10 ms·

I'm glad apple picked this up after so many others pushed it forward :) But 1 port is sad, because now you have to choose between a lot of things (charging, us

I'm glad apple picked this up after so many others pushed it forward :) But 1 port is sad, because now you have to choose between a lot of things (charging, using hdmi, whatever)

function_seven 12y ago
I will guarantee you that their charger will have a port on it to pass through. Still awkward, but I can't imagine that they'd force users to choose between data and power on that one port.
- geoelectric 12y ago
  I just hope the passthrough is up near the part that plugs into the laptop, or it's going to be awfully inconvenient for a lot of different kinds of peripherals.
  - function_seven 12y ago
    Looks like I had it backwards. It's the other items that pass through the USB C port. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1L2AM/A/usb-c-vga-multiport-adapter http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1L2AM/A/usb-c-vga-multip... I wish the power adapter itself would also have the passthrough.
bane 12y ago
It just means we're going to stay stuck in dongle hell. When I'm on the road the minimalism of a Mac is nice, but at my desk, hooked up to everything I really need for heavy work, my desktop is a cluster-f of cables and adapters and wires.
- mmastrac 12y ago
  To be fair, it's at least a single standard dongle hell. And now with USB-C you can have thunderbolt-style docks that give you a near-universal docking experience (ie: DVI/HDMI/dozens of USB ports/DVD drive/power) with a single cable when you're at your desk.
  - Someone1234 12y ago
    I agree, that is the theory. However we might be at least a year from such hubs being affordable. I guess what I am saying is, I wouldn't want to be queued outside the Apple store for one of these. The supporting accessories aren't there yet (yes, even with Apple's two hubs/adapters). However when they do the refresh on this line, one or two years from now, the supporting hubs, wires, and so on will be available and it will be a very fun experience.
- greggman 12y ago
  Isn't it only dongle hell for a few years? Theoretically monitors, printers, hard drives, etc will all have USB-C connectors as well at some point.
  - lbearl 12y ago
    So we are basically back to the old days of Daisy-chaining SCSI devices?
    - zkhalique 12y ago
      What's wrong with USB hubs?
      - lbearl 12y ago
        Nothing is wrong with hubs, but now there is yet one more thing you have to have available (at least until they become more prolific in external devices)
      - Someone1234 12y ago
        Want a legit answer? They lack power isolation. I had a device surge/short while attached to a USB hub (it was a branded one), and everything else attached died: Keyboard, Mouse, motherboard, and a phone. This was back pre-USB 3, and the power limit of USB has only increased since then (USB 3, USB-C, etc). This means the wires get hotter, the hub gets hotter, and any short/surge will have an even more dramatic effect (e.g. fire?). Honestly USB hubs should be up to the same spec as a surge-protector/multi-tap, but they aren't, even though they carry enough electricity to kill someone.
        zkhalique 12y ago
        http://www.amazon.com/HDE-SuperSpeed-Individual-Switches-Included/dp/B00L5IS9KE/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425940763&sr=1-4&keywords=surge+usb++hub http://www.amazon.com/HDE-SuperSpeed-Individual-Switches-Inc...
    - 12y ago
- bryanlarsen 12y ago
  This seems like the fix for dongle hell to me. You plug everything into your monitor, tucking your cables away nicely, and then you have a single cable going from your monitor into your laptop.
  - bduerst 12y ago
    Most monitors do this now with a USB hub, except you have two cables (video and usb). Too bad USB-C didn't also do microphone in.
    - bronson 12y ago
      Can't you just use USB microphones? https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=usb+microphone&tbm=shop https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&e...
      - eropple 12y ago
        Small sample size and all, but I find USB microphones to be rather susceptible to electrical noise from stuff like USB hubs. I have to plug them directly into my machines to get a clean signal.
    - cdcarter 12y ago
      Probably better to use a USB microphone instead of integrated sound card A/D anyway...
- archagon 12y ago
