Why did Apple add HDMI to new MacBook?

[Just that Mario]

Why did they choose HDMI? Why not DP if they were going to add another video output capable port? Why do people even use HDMI? This has been bothering me too much.

[GuiltySpark_]

Because professionals sometimes need to use projectors and TV's and HDMI is significantly more common. 

[RockSolid1106]

I don't know if this matters or not, but I personally wouldn't like DP on my laptop. The port looks weirdly asymmetrical. HDMI looks better. The chassis being of lighter colors(silver gray etc) makes the port even more visible unlike a laptop with black chassis where they'd be not so attention-catching.

That's what I think. Haven't taken actual functionality into consideration.

[SignatureSigner]

I feel like its because most people who would utilize a video port on a laptop would be using it on a tv. Most older tvs (Not high end from the last few years) Used HDMI and don't have displayport.

[AndreiArgeanu]

It's because they finally listened and realized that people like to have a variation of ports on their laptop rather than buying and having to carry around dongles.

[Just that Mario]

1 minute ago, SignatureSigner said:

I feel like its because most people who would utilize a video port on a laptop would be using it on a tv. Most older tvs (Not high end from the last few years) Used HDMI and don't have displayport.

I'd like to argue most would use it on 1-3 monitors and use laptop as mobile workstation. Personally I HATE HDMI just as much I HATE VGA.

[GuiltySpark_]

1 minute ago, Just that Mario said:

I'd like to argue most would use it on 1-3 monitors and use laptop as mobile workstation. Personally I HATE HDMI just as much I HATE VGA.

Regardless, the thought processes was HDMI for mobile user who needs to connect to TV's and projectors from time to time. Those sitting at a desk will have a TB dock and hook up multiple DP displays that way.

[GuiltySpark_]

As a connection standard for strictly PC displays, I also much prefer DisplayPort but I can also completely understand the thought process and decision to go with HDMI for the new MBP's. 

[Glenwing]

It already has DisplayPort via Thunderbolt/USB-C. The only reason to add a dedicated video output port would be for convenience, so of course it is going to be the most commonly used and most commonly recognized port. Most people don't even know DisplayPort exists. If you had to use an adapter to connect to any HDMI display, then that's already possible with a USB-C to HDMI adapter and it defeats the purpose of putting the port there in the first place.

 

Also, there's a company image trap that they've set for themselves. They can't use full-size DisplayPort, because Apple are the ones that created the Mini DisplayPort connector, so if they put DisplayPort without using it, they look like they've stepped backwards. But they can't have a Mini DisplayPort output either, because Apple also in the past widely adopted Thunderbolt 2, so if they have a Mini DisplayPort output people will expect it to be a Thunderbolt port, if it's just plain Mini DP it looks like they've gone backwards. And they can't make it a Thunderbolt port because it would have to be Thunderbolt 2 only, which again makes it look like they've gone backwards. So Thunderbolt 3/USB-C is the only option for DisplayPort output in a company like Apple.

[Just that Mario]

4 minutes ago, Glenwing said:

It already has DisplayPort via Thunderbolt/USB-C. The only reason to add a dedicated video output port would be for convenience, so of course it is going to be the most commonly used and most commonly recognized port. Most people don't even know DisplayPort exists. If you had to use an adapter to connect to any HDMI display, then that's already possible with a USB-C to HDMI adapter and it defeats the purpose of putting the port there in the first place.

 

Also, there's a company image trap that they've set for themselves. They can't use full-size DisplayPort, because Apple are the ones that created the Mini DisplayPort connector, so if they put DisplayPort without using it, they look like they've stepped backwards. But they can't have a Mini DisplayPort output either, because Apple also in the past widely adopted Thunderbolt 2, so if they have a Mini DisplayPort output people will expect it to be a Thunderbolt port, if it's just plain Mini DP it looks like they've gone backwards. And they can't make it a Thunderbolt port because it would have to be Thunderbolt 2 only, which again makes it look like they've gone backwards. So Thunderbolt 3/USB-C is the only option for a company like Apple.

Interesting. Personally I wouldn't even want that HDMI port (nor dumb SD card reader) if I were to get a MBP. Though their pricing is high enough that I will not be getting one. If only my M1 MBA had high refresh screen.

[Action_Johnson]

You can already hook up 4 6k monitors via the TB4 ports...

 

The HDMI 2.0 port is literally for people in a pinch hooking up to a projector, a TV, something, anything, for a presentation. It's not intended to be used as the primary display out. You got 3 TB4 ports for that. I'll be using that HDMI port to run a 27" monitor off a 50-foot HDMI cable to use as client review on set. 

 

Also, the SD card slot is not dumb. I work in commercial advertising, that SD card slot is extremely useful for pulling down audio, ingesting stills from a camera, ingesting video, literally any recording medium that's not tethered or shooting to a mag. 

