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Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

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Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#461

Post by mixmastamyk »

jxdxbx wrote: post #458

The only ports I want to see on a modern laptop is just a bunch of fully capable USB C ports. An SD card slot would be fine, and if there's something like MagSafe, I'd want USB C charging to still be possible so I can just travel with a single kind of charger and cable. Lots of random USB-charging gadgets have switched to USB C. I like the idea of making USB A, one of the worst port designs of all time, die a slow pa…

Let me introduce you to the db25 parallel port. How about the PS/2, which took about thirty seconds to align correctly.

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#462

Post by qwerty456127 »

virtue3 wrote: post #457
qwerty456127 wrote: post #455

So cool. I probably am going to buy a MacBook if they bring everything back. Definitely buying something else if they don't. MacBooks look interesting but I'd rather buy something with an SD slot, physical F-keys, analog audio jack and at least 1 classic USB port to accompany Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports.

I dont think there's a particular reason to have USB-A when you can just use a usb-c-to-a adapter. Sure, you have to carry a dongle around but USB-C is just so much better in all aspects ( reliability, usage, speed, unidirectional). Plus it would keep the machine smaller (the physical height is an issue with the cases).

I know USB-C is better, but I also know the overwhelming majority of thumb drives (as well as other peripherals) around are USB-A. Doesn't being free from having to carry an extra dongle around feel good?

I don't insist it (a USB-A port) should be there but I would be pleased to have one. Its lack would mean I would have to always carry a dongle with me. Why not build it in if you always carry it with you anyway?

> Plus it would keep the machine smaller (the physical height is an issue with the cases).

Some extra millimetres are exactly the thing I absolutely couldn't care less about. Completely irrelevant. Definitely not willing to sacrifice, let alone pay anything for this.

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#463

Post by yarcob »

shrimpx wrote: post #445
yarcob wrote: post #381

The nice thing about my 2015 Macbook Pro is that it's useful without any accessories. I can just throw it in a bag and walk out the door. It's got enough battery life that I usually don't need to bring a charger. It has all the ports that I ever need. I can hook it up to a projector with the built in HDMI port, I can put in the SD card from my camera, or I can quickly copy files from someones thumb drive. I don't nee…

My take is Jony Ive went extreme on form factor and totally lost his grip on users. He wanted an objectively perfect, extremely thin portless wireless machine. Now that he’s gone the design team is descending from the Ivery tower and undoing his work, meeting users halfway again.

I really hope that you're right, but to be honest I'm not holding my breath.

I also don't think the 2015 Macbooks were perfect, it's just that I don't care about any of the new things Apple has introduced. What I would really like would be a cellular modem so I don't have to bother with hotspots on the train and maybe a stylus for marking up screenshots.

For my use cases, Apple expects me to carry a Macbook, an iPad, a stylus, and a pouch filled with dongles. I'm envious of the Windows folks, they get to have a single device that does it all.

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#465

Post by virtue3 »

qwerty456127 wrote: post #462
virtue3 wrote: post #457

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dont think there's a particular reason to have USB-A when you can just use a usb-c-to-a adapter. Sure, you have to carry a dongle around but USB-C is just so much better in all aspects ( reliability, usage, speed, unidirectional). Plus it would keep the machine smaller (the physical height is an issue with the cases).

I know USB-C is better, but I also know the overwhelming majority of thumb drives (as well as other peripherals) around are USB-A. Doesn't being free from having to carry an extra dongle around feel good? I don't insist it (a USB-A port) should be there but I would be pleased to have one. Its lack would mean I would have to always carry a dongle with me. Why not build it in if you always carry it with you anyway? > P…

I honestly view smaller as lighter, and that I do -really- care about. I travel a lot, so having something ultra portable was my favorite part of the MBP 13". I even had a smaller and lighter 45W usbC charger I could use for it. I really really really enjoyed that.

and I just kept a dongle in my travel kit with my charger and other cables, nbd :) (but yeah everyone is different, I'd probably just invest in USB-c thumb drives, or the ones that have ports on both end for C and A).