  I'm concerned about the feasibility of USB-powered hard drives with this setup. On my Macbook Pro, if I plug more than one of them into a hub (as opposed to separate USB ports), they start flaking out on account of lack of power, even if the hub is powered.
  - lsaferite 12y ago
    Well, if the hub has enough power, supports USB-PD, and the drive supports USB-PD, then it should be able to draw up to 100W of power.
  - X-Istence 12y ago
    Then your hub is not doing a good job of providing the 500 mA that it supposed to give to devices, or your USB powered hard drive actually requires more than 500 mA to do its thing.
    - archagon 12y ago
      I believe my drives use 500mA each for power.
      - X-Istence 12y ago
        Make sure the power brick that your powered hub came with is capable of powering the N+ devices you have at the same time. Most of the 4 port hubs come with 2A power supplies, however sometimes they skimp on actually being able to deliver that power.
- teacup50 12y ago
  Sounds like what you want is a ... Desktop Computer.
  - tstrimple 12y ago
    You mean that portable USB hard drives should be used with desktop computers, not portable laptops?
    - integraton 12y ago
      In the current era of ubiquitous saas/cloud services, abstracted file systems, multiple device types, large internal storage options, dropbox, box, drive, and icloud, there are many, many people who haven't used a USB drive in years (or ever) and have no use for one.
- larrys 12y ago
  Other than cost (which is certainly a factor) I guess I've never understood why people schlep around a laptop and use the same laptop for their desktop by plugging in cables. I know people do this who could easily afford an additional more powerful desktop. I use a MacPro driving 3 27' displays and also have a few portables as well. It's just a matter of synching info. I can't imagine having to deal with hooking up a portable.
  - anentropic 12y ago
    mostly because a) don't need a more powerful desktop and b) the syncing is not well streamlined I'd seriously consider an iMac if Apple would solve b.
  - alasdair_ 12y ago
    >It's just a matter of synching info. Synchronizing is hard. That's the problem. I want to close my laptop after a day at the office and be able to continue working on the train or an airplane, immediately, if I need to. This isn't easy to do without having a single machine.
    - cweiss 12y ago
      To their credit, it seems Apple is at least trying to solve this problem with their recent foray into 'live' document dragging between iOS/Yosemite. Though it's hardly the ubiquitous solution we want, it is a first step.
  - egypturnash 12y ago
    Some of us like to own as few things as possible. Plugging my 2013 Air into my desk when I come home isn't a big hassle - I plug in the speaker cable, the power cable, the video cable, and the USB hub. It takes me ten seconds[1] to do unless one of the cables falls; they're normally sitting right where I put the Mac. It sits on a lower shelf and runs closed; there's a Bluetooth keyboard and a Wacom tablet on my desk. (I'm an artist.) It'd be nice to have the single connector I guess. Once I got an adapter[2] and plugged everything into that I'd save all of, I dunno, five seconds? I'm also not driving three displays. I have never liked multiple displays. They don't work well with a Wacom tablet, and I go crazy from constantly seeing slight color differences; when I'm at a cafe, I use the laptop screen; when I'm at home, I use the external monitor. Now you have one person's explanation of why she schleps around a single laptop that she also uses for her desktop. 1: Literally; I just timed it. 6.6s to leisurely unplug it, 10.3s to casually reconnect it. 2: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av...
- danudey 12y ago
  This is one of the great things about buying an Apple Cinema Display. My Displayport model provides audio/video over one cable, camera/microphone over another, and a third MagSafe connector. The Thunderbolt design allows for audio/video/camera/microphone/ethernet/firewire/even more thunderbolt, plus a magsafe connector. I think we'll see a lot of small USB hubs with a USB-C connector to your laptop and all your USB/audio/Displayport/ethernet out, so that getting back to your desk is one cable to plug in and not a half-dozen.
- jedrek 12y ago
  Apple laptops have been limited by a lack of docking ports, which is my favorite use case for having a work and home workstation. Now, instead of hooking up a power cable, monitor cable and USB hub, you slide one connector in. How is that bad?
