Apple’s new MacBook Pro might ditch regular USB ports

[captain_to_fire]

Article from The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/18/13314972/apple-macbook-pro-late-2016-rumors-no-usb-ports

 

Quote

Apple has long been rumored to be preparing to launch an updated MacBook Pro model this year. While the company's iPhone event came and went without a mention of Macs, recent rumors have suggested the new MacBook Pro may arrive at an event on October 27th. A new report from Macotakara suggests that Apple is still planning to launch its new MacBook Pro later this month, and the company might unveil a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Air at the same time.

Apple is said to be including USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports on the new MacBook Pro, and ditching traditional USB ports and the company's MagSafe charging connector. That might surprise potential MacBook Pro owners, but it's the same strategy that Apple used in its 12-inch MacBook. Many will be hoping that Apple manages to squeeze more than one USB Type-C port inside the new MacBook Pro, though, and that it leaves the headphone jack alone for now.

Apple's new MacBook Pro is also expected to include a "Dynamic Function Row," which replaces the top row of function keys with a touchscreen OLED strip that allows keys to be dynamic to match applications. Apple is also reportedly slimming down the MacBook Pro to include a flatter keyboard.

 

On the MacBook Air side, Macotakara reports that Apple will kill off the 11-inch version of its popular laptop in favor of the 13-inch model. Previous reports suggest that Apple may also include USB Type-C on the new MacBook Air, which could mean the Air will also lose its traditional USB ports.

I'm not ecstatic with this. Anyone who has used a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air knew that one of its best features is the MagSafe connector. Also, losing the Type A USB port is a no no for something like the MacBook Pro. 

 

 

[NinerL]

I'm fine with that, as long as they include multiple USB C ports.

[Mr.Meerkat]

This is where we find out the macbook pro is only 10mm thick with the air being 8mm and the new macbook being 5mm  

[Tarzan]

And where am I supposed to put my G602 USB dongle? 

[Misanthrope]

USB ports are fairly thin, there's no fucking reason to remove them other than to fuck with people.

[The Benjamins]

3 minutes ago, Tarzan said:

And where am I supposed to put my G602 USB dongle? 

It will still have USB ports just that they are type C not A, and thunderbolt 3 is also compatible with USB devices.

 

I don't see a big issue with this. it will suck that some stuff you may need a adapter but it is not like they don't have any USB ports. and I am fine with replacing mag charge port for a USB type c/thunderbolt port

[Misanthrope]

1 minute ago, The Benjamins said:

It will still have USB ports just that they are type C not A, and thunderbolt 3 is also compatible with USB devices.

 

I don't see a big issue with this. it will suck that some stuff you may need a adapter but it is not like they don't have any USB ports. and I am fine with replacing mag charge port for a USB type c/thunderbolt port

Yeah, such an elegant solution:

[Vode]

2 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

Yeah, such an elegant solution:

such form factor, much convenient

[Starelementpoke]

4 minutes ago, The Benjamins said:

It will still have USB ports just that they are type C not A, and thunderbolt 3 is also compatible with USB devices.

 

I don't see a big issue with this. it will suck that some stuff you may need a adapter but it is not like they don't have any USB ports. and I am fine with replacing mag charge port for a USB type c/thunderbolt port

 

2 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

Yeah, such an elegant solution:

I'm with @Misanthrope . I don't want to have to pay another $15-$20 for a splitter.

[Misanthrope]

1 minute ago, Vode said:

such form factor, much convenient

Again, USB type A ports are not huge, they're fucking thin. For a notebook still fit within the thinnest possible laptop you can use currently and for a good while.

[The Benjamins]

2 minutes ago, Starelementpoke said:

 

I'm with @Misanthrope . I don't want to have to pay another $15-$20 for a splitter.

I defiantly don't agree with that 1 port design, but if it had like 2 USB type c and 2 thunderbolts that would be fine.

[Starelementpoke]

Just now, The Benjamins said:

I defiantly don't agree with that 1 port design, but if it had like 2 USB type c and 2 thunderbolts that would be fine.

If that's the case, then yeah. But it's not, so no go.

[The Benjamins]

2 minutes ago, Starelementpoke said:

If that's the case, then yeah. But it's not, so no go.

what do you mean its not? its not even out how do you know?

[Starelementpoke]

Just now, The Benjamins said:

what do you mean its not? its not even out how do you know?

I'm not putting that much faith in Apple. 

