloud and Google Photos. If I do need to connect something, I have USB ports on my HyperDrive, but I just never use them. I charge my devices with a wall charger so they can charge if I'm in meetings etc. and get more power from there anyway. [0] - https://www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-duo-hub-for-usb-c-macbook-pro-13-and-15-2016-2017 https://www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-duo-hub-for-us...
- akhilcacharya 8y ago
  I, for one, think it's absurd to need a $100 accessory just to make it usable.
  - arkades 8y ago
    He clearly uses it as a docking station. 100$ for an elegant dock is high, but not ridiculous.
    - scarface74 8y ago
      $100 for a docking station is not bad. I use this one from Dell. http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-docking-station-usb-30-d3100/apd/452-bbpg/pc-accessories http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-docking-station-usb-30-d...
  - wilsonnb 8y ago
    Nobody has ever bought a MacBook to save money
    - LyndsySimon 8y ago
      I did, in 2012. I bought a $1,400 MBP because I was replacing $1,000 non-Apple laptops every 12-18 months due to mechanical issues - keyboards, hinges, power ports, etc. That laptop lasted until late 2016 when my daughter spilled a quart of milk onto it. If not for that I’d probably still have it. Today’s MBPs? There’s no rationalizing the cost for me.
akhilcacharya 8y ago
During an internship I had a coworker that got the 2016 MBPr while I got the 2015 MBPr. He literally had to haul his docking station to every meeting where he had to present because none of the meeting rooms had thunderbolt/usb-c adapters.
- AstroBadger 8y ago
  Couldn't he have saved some hauling by investing in an adapter himself?

by abtinf 8y ago

danielbln 8y ago

As written below, we've done the same for some devs here. The 2015 model just as too many useful features that are now missing for no apparent reason. The new MBP has tinny sound, no magsafe, no hdmi, crappy keyboard, failing usb-c ports, the whole dongle fiasco.. it's just not a good value proposition for the price, compared to the predecessor.

Zak 8y ago
I think replacing the proprietary magsafe plug with standard USB-C is a good idea, but not if the implementation is failure-prone. Tangentially related, I wonder why they haven't replaced the proprietary plug on their phones and tablets with USB-C.
- no1youknowz 8y ago
  I have to agree with jwr on this one. Replacing the magsafe was not a good idea. I've had my MBPr for 5 years now. I can't even count the number of times I didn't need to think about it being connected. As a dedicated notebook user for 14 years now. The previous MBPr was the sweet spot. I'm holding onto my current macbook and refuse to upgrade. I hope some sanity returns to Apple and soon.
  - dismal2 8y ago
    I think the chances of MagSafe coming back are slim. I’m debating getting the last updated 15 with the old style keyboard and MagSafe to hold me over for a while...
- itchyouch 8y ago
  The lightning connector licensing revenue they get from 3rd parties for being "Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod" etc
- jwr 8y ago
  Why do you think it's a good idea? My Magsafe has been yanked out at least hundreds of times. I think it is a fantastic solution and I really do not understand what is "better" about the USB-C connector?
  - tolien 8y ago
    There's no real reason that Apple couldn't have had USB-C and some sort of magnetic detachment, like MagSafe - a bunch of third parties sell cables that do exactly that [1]. 1: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/7/12/15960594/magc-vinpok-bolt-s-magsafe-magnetic-charging-usb-c-macbook-pro https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/7/12/15960594/m...
    - happertiger 8y ago
      This is the real point. It was removed and in no way did it need to be. I miss it. The new mbp is no bueno.
  - DRW_ 8y ago
    Because it's a standard. You're no longer required to spend a lot of money on Apple's proprietary chargers, anyone can make a good charger. And you can get magsafe-like USB-C chargers. I don't see why, given that option, you'd choose to limit your options to only being able to buy a legitimate charger from Apple, and that charger only being useful for that one device.
    - jwr 8y ago
      I heard that argument and I don't buy it. First, "it's a standard" ignores reality: there are very few devices out there that implement the standard correctly. Second, I don't buy chargers every day. Third, even if I wanted to buy a charger, I would definitely want to spend the money on Apple's "proprietary" chargers, because they are safer and better than the cheap ones (see http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and... or http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and... for examples). I like Magsafe, I've been very happy with it, and I think it is silly of Apple to abandon it for no good reason.

7ewis 8y ago

I've had the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar) for almost a year now at work, and honestly haven't been too bothered about the ports. I leave a HyperDrive[0] on my desk to connect my screens and power and very really need to plug anything else in. I use a wireless trackpad and keyboard, wireless headphones. What else do you need to plug in? I have unlimited cloud storage, all my code is in GitHub, photos in Google Photos. iPhone backs up to iCloud and Google Photos. If I do need to connect something, I have USB ports on my HyperDrive, but I just never use them. I charge my devices with a wall charger so they can charge if I'm in meetings etc. and get more power from there anyway. [0] - https://www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-duo-hub-for-usb-c-macbook-pro-13-and-15-2016-2017 https://www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-duo-hub-for-us...

akhilcacharya 8y ago
I, for one, think it's absurd to need a $100 accessory just to make it usable.
- arkades 8y ago
  He clearly uses it as a docking station. 100$ for an elegant dock is high, but not ridiculous.
  - scarface74 8y ago
    $100 for a docking station is not bad. I use this one from Dell. http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-docking-station-usb-30-d3100/apd/452-bbpg/pc-accessories http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-docking-station-usb-30-d...
- wilsonnb 8y ago
  Nobody has ever bought a MacBook to save money
  - LyndsySimon 8y ago
    I did, in 2012. I bought a $1,400 MBP because I was replacing $1,000 non-Apple laptops every 12-18 months due to mechanical issues - keyboards, hinges, power ports, etc. That laptop lasted until late 2016 when my daughter spilled a quart of milk onto it. If not for that I’d probably still have it. Today’s MBPs? There’s no rationalizing the cost for me.

akhilcacharya 8y ago

During an internship I had a coworker that got the 2016 MBPr while I got the 2015 MBPr. He literally had to haul his docking station to every meeting where he had to present because none of the meeting rooms had thunderbolt/usb-c adapters.

AstroBadger 8y ago
Couldn't he have saved some hauling by investing in an adapter himself?