  - drinchev 12y ago
    It would not be bad, but the adapter that gives me two ports will be a part of my trip. At airports for example I'm carrying only my MacBook and usually put in there charger and the my phone, now I have to also carry an adapter to do that.
  - renaudg 12y ago
    Well with the Thunderbolt Display or various other Thunderbolt docking stations, 2 cables to the Macbook already was a reality
madeofpalk 12y ago
> I'm glad apple picked this up after so many others pushed it forward :) To be fair, Apple had a lot of people on the USB-C standards... 'committee', second only to Intel. Source: http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505187/apple-macbook-2015-usb-type-c-reversible http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505187/apple-macbook-2015-...
- DannyBee 12y ago
  Not to denigrate their work, but this happened very very late in the type-C game. (Look at who attended what meetings, and where it was proposed, how far it was along when it was proposed, and then when apple started showing up. It looks like they saw the writing on the wall, and joined in to make sure they weren't going to get left behind)
  - melling 12y ago
    Probably realized that they needed to go with USB-C because of cars, European regulations, etc. Finally, everyone is using one connector. PC, Mac, Android, and iOS?
  - gress 12y ago
    Actually you are just denigrating their work with innuendo.
    - DannyBee 12y ago
      Actually, i have real facts, but i can't state them here, so i'm pointing you at enough data to draw your own conclusions. But sure, if you'd rather just believe whatever you like, you are welcome to :)
      - gress 12y ago
        I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying that you are deceiving yourself if you think you aren't denigrating them. That is clearly your intention, and you think the facts bear you out. Why not just be honest about it?
mrb 12y ago
"But 1 port is sad, because now you have to choose between a lot of things (charging, using hdmi, whatever)" No, USB Type-C allows multiple concurrent uses, such as: charging and using HDMI at the same time. See http://www.anandtech.com/show/8518/hands-on-with-usb-type-c-reversible-usb-connectors http://www.anandtech.com/show/8518/hands-on-with-usb-type-c-... : "This opens up the possibility for a dock scenario where a single cable to the monitor can charge a laptop and also mirror the laptop's display onto the external monitor, and the external monitor would also be able to serve as a USB hub for a keyboard, mouse, headsets, flash drives, and other USB peripherals." Edit: @rakoo: I agree that in scenarios where you do not have a hub, it is annoying to have only 1 port. Even if the power brick integrates a USB hub it would be weird to have to plug a USB drive in the brick... I guess this opens a market opportunity: sell a tiny USB hub with 3 ports (type-C power in, type-C power out, type-A generic port) that is meant to be left almost permanently attached to the laptop or to the end of the power cord.
- zaroth 12y ago
  Theoretically, yes. But I'm not obsoleting my new 4K 60" screen to add a port. So if I want to output display to a monitor/projector and I'm low on battery, I better have a powered USB hub handy... It may come with a 1-port USB plus power adapter in place of the standard power cable though?
  - exprL 12y ago
    Having a powered USB hub doesn't seem like a stretch next to a 60" monitor. It's not like the latter is very portable. edit: vocabulary
  - radicalbyte 12y ago
    On my desk I have two monitors, keyboard, mouse, microphone, webcam, laptop and an Antec USB charger which charges my phone, bluetooth headset, kindle and vita. My laptop is connected to the power via magsafe and the monitors with HDMI and USB. Keyboard/mouse/webcam/microphone are connected to the monitors. With the new USB-C plug I guess I'll be able to buy the hypothetical Antec "Super USB Charging Media Hub", which all my devices connect to. My laptop then only needs to plug into one thing. I would really like PC manufacturers to standardize on this; it would make using laptops as nice as using non-Apple telephones/tablets/ereaders is now. The decision to not include a single USB port is of course mind-boggling, especially given Apple's market. How are you supposed to share large files? No USB drives, no memory cards etc on the go.
elcct 12y ago
One port at a time

