5 ms·

Charge your MacBook on the right side, not left

50 points by sanj 6y ago

rayiner 6y ago
Have this problem with 16” MBP. I blame Intel. What a clusterf*k.
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  It’s not intel’s fault. It’s because the sensors on the left side are dedicated to the proximity of the CPU in Apple’s layout. Apple chose the chassis design, the TDP of the chip, and their mitigation technique.
asenna 6y ago
No way! I've been seriously frustrated with my 16" MBP for this very reason. This is such a wtf moment for me.
csnover 6y ago
Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22957573 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22957573
reaperducer 6y ago
At least you can use either side if you really have to. I was very surprised when work sent me a ThinkPad that can only be charged on one side, and is labeled as such.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- NoPicklez 6y ago
  I mean that has been the norm for almost all laptops prior to USB-C, being only able to charge on one side of your laptop? Due to there usually being a proprietary power port. My Macbook Pro from 2014 can only be charged on the left using the MagSafe port, which I am frustrated they removed.
  - saimiam 6y ago
    In fact, I’m struggling with this exact issue right now. My late 2013 MBP with MagSafe is panicking with a > 400% kernel_task due to a disconnected iSight camera + thermal sensor. I wish I could’ve just switched the charging side. Instead, I’m trying to get a replacement logic board to get the thermal sensor working again.
- schwartzworld 6y ago
  Is there a term for fixing an imaginary problem? Everybody who likes Apple seems to like this feature, but I struggle to think of a time that I actually had a problem due to not being able to charge on both sides. Nothing that couldn't be solved by having a long enough cord. Now, magsafe on the other hand solved a very common problem. I am not the only person I know to destroy a laptop screen by kicking the cord.
  - reaperducer 6y ago
    Is there a term for fixing an imaginary problem? It's only imaginary if you lack imagination. In my case, the cord barely stretches around to the "correct" side of the ThinkPad. Meanwhile, there's a USB-C port on the better side that goes unused. Running extension cords and wires everywhere isn't an option because this is my home where I live as an adult, not a college dorm.
    - schwartzworld 6y ago
      > Running extension cords and wires everywhere isn't an option because this is my home where I live as an adult, not a college dorm. You're plugging in the computer already, why not just get a slightly longer cable? Most non-Apple computers have power cables that are two parts, you could lengthen your cord. https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Gateway-Notebook-Computer-Charger/dp/B002WQ7CFG https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Gateway-Notebook-Computer-Cha... Obviously this is less fun than having four ports to plug into, only two of which won't overheat your machine. > this is my home Then your money would be better spent on having an electrician install an outlet in a convenient location for you.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
I bring this up every couple weeks when people complain about their MBP thermals and every time it’s new information to someone so cheers for sharing! Hope everyone with this hardware limitation gets to learn how to get the best out of it
PostThisTooFast 6y ago
Pathetic. Not to mention the idiotically close spacing of Apple’s USB ports, which prevents you from using two adapters (or an adapter and thumb drive) at the same time. That’s Apple elegance™
lewisflude 6y ago
I heard this tip ages ago, but misremembered it as the LEFT being the good port. All this time I've been trailing my cables awkwardly to make sure it goes in the top left slot. I'm an idiot.
- tenacious_tuna 6y ago
  I wouldn't be too hard on yourself--It's remarkably bad hardware design that there is a "correct" port (or set of ports) on what appears to be a perfectly symmetrical system (on the outside), but with no markings on the system to indicate _which_ is correct.

50 points by sanj 6y ago

rayiner 6y ago

Have this problem with 16” MBP. I blame Intel. What a clusterf*k.

eyelidlessness 6y ago
It’s not intel’s fault. It’s because the sensors on the left side are dedicated to the proximity of the CPU in Apple’s layout. Apple chose the chassis design, the TDP of the chip, and their mitigation technique.

asenna 6y ago

No way! I've been seriously frustrated with my 16" MBP for this very reason. This is such a wtf moment for me.

csnover 6y ago

Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22957573 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22957573

reaperducer 6y ago

At least you can use either side if you really have to. I was very surprised when work sent me a ThinkPad that can only be charged on one side, and is labeled as such.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
NoPicklez 6y ago
I mean that has been the norm for almost all laptops prior to USB-C, being only able to charge on one side of your laptop? Due to there usually being a proprietary power port. My Macbook Pro from 2014 can only be charged on the left using the MagSafe port, which I am frustrated they removed.
- saimiam 6y ago
  In fact, I’m struggling with this exact issue right now. My late 2013 MBP with MagSafe is panicking with a > 400% kernel_task due to a disconnected iSight camera + thermal sensor. I wish I could’ve just switched the charging side. Instead, I’m trying to get a replacement logic board to get the thermal sensor working again.
schwartzworld 6y ago
Is there a term for fixing an imaginary problem? Everybody who likes Apple seems to like this feature, but I struggle to think of a time that I actually had a problem due to not being able to charge on both sides. Nothing that couldn't be solved by having a long enough cord. Now, magsafe on the other hand solved a very common problem. I am not the only person I know to destroy a laptop screen by kicking the cord.
- reaperducer 6y ago
  Is there a term for fixing an imaginary problem? It's only imaginary if you lack imagination. In my case, the cord barely stretches around to the "correct" side of the ThinkPad. Meanwhile, there's a USB-C port on the better side that goes unused. Running extension cords and wires everywhere isn't an option because this is my home where I live as an adult, not a college dorm.
  - schwartzworld 6y ago
    > Running extension cords and wires everywhere isn't an option because this is my home where I live as an adult, not a college dorm. You're plugging in the computer already, why not just get a slightly longer cable? Most non-Apple computers have power cables that are two parts, you could lengthen your cord. https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Gateway-Notebook-Computer-Charger/dp/B002WQ7CFG https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Gateway-Notebook-Computer-Cha... Obviously this is less fun than having four ports to plug into, only two of which won't overheat your machine. > this is my home Then your money would be better spent on having an electrician install an outlet in a convenient location for you.

eyelidlessness 6y ago

I bring this up every couple weeks when people complain about their MBP thermals and every time it’s new information to someone so cheers for sharing! Hope everyone with this hardware limitation gets to learn how to get the best out of it

PostThisTooFast 6y ago

Pathetic. Not to mention the idiotically close spacing of Apple’s USB ports, which prevents you from using two adapters (or an adapter and thumb drive) at the same time. That’s Apple elegance™

lewisflude 6y ago

I heard this tip ages ago, but misremembered it as the LEFT being the good port. All this time I've been trailing my cables awkwardly to make sure it goes in the top left slot. I'm an idiot.

tenacious_tuna 6y ago
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself--It's remarkably bad hardware design that there is a "correct" port (or set of ports) on what appears to be a perfectly symmetrical system (on the outside), but with no markings on the system to indicate _which_ is correct.