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First, that's not a dongle, that's an SD card reader. A dongle would adapt a USB-A reader's plug to a USB-C plug. Second, this is a step forward. Previously, p

First, that's not a dongle, that's an SD card reader. A dongle would adapt a USB-A reader's plug to a USB-C plug. Second, this is a step forward. Previously, people who didn't need to carry around SD card readers had to, in the form of bulkier laptops with smaller batteries. Now, only folks who need readers have to carry them around. That's a win.

slantyyz 7y ago
It's not unreasonable to call an SD card reader a dongle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle#Other https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle#Other
oliveshell 7y ago
I wish everybody who buys a new MacBook Pro all the best, and I hope they enjoy it. I just won’t be getting one. (The card reader was just the icing on the cake; the unreliable keyboard and failure-prone backlight ribbon cable are the main reasons I won’t buy one.) Ultrabooks exist for a reason, and my personal opinion is that it’s a bummer that the “pro“ offering is less capable and more annoying to use for media editing than it used to be.
- slantyyz 7y ago
  Even though my last Mac, the early 2011 15" Macbook Pro, was a complete lemon in terms of execution (GPU overheating issues), I loved that design and form factor. It had all the ports I wanted, plus the end-user expandability. At one point I popped out the optical and stuck in a second SSD. Apple didn't handle the recall for the 2011 MBP problems very well. This was incredibly problematic for me, considering Apple's fantastic reputation for customer support. After that experience, I basically went back to Windows, and the transition was surprisingly smooth.
xxs 7y ago
Dongles have existed long before USB-C (and even A). Pretty much 'a small thingie' that has to be attached to a computer for the latter to carry some specific task. Hence, a card reader fits the dongle definition and it should be part of any laptop... There used be dongles that served copyright protection.
- gridlockd 7y ago
  > Hence, a card reader fits the dongle definition and it should be part of any laptop... Which card reader? SD? Micro SD? SD and Micro SD? Any of the half-dozen other standards that some cameras still use?
  - Dylan16807 7y ago
    The nice thing about an SD card slot is that you can leave a microSD adapter inside it 24/7 if that's what your camera uses. Nothing else that's port-sized gets enough use to care about.
Eric_WVGG 7y ago
I knew defining a dongle would bring out the pedants, and that makes me very happy, but I think the real point is being overlooked here. Folks who want an SD card reader or HDMI should carry around SD card readers and HDMI cables. People who don't want those things shouldn't have to carry them around. I modernized all my accessories years ago. USB-C is all I or, I would argue, nearly anyone needs. I'm truly sorry that your job requires you to carry a little extra gear, but it's not my job, so don't burden me with it. (If you disagree, then explain why the MBP shouldn't have compact flash, micro SD, etc.)
- slantyyz 7y ago
  >> I knew defining a dongle would bring out the pedants Some might say your narrow definition of dongle was an attempt at being pedantic. >> I think the real point is being overlooked here. The real point being overlooked isn't the dongle issue, or being minimalist. It's a product line diversity issue. You have to be aware that a lot of people who won't switch away from Mac are doing it because of love of the OS, and not necessarily the love of the hardware itself. Apple has basically decided to make all of their laptop lines ultrabooks (as is their right). If you look at all the other companies who make laptops, they have non-ultrabook lines for people who need ports, etc. Apple has chosen not to cater to those people, and those people, whose requirements used to be satisfied by previous iterations of Macbooks, are now complaining.
- ohazi 7y ago
  You do realize that ports are holes right? They make your laptop lighter. The amount of metal removed from the case is heavier than the connector and PCB traces. Don't carry around the cables if you don't want to, but your argument is ridiculous.
  - mattcoles 7y ago
    They do have stuff inside them though, so I'm not suggesting they make it heavier but having the required electronics does take up space that can be otherwise utilised.
stetrain 7y ago
Dongle Noun: A thing I have to carry around to use my new device that I didn't have to carry to use my old device.

slantyyz 7y ago

It's not unreasonable to call an SD card reader a dongle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle#Other https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle#Other

oliveshell 7y ago

I wish everybody who buys a new MacBook Pro all the best, and I hope they enjoy it. I just won’t be getting one. (The card reader was just the icing on the cake; the unreliable keyboard and failure-prone backlight ribbon cable are the main reasons I won’t buy one.) Ultrabooks exist for a reason, and my personal opinion is that it’s a bummer that the “pro“ offering is less capable and more annoying to use for media editing than it used to be.

slantyyz 7y ago
Even though my last Mac, the early 2011 15" Macbook Pro, was a complete lemon in terms of execution (GPU overheating issues), I loved that design and form factor. It had all the ports I wanted, plus the end-user expandability. At one point I popped out the optical and stuck in a second SSD. Apple didn't handle the recall for the 2011 MBP problems very well. This was incredibly problematic for me, considering Apple's fantastic reputation for customer support. After that experience, I basically went back to Windows, and the transition was surprisingly smooth.

xxs 7y ago

Dongles have existed long before USB-C (and even A). Pretty much 'a small thingie' that has to be attached to a computer for the latter to carry some specific task. Hence, a card reader fits the dongle definition and it should be part of any laptop... There used be dongles that served copyright protection.

gridlockd 7y ago
> Hence, a card reader fits the dongle definition and it should be part of any laptop... Which card reader? SD? Micro SD? SD and Micro SD? Any of the half-dozen other standards that some cameras still use?
- Dylan16807 7y ago
  The nice thing about an SD card slot is that you can leave a microSD adapter inside it 24/7 if that's what your camera uses. Nothing else that's port-sized gets enough use to care about.

Eric_WVGG 7y ago

I knew defining a dongle would bring out the pedants, and that makes me very happy, but I think the real point is being overlooked here. Folks who want an SD card reader or HDMI should carry around SD card readers and HDMI cables. People who don't want those things shouldn't have to carry them around. I modernized all my accessories years ago. USB-C is all I or, I would argue, nearly anyone needs. I'm truly sorry that your job requires you to carry a little extra gear, but it's not my job, so don't burden me with it. (If you disagree, then explain why the MBP shouldn't have compact flash, micro SD, etc.)

slantyyz 7y ago
>> I knew defining a dongle would bring out the pedants Some might say your narrow definition of dongle was an attempt at being pedantic. >> I think the real point is being overlooked here. The real point being overlooked isn't the dongle issue, or being minimalist. It's a product line diversity issue. You have to be aware that a lot of people who won't switch away from Mac are doing it because of love of the OS, and not necessarily the love of the hardware itself. Apple has basically decided to make all of their laptop lines ultrabooks (as is their right). If you look at all the other companies who make laptops, they have non-ultrabook lines for people who need ports, etc. Apple has chosen not to cater to those people, and those people, whose requirements used to be satisfied by previous iterations of Macbooks, are now complaining.
ohazi 7y ago
You do realize that ports are holes right? They make your laptop lighter. The amount of metal removed from the case is heavier than the connector and PCB traces. Don't carry around the cables if you don't want to, but your argument is ridiculous.
- mattcoles 7y ago
  They do have stuff inside them though, so I'm not suggesting they make it heavier but having the required electronics does take up space that can be otherwise utilised.

stetrain 7y ago

Dongle Noun: A thing I have to carry around to use my new device that I didn't have to carry to use my old device.