I'm glad apple picked this up after so many others pushed it forward :) But 1 port is sad, because now you have to choose between a lot of things (charging, using hdmi, whatever)

function_seven 12y ago

I will guarantee you that their charger will have a port on it to pass through. Still awkward, but I can't imagine that they'd force users to choose between data and power on that one port.

geoelectric 12y ago
I just hope the passthrough is up near the part that plugs into the laptop, or it's going to be awfully inconvenient for a lot of different kinds of peripherals.
- function_seven 12y ago
  Looks like I had it backwards. It's the other items that pass through the USB C port. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1L2AM/A/usb-c-vga-multiport-adapter http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1L2AM/A/usb-c-vga-multip... I wish the power adapter itself would also have the passthrough.

bane 12y ago

It just means we're going to stay stuck in dongle hell. When I'm on the road the minimalism of a Mac is nice, but at my desk, hooked up to everything I really need for heavy work, my desktop is a cluster-f of cables and adapters and wires.

mmastrac 12y ago
To be fair, it's at least a single standard dongle hell. And now with USB-C you can have thunderbolt-style docks that give you a near-universal docking experience (ie: DVI/HDMI/dozens of USB ports/DVD drive/power) with a single cable when you're at your desk.
- Someone1234 12y ago
  I agree, that is the theory. However we might be at least a year from such hubs being affordable. I guess what I am saying is, I wouldn't want to be queued outside the Apple store for one of these. The supporting accessories aren't there yet (yes, even with Apple's two hubs/adapters). However when they do the refresh on this line, one or two years from now, the supporting hubs, wires, and so on will be available and it will be a very fun experience.
greggman 12y ago
Isn't it only dongle hell for a few years? Theoretically monitors, printers, hard drives, etc will all have USB-C connectors as well at some point.
- lbearl 12y ago
  So we are basically back to the old days of Daisy-chaining SCSI devices?
  - zkhalique 12y ago
    What's wrong with USB hubs?
    - lbearl 12y ago
      Nothing is wrong with hubs, but now there is yet one more thing you have to have available (at least until they become more prolific in external devices)
    - Someone1234 12y ago
      Want a legit answer? They lack power isolation. I had a device surge/short while attached to a USB hub (it was a branded one), and everything else attached died: Keyboard, Mouse, motherboard, and a phone. This was back pre-USB 3, and the power limit of USB has only increased since then (USB 3, USB-C, etc). This means the wires get hotter, the hub gets hotter, and any short/surge will have an even more dramatic effect (e.g. fire?). Honestly USB hubs should be up to the same spec as a surge-protector/multi-tap, but they aren't, even though they carry enough electricity to kill someone.
      - zkhalique 12y ago
        http://www.amazon.com/HDE-SuperSpeed-Individual-Switches-Included/dp/B00L5IS9KE/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425940763&sr=1-4&keywords=surge+usb++hub http://www.amazon.com/HDE-SuperSpeed-Individual-Switches-Inc...
  - 12y ago
bryanlarsen 12y ago
This seems like the fix for dongle hell to me. You plug everything into your monitor, tucking your cables away nicely, and then you have a single cable going from your monitor into your laptop.
- bduerst 12y ago
  Most monitors do this now with a USB hub, except you have two cables (video and usb). Too bad USB-C didn't also do microphone in.
  - bronson 12y ago
    Can't you just use USB microphones? https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=usb+microphone&tbm=shop https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&e...
    - eropple 12y ago
      Small sample size and all, but I find USB microphones to be rather susceptible to electrical noise from stuff like USB hubs. I have to plug them directly into my machines to get a clean signal.
  - cdcarter 12y ago
    Probably better to use a USB microphone instead of integrated sound card A/D anyway...
archagon 12y ago
I'm concerned about the feasibility of USB-powered hard drives with this setup. On my Macbook Pro, if I plug more than one of them into a hub (as opposed to separate USB ports), they start flaking out on account of lack of power, even if the hub is powered.
- lsaferite 12y ago
  Well, if the hub has enough power, supports USB-PD, and the drive supports USB-PD, then it should be able to draw up to 100W of power.
