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I have a non-touchbar MBP with just two USB-C ports and nothing else. Two, on the same side, and one is always used for charging. So one free port on a pro lapt

I have a non-touchbar MBP with just two USB-C ports and nothing else. Two, on the same side, and one is always used for charging. So one free port on a pro laptop. I still can’t understand how they ever thought it was acceptable. Why bother moving to USB-C if you’re going to cripple their usefulness?

robotresearcher 7y ago
> I still can’t understand how they ever thought it was acceptable. > I have a non-touchbar MBP. You or your employer bought it. This leads them to believe it was acceptable. [edit: this comment was pedantic and unhelpful. I do understand what the parent meant. See another comment down thread.]
- pmichaud 7y ago
  I don't think this is a nuanced enough way to think about it. Most of the reason I still use my macbook and basically the only reason I'd consider buying a new one when the time comes is "soft lock in". I'm not literally stuck, but I'd have to carefully consider how to do literally everything differently, and learn whole different workflows and software packages and keyboard shortcuts. I'd have to consider how various other hardware would or would not work with it. Etc. Orrrr... I could get a macbook that has a lot of annoying shit about it and just deal with it. And sure, you could say that is the definition of "acceptable"--after all, on the balance, I "prefer" to just deal with it. But I'm saying that there's a qualitative difference (that you'll see in the long term prospects of the company if they don't get their shit together) between deciding something is the best option vs feeling stuck with something.
  - robotresearcher 7y ago
    Yeah, I hear you. Some products get the value proposition really great (MBP 15" and MBA 13" both circa 2015), and some you can just settle for. I totally understand how different those buying experiences feel. The new MBA seems to be well received by reviewers.
- bambataa 7y ago
  Yes, technically, but I was replacing a (superior) older MBP that got water damage and that was what they had available. I was abroad, needed a replacement for some contract work and didn't have time to dick around setting up a new Linux environment. These days it's purely a question of whether the convenience of the Apple walled garden is sufficient to offset their hardware choices.
lonelappde 7y ago
You got the low end "pro" version. The 4-port version was on offer. What do you need the extra ports for? Monitors have USB hubs.

robotresearcher 7y ago

> I still can’t understand how they ever thought it was acceptable. > I have a non-touchbar MBP. You or your employer bought it. This leads them to believe it was acceptable. [edit: this comment was pedantic and unhelpful. I do understand what the parent meant. See another comment down thread.]

pmichaud 7y ago
I don't think this is a nuanced enough way to think about it. Most of the reason I still use my macbook and basically the only reason I'd consider buying a new one when the time comes is "soft lock in". I'm not literally stuck, but I'd have to carefully consider how to do literally everything differently, and learn whole different workflows and software packages and keyboard shortcuts. I'd have to consider how various other hardware would or would not work with it. Etc. Orrrr... I could get a macbook that has a lot of annoying shit about it and just deal with it. And sure, you could say that is the definition of "acceptable"--after all, on the balance, I "prefer" to just deal with it. But I'm saying that there's a qualitative difference (that you'll see in the long term prospects of the company if they don't get their shit together) between deciding something is the best option vs feeling stuck with something.
- robotresearcher 7y ago
  Yeah, I hear you. Some products get the value proposition really great (MBP 15" and MBA 13" both circa 2015), and some you can just settle for. I totally understand how different those buying experiences feel. The new MBA seems to be well received by reviewers.
bambataa 7y ago
Yes, technically, but I was replacing a (superior) older MBP that got water damage and that was what they had available. I was abroad, needed a replacement for some contract work and didn't have time to dick around setting up a new Linux environment. These days it's purely a question of whether the convenience of the Apple walled garden is sufficient to offset their hardware choices.

lonelappde 7y ago

You got the low end "pro" version. The 4-port version was on offer. What do you need the extra ports for? Monitors have USB hubs.