5 ms·

That they removed MagSafe boggles the mind. The usability was objectively better than the replacement. You could easily plug it in even if blindfolded. And no

by Reedx 7y ago

That they removed MagSafe boggles the mind. The usability was objectively better than the replacement. You could easily plug it in even if blindfolded. And no problem when the cord got unexpectedly pulled or tripped on. Every time I plug in my new macbook I miss it.

threeseed 7y ago
USB-C is infinitely better than Magsafe. You can use any charger, use battery packs and any third party cable which means far more reliability and quality.
- filoleg 7y ago
  Can confirm, it has been great. No more running around the office trying to find another macbook user when I accidentally leave my charger at home. I just easily roll up to anyone using a newer Lenovo laptop (that charges with USB-C) and use their charger. Ironically, it happens more often than not the other way around. Anecdote incoming. When I had to use a Lenovo laptop last month for a week as my on-call machine, the Lenovo charger refused to charge the laptop. It would register, because the power button would blink when I plugged it in, but the laptop would refuse to turn on even after an hour of charging. Plugged it into a macbook charger, and it turned on like a charm instantly.
  - sprafa 7y ago
    Controversial opinion: Microsoft is making better hardware design decisions and better hardware design overall than Apple atm. It’s the software which continues to be the issue for me.
    - filoleg 7y ago
      Probably. I liked my Surface Book, it was an amazingly solid piece of hardware with good design and some nice innovations. However, Windows killed the device for me. After a year of use, it felt more sluggish than 3+ years old macbooks, even after I did the factory reset.
    - jedberg 7y ago
      Microsoft has always had great hardware. I’ve been using a Microsoft keyboard for 20 years, even with all my macs, and up until I got a Magic Trackpad unused a Microsoft mouse too.
- thorum 7y ago
  There are also magnetic adapters you can get for USB-C.
  - mrep 7y ago
    I'll be damned, there are [0] and at first glance it seems like a good replacement. Granted, it is still annoying to have to buy a damn dongle for almost every port. [0]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Quick-Charge/dp/B07MMKZ8XD https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Quick-Char...
- the_arun 7y ago
  Can't we have USB-C with magsafe?
- kace91 7y ago
  I think the argument for using universal chargers or battery packs makes sense for phones, where it is certainly understandable that you'd find yourself somewhere with a phone but without means to charge it - most people carry their phones in a pocket, where a charger battery might not fit or be comfortable to carry. Moments where you'd find yourself with a laptop but without a charger are far harder to imagine for me... If you're carrying around your laptop it means you're using some sort of bag or backpack, at which point there's no reason not carry a charger in it too. Magsafe's main function (safety against falls), on the other hand, has saved my 2013 MBP more times than I can count. It is a godsend, specially for people that live around small children or pets.
  - MiddleEndian 7y ago
    I agree with you. I also loved the magsafe. My current laptop, not from Apple, uses a similar charger and I like it a lot. I very rarely have my laptop without my charger, plus it has an extra usb port on the power brick to charge my phone.
  - Tade0 7y ago
    Moments where you'd find yourself with a laptop but without a charger are far harder to imagine for me A while ago I left my charger at work and the next day was working remotely. I used a phone charger, but had to power the thing off for lunch because only then it charged at the maximum rate of 8%/h. Plugged in I was actually losing charge faster because the laptop though it was connected to a 60W unit, not a 10W one.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - threeseed 7y ago
    When you are flying in economy there is no power and in business class the power is limited. Battery pack are necessary to work on long haul flight. Similar for other long trips e.g train.
    - telotortium 7y ago
- maxsilver 7y ago
  They could have done both. Microsoft managed to put a MagSafe charger port and a USB-C PD charger port, on their ~$399 Surface Go. Apple's laptops are 3x to 5x that price. There's no reason why Apple couldn't have just done both MagSafe and USB-C.
- jbombadil 7y ago
  Surface Go has the best of both worlds. You can use a usb-c charger if you chose to, but it also has a magnetic cable. I find it a great compromise. During travel, I only take a usb-c charger. But for home/work, where it is plugged most of the time and at most risk of accidental cable-kicking, I use the magnetic charger.
- tensor 7y ago
  USB-C on one side of cable, magsafe on the other. Best of both worlds.
Havoc 7y ago
You get USB c cables that are magnetically attached. Works well for tablets. Not sure if it's a good idea for laptop wattages though

by Reedx 7y ago

threeseed 7y ago

USB-C is infinitely better than Magsafe. You can use any charger, use battery packs and any third party cable which means far more reliability and quality.