[The Benjamins]

1 minute ago, Starelementpoke said:

I'm not putting that much faith in Apple. 

Well if they make the pro with only 1 or 2 ports then they have lost it. the pro should the the work horse laptop from apple so they should expect a few things needs to be plugged in like a monitor, HDD box, charger.

[Starelementpoke]

Just now, The Benjamins said:

Well if they make the pro with only 1 or 2 ports then they have lost it. the pro should the the work horse laptop from apple so they should expect a few things needs to be plugged in like a monitor, HDD box, charger.

Again. Personally don't have that much faith in Apple.

[vanished]

Really, they're leaving the headphone jack?  I actually am genuinely surprised... I guess they're not as confident (or should I say courageous ) as I thought.  Way to do something and then not commit to it

 

[daniielrp]

Honestly, I wouldn't mind. All mine are used for are a USB to Ethernet adapter, and very rarely plugging in my iPhone - both of which is just a case of swap to USB C cables.

[goodtofufriday]

Too many devices use usb A. However the macbook pro has not been a very "pro" product as of late, so what does it matter. Its become a glorified ipad with macOS instead of iOS

[dragosudeki]

Would be nice to see them leave at least one of the old USB ports. For the people who got that nice mouse they liked and would not want to spend more money getting the same mouse on USB C. I find that having converters/dongles is more silly than how thick a device can be.

[79wjd]

6 minutes ago, dragosudeki said:

Would be nice to see them leave at least one of the old USB ports. For the people who got that nice mouse they liked and would not want to spend more money getting the same mouse on USB C. I find that having converters/dongles is more silly than how thick a device can be.

I don't think removing USB Type A is for thinness reasons but rather to help drop an old standard. 

 

I both like and dislike the move to USB-C for power. On the one hand, it's nice for obvious reasons, but on the other hand, magsafe is great. There are already USB-C "magsafe" adapters from third parties....so there's always that, but it would be nice if it came with one. 

https://griffintechnology.com/us/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-power-cable

[Bsmith]

removing standard USB(usb A) port completely would even for apple be one of the few ways to kill a good productline like the macbook pro, I get the idea of moving forward and all that, but you can live in a studio or mobile(workstation) set-up with just 1 or 2 USB-C connections, especially not if one is meant for powering your system.

[dragosudeki]

21 minutes ago, djdwosk97 said:

I don't think removing USB Type A is for thinness reasons but rather to help drop an old standard. 

 

I both like and dislike the move to USB-C for power. On the one hand, it's nice for obvious reasons, but on the other hand, magsafe is great. There are already USB-C "magsafe" adapters from third parties....so there's always that, but it would be nice if it came with one. 

While I do agree that USB C is better (for obvious reasons), but I think it is just too soon to drop the old USB Type A standard. There are still probably millions of devices that use the USB Type A standard, and its not like companies have completely stopped making USB Type A devices either. In my honest opinion, a standard becomes old when most new devices on the market has switched. Yet, I still see new mouse, keyboards, and even computer cases that do not even use USB-C.

 

The fastest way to make it a standard is for all manufacturers allow us to exchange our old USB devices to the new USB-C devices for free, but that's not even close to reality.

[79wjd]

4 minutes ago, dragosudeki said:

While I do agree that USB C is better (for obvious reasons), but I think it is just too soon to drop the old USB Type A standard. There are still probably millions of devices that use the USB Type A standard, and its not like companies have completely stopped making USB Type A devices either. In my honest opinion, a standard becomes old when most new devices on the market has switched. Yet, I still see new mouse, keyboards, and even computer cases that do not even use USB-C.

The thing is, it's cheaper for manufacturer's to produce just a single device rather than two, so companies won't switch from Type-A to type-C mass production until there is a reason to (i.e. computers don't have type-A anymore).

 

At some point there is going to be some pain over the switch, I just assume get it over with so we can all start switchin everything over to USB-C (and adapters are always a solution for anyone who doesn't want to re-buy everything -- an adapter wouldn't be particularly big/expensive). The most annoying switch (imo) will be with flash drives -- an adapter for a wired mouse isn't really an issue, many external HDDs have a detachable cable (and an adapter wouldn't be too bad for them either), but flash drives aren't as "easy" to adapt to type-c....although they're also cheap, so whatever)

[qwertywarrior]

this is fuckin stupid

 

just get rid of all the ports -

wireless charging and wireless data transfer