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#466

Post by angott »

behnamoh wrote: post #446
kube-system wrote: post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tripping over a power cable was a problem created by a battery life that was shorter than a work day, IMO. I have been charging my M1 Mac at night, like my phone.

Wait a couple years and you can say goodbye to your MBA superb battery capacity. Mine is now at 70% after only 3 years and less than 400 cycles. For all the buzz it receives, Apple does not really provide the highest quality. I’ve concluded that: “Apple gives you awesome first impression and terrible relationship in the long term.”

This is a problem with all laptop batteries, not just Apple batteries.

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#467

Post by qwerty456127 »

virtue3 wrote: post #465
qwerty456127 wrote: post #462

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know USB-C is better, but I also know the overwhelming majority of thumb drives (as well as other peripherals) around are USB-A. Doesn't being free from having to carry an extra dongle around feel good? I don't insist it (a USB-A port) should be there but I would be pleased to have one. Its lack would mean I would have to always carry a dongle with me. Why not build it in if you always carry it with you anyway? > P…

I honestly view smaller as lighter, and that I do -really- care about. I travel a lot, so having something ultra portable was my favorite part of the MBP 13". I even had a smaller and lighter 45W usbC charger I could use for it. I really really really enjoyed that. and I just kept a dongle in my travel kit with my charger and other cables, nbd :) (but yeah everyone is different, I'd probably just invest in USB-c thum…

I used MacBook Air 2013 (which was not mine) a lot and appreciate how portable (and durable) it is very much. This is exactly why I feel like buying a MacBook perhaps. But it already is perfect and I certainly don't want it to be even more thin. I actually just want a MacBook Air 2013 with better CPU/RAM/SSD/GPU specs and a Thunderbolt 4 port added to the those already there.

As I have emphasized the difference between USB-C and USB-A is just some millimetres and this doesn't make a valuable difference. Of course I would appreciate the difference if it was a centimetre or more.

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#468

Post by foldr »

behnamoh wrote: post #446
kube-system wrote: post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tripping over a power cable was a problem created by a battery life that was shorter than a work day, IMO. I have been charging my M1 Mac at night, like my phone.

Wait a couple years and you can say goodbye to your MBA superb battery capacity. Mine is now at 70% after only 3 years and less than 400 cycles. For all the buzz it receives, Apple does not really provide the highest quality. I’ve concluded that: “Apple gives you awesome first impression and terrible relationship in the long term.”

>Mine is now at 70% after only 3 year

70% of an M1 Macbook's battery capacity would still be enough to get you through a typical work day!

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#469

Post by mixmastamyk »

FractalParadigm wrote: post #218
fastball wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds like a terrible idea. Why have a proprietary charge port if it can also charge with USB-C?

All kinds of reasons - my biggest one being why MagSafe was invented in the first place; I know my power cord is run across the living room due to a lack of power outlets in my 70-year-old apartment, and gets tripped over regularly. Not to mention a proprietary charger can free up a USB port for additional peripherals.

A power strip might help.

Re: Apple's MacBook revival plan: Bring back old features

#470

Post by weaksauce »

shrimpx wrote: post #445
yarcob wrote: post #381

The nice thing about my 2015 Macbook Pro is that it's useful without any accessories. I can just throw it in a bag and walk out the door. It's got enough battery life that I usually don't need to bring a charger. It has all the ports that I ever need. I can hook it up to a projector with the built in HDMI port, I can put in the SD card from my camera, or I can quickly copy files from someones thumb drive. I don't nee…

My take is Jony Ive went extreme on form factor and totally lost his grip on users. He wanted an objectively perfect, extremely thin portless wireless machine. Now that he’s gone the design team is descending from the Ivery tower and undoing his work, meeting users halfway again.

> He wanted an objectively perfect, extremely thin portless wireless machine.

i mean that is the ipad pro with a keyboard. (not perfect comparison i guess but is closer to that ideal)

The mbp is supposed to be for professionals and that comes with a need for flexibility and functionality. the quest for thinness was misguided in my opinion.

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