- X-Istence 12y ago
  Then your hub is not doing a good job of providing the 500 mA that it supposed to give to devices, or your USB powered hard drive actually requires more than 500 mA to do its thing.
  - archagon 12y ago
    I believe my drives use 500mA each for power.
    - X-Istence 12y ago
      Make sure the power brick that your powered hub came with is capable of powering the N+ devices you have at the same time. Most of the 4 port hubs come with 2A power supplies, however sometimes they skimp on actually being able to deliver that power.
teacup50 12y ago
Sounds like what you want is a ... Desktop Computer.
- tstrimple 12y ago
  You mean that portable USB hard drives should be used with desktop computers, not portable laptops?
  - integraton 12y ago
    In the current era of ubiquitous saas/cloud services, abstracted file systems, multiple device types, large internal storage options, dropbox, box, drive, and icloud, there are many, many people who haven't used a USB drive in years (or ever) and have no use for one.
larrys 12y ago
Other than cost (which is certainly a factor) I guess I've never understood why people schlep around a laptop and use the same laptop for their desktop by plugging in cables. I know people do this who could easily afford an additional more powerful desktop. I use a MacPro driving 3 27' displays and also have a few portables as well. It's just a matter of synching info. I can't imagine having to deal with hooking up a portable.
- anentropic 12y ago
  mostly because a) don't need a more powerful desktop and b) the syncing is not well streamlined I'd seriously consider an iMac if Apple would solve b.
- alasdair_ 12y ago
  >It's just a matter of synching info. Synchronizing is hard. That's the problem. I want to close my laptop after a day at the office and be able to continue working on the train or an airplane, immediately, if I need to. This isn't easy to do without having a single machine.
  - cweiss 12y ago
    To their credit, it seems Apple is at least trying to solve this problem with their recent foray into 'live' document dragging between iOS/Yosemite. Though it's hardly the ubiquitous solution we want, it is a first step.
- egypturnash 12y ago
  Some of us like to own as few things as possible. Plugging my 2013 Air into my desk when I come home isn't a big hassle - I plug in the speaker cable, the power cable, the video cable, and the USB hub. It takes me ten seconds[1] to do unless one of the cables falls; they're normally sitting right where I put the Mac. It sits on a lower shelf and runs closed; there's a Bluetooth keyboard and a Wacom tablet on my desk. (I'm an artist.) It'd be nice to have the single connector I guess. Once I got an adapter[2] and plugged everything into that I'd save all of, I dunno, five seconds? I'm also not driving three displays. I have never liked multiple displays. They don't work well with a Wacom tablet, and I go crazy from constantly seeing slight color differences; when I'm at a cafe, I use the laptop screen; when I'm at home, I use the external monitor. Now you have one person's explanation of why she schleps around a single laptop that she also uses for her desktop. 1: Literally; I just timed it. 6.6s to leisurely unplug it, 10.3s to casually reconnect it. 2: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av...
danudey 12y ago
This is one of the great things about buying an Apple Cinema Display. My Displayport model provides audio/video over one cable, camera/microphone over another, and a third MagSafe connector. The Thunderbolt design allows for audio/video/camera/microphone/ethernet/firewire/even more thunderbolt, plus a magsafe connector. I think we'll see a lot of small USB hubs with a USB-C connector to your laptop and all your USB/audio/Displayport/ethernet out, so that getting back to your desk is one cable to plug in and not a half-dozen.
jedrek 12y ago
Apple laptops have been limited by a lack of docking ports, which is my favorite use case for having a work and home workstation. Now, instead of hooking up a power cable, monitor cable and USB hub, you slide one connector in. How is that bad?
- drinchev 12y ago
  It would not be bad, but the adapter that gives me two ports will be a part of my trip. At airports for example I'm carrying only my MacBook and usually put in there charger and the my phone, now I have to also carry an adapter to do that.
- renaudg 12y ago
  Well with the Thunderbolt Display or various other Thunderbolt docking stations, 2 cables to the Macbook already was a reality