filoleg 7y ago
Can confirm, it has been great. No more running around the office trying to find another macbook user when I accidentally leave my charger at home. I just easily roll up to anyone using a newer Lenovo laptop (that charges with USB-C) and use their charger. Ironically, it happens more often than not the other way around. Anecdote incoming. When I had to use a Lenovo laptop last month for a week as my on-call machine, the Lenovo charger refused to charge the laptop. It would register, because the power button would blink when I plugged it in, but the laptop would refuse to turn on even after an hour of charging. Plugged it into a macbook charger, and it turned on like a charm instantly.
- sprafa 7y ago
  Controversial opinion: Microsoft is making better hardware design decisions and better hardware design overall than Apple atm. It’s the software which continues to be the issue for me.
  - filoleg 7y ago
    Probably. I liked my Surface Book, it was an amazingly solid piece of hardware with good design and some nice innovations. However, Windows killed the device for me. After a year of use, it felt more sluggish than 3+ years old macbooks, even after I did the factory reset.
  - jedberg 7y ago
    Microsoft has always had great hardware. I’ve been using a Microsoft keyboard for 20 years, even with all my macs, and up until I got a Magic Trackpad unused a Microsoft mouse too.
thorum 7y ago
There are also magnetic adapters you can get for USB-C.
- mrep 7y ago
  I'll be damned, there are [0] and at first glance it seems like a good replacement. Granted, it is still annoying to have to buy a damn dongle for almost every port. [0]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Quick-Charge/dp/B07MMKZ8XD https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Quick-Char...
the_arun 7y ago
Can't we have USB-C with magsafe?
kace91 7y ago
I think the argument for using universal chargers or battery packs makes sense for phones, where it is certainly understandable that you'd find yourself somewhere with a phone but without means to charge it - most people carry their phones in a pocket, where a charger battery might not fit or be comfortable to carry. Moments where you'd find yourself with a laptop but without a charger are far harder to imagine for me... If you're carrying around your laptop it means you're using some sort of bag or backpack, at which point there's no reason not carry a charger in it too. Magsafe's main function (safety against falls), on the other hand, has saved my 2013 MBP more times than I can count. It is a godsend, specially for people that live around small children or pets.
- MiddleEndian 7y ago
  I agree with you. I also loved the magsafe. My current laptop, not from Apple, uses a similar charger and I like it a lot. I very rarely have my laptop without my charger, plus it has an extra usb port on the power brick to charge my phone.
- Tade0 7y ago
  Moments where you'd find yourself with a laptop but without a charger are far harder to imagine for me A while ago I left my charger at work and the next day was working remotely. I used a phone charger, but had to power the thing off for lunch because only then it charged at the maximum rate of 8%/h. Plugged in I was actually losing charge faster because the laptop though it was connected to a 60W unit, not a 10W one.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- threeseed 7y ago
  When you are flying in economy there is no power and in business class the power is limited. Battery pack are necessary to work on long haul flight. Similar for other long trips e.g train.
  - telotortium 7y ago
maxsilver 7y ago
They could have done both. Microsoft managed to put a MagSafe charger port and a USB-C PD charger port, on their ~$399 Surface Go. Apple's laptops are 3x to 5x that price. There's no reason why Apple couldn't have just done both MagSafe and USB-C.
jbombadil 7y ago
Surface Go has the best of both worlds. You can use a usb-c charger if you chose to, but it also has a magnetic cable. I find it a great compromise. During travel, I only take a usb-c charger. But for home/work, where it is plugged most of the time and at most risk of accidental cable-kicking, I use the magnetic charger.
tensor 7y ago
USB-C on one side of cable, magsafe on the other. Best of both worlds.

Havoc 7y ago

You get USB c cables that are magnetically attached. Works well for tablets. Not sure if it's a good idea for laptop wattages though