 

<mod removed>

Edited November 8, 2021 by Kilrah

[GDRRiley]

28 minutes ago, Just that Mario said:

Interesting. Personally I wouldn't even want that HDMI port (nor dumb SD card reader) if I were to get a MBP. Though their pricing is high enough that I will not be getting one. If only my M1 MBA had high refresh screen.

HDMI is all about not needing to hunt for a dongle at pretensions, apple got tired enough of major on stage events being held up by no dongle with their laptops front and center

 

while yeah the SD car reader has lost some of its ability given cameras have often moved onto other media there are still plenty of uses for it outside of the traditional creatives. From devs getting an OS on a single board computer to just smaller and faster than a flash drive for moving lots of files around. Would have been cool to see a CFexpress slot sure but then what size? A B C?, SD and micro SD are atleast easy to convert between

 

both of these are useful ports that people getting real work done want. Apple did a look at creatives doing work using Macs, all the laptops were pre 2015 with the light up logos and real ports. why? because when time is money or an idea no one wants to dig though their bag to find a dongle

[Just that Mario]

6 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

HDMI is all about not needing to hunt for a dongle at pretensions, apple got tired enough of major on stage events being held up by no dongle with their laptops front and center

 

while yeah the SD car reader has lost some of its ability given cameras have often moved onto other media there are still plenty of uses for it outside of the traditional creatives. From devs getting an OS on a single board computer to just smaller and faster than a flash drive for moving lots of files around. Would have been cool to see a CFexpress slot sure but then what size? A B C?, SD and micro SD are atleast easy to convert between

 

both of these are useful ports that people getting real work done want. Apple did a look at creatives doing work using Macs, all the laptops were pre 2015 with the light up logos and real ports. why? because when time is money or an idea no one wants to dig though their bag to find a dongle

It'd be really cool if Apple could make configurable ports, but we'll never see that. And sadly for me (and probably most of Europe), we'd get whatever pre-configured setups local distributors order.

[GDRRiley]

6 hours ago, Just that Mario said:

It'd be really cool if Apple could make configurable ports, but we'll never see that. And sadly for me (and probably most of Europe), we'd get whatever pre-configured setups local distributors order.

they won't

thats then just about making sure they make sense for the mass, most don't need 16gb of ram but 8tb of storage

[Imbadatnames]

On 11/8/2021 at 5:13 PM, Just that Mario said:

Interesting. Personally I wouldn't even want that HDMI port (nor dumb SD card reader) if I were to get a MBP. Though their pricing is high enough that I will not be getting one. If only my M1 MBA had high refresh screen.

I have a camera and the SD card would be a major plus for getting photos onto a laptop. I also do presentations so the HDMI is also a major plus. 

[Commodus]

Folks have already explained why the port exists, but I'll say this: I won't be surprised if it doesn't stick around for more than a few years. Apple is not some Windows OEM still including VGA ports to cater to businesses that haven't upgraded displays since 2002... it's happy to drop ports the moment it feels there's a better general alternative. See FireWire and USB as examples.

[Just that Mario]

22 hours ago, Commodus said:

Folks have already explained why the port exists, but I'll say this: I won't be surprised if it doesn't stick around for more than a few years. Apple is not some Windows OEM still including VGA ports to cater to businesses that haven't upgraded displays since 2002... it's happy to drop ports the moment it feels there's a better general alternative. See FireWire and USB as examples.

That's why I don't understand why they added it. To me HDMI is ancient tech and I am not even type of person that has newest and highest end everything.

[GuiltySpark_]

4 minutes ago, Just that Mario said:

That's why I don't understand why they added it. To me HDMI is ancient tech and I am not even type of person that has newest and highest end everything.

While you may feel that way, the truth is, at least in 2.1 form, HDMI is the best of the best available for high resolution, high refresh rate consumer display tech in TV's and projectors. (granted its 2.0 on the MBP but again, the use case doesn't really call for anything higher than 4K 60 in most cases)

 

The part you seem to be struggling with the most is that port wasn't added for desktop monitor usage.

 

 Guy shows up in his board meeting and needs to connector to the projector for a meeting. Everyone around him with Windows based laptops just plugs in no problem over HDMI. Our buy with the new MBP can now as well without a dongle. 

[Commodus]

2 hours ago, Just that Mario said:

That's why I don't understand why they added it. To me HDMI is ancient tech and I am not even type of person that has newest and highest end everything.

Apple most likely felt HDMI was still important enough to add back for now, particularly for video editors who'll want to attach a preview monitor without using dongles. Remember, Apple really is trying to court pros with the new MacBook Pro — that means adding features creatives will probably use for a while. Just so long as it doesn't fall into the same trap as Windows PC vendors that keep legacy ports long past their expiry dates.