madeofpalk 12y ago

> I'm glad apple picked this up after so many others pushed it forward :) To be fair, Apple had a lot of people on the USB-C standards... 'committee', second only to Intel. Source: http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505187/apple-macbook-2015-usb-type-c-reversible http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505187/apple-macbook-2015-...

DannyBee 12y ago
Not to denigrate their work, but this happened very very late in the type-C game. (Look at who attended what meetings, and where it was proposed, how far it was along when it was proposed, and then when apple started showing up. It looks like they saw the writing on the wall, and joined in to make sure they weren't going to get left behind)
- melling 12y ago
  Probably realized that they needed to go with USB-C because of cars, European regulations, etc. Finally, everyone is using one connector. PC, Mac, Android, and iOS?
- gress 12y ago
  Actually you are just denigrating their work with innuendo.
  - DannyBee 12y ago
    Actually, i have real facts, but i can't state them here, so i'm pointing you at enough data to draw your own conclusions. But sure, if you'd rather just believe whatever you like, you are welcome to :)
    - gress 12y ago
      I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying that you are deceiving yourself if you think you aren't denigrating them. That is clearly your intention, and you think the facts bear you out. Why not just be honest about it?

mrb 12y ago

"But 1 port is sad, because now you have to choose between a lot of things (charging, using hdmi, whatever)" No, USB Type-C allows multiple concurrent uses, such as: charging and using HDMI at the same time. See http://www.anandtech.com/show/8518/hands-on-with-usb-type-c-reversible-usb-connectors http://www.anandtech.com/show/8518/hands-on-with-usb-type-c-... : "This opens up the possibility for a dock scenario where a single cable to the monitor can charge a laptop and also mirror the laptop's display onto the external monitor, and the external monitor would also be able to serve as a USB hub for a keyboard, mouse, headsets, flash drives, and other USB peripherals." Edit: @rakoo: I agree that in scenarios where you do not have a hub, it is annoying to have only 1 port. Even if the power brick integrates a USB hub it would be weird to have to plug a USB drive in the brick... I guess this opens a market opportunity: sell a tiny USB hub with 3 ports (type-C power in, type-C power out, type-A generic port) that is meant to be left almost permanently attached to the laptop or to the end of the power cord.

zaroth 12y ago
Theoretically, yes. But I'm not obsoleting my new 4K 60" screen to add a port. So if I want to output display to a monitor/projector and I'm low on battery, I better have a powered USB hub handy... It may come with a 1-port USB plus power adapter in place of the standard power cable though?
- exprL 12y ago
  Having a powered USB hub doesn't seem like a stretch next to a 60" monitor. It's not like the latter is very portable. edit: vocabulary
- radicalbyte 12y ago
  On my desk I have two monitors, keyboard, mouse, microphone, webcam, laptop and an Antec USB charger which charges my phone, bluetooth headset, kindle and vita. My laptop is connected to the power via magsafe and the monitors with HDMI and USB. Keyboard/mouse/webcam/microphone are connected to the monitors. With the new USB-C plug I guess I'll be able to buy the hypothetical Antec "Super USB Charging Media Hub", which all my devices connect to. My laptop then only needs to plug into one thing. I would really like PC manufacturers to standardize on this; it would make using laptops as nice as using non-Apple telephones/tablets/ereaders is now. The decision to not include a single USB port is of course mind-boggling, especially given Apple's market. How are you supposed to share large files? No USB drives, no memory cards etc on the go.

elcct 12y ago

One port at a time