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Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

arstechnica.com

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Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#121

Post by lostgame »

nkkollaw wrote: post #72
ihuman wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No USB ports No USB- A ports. There are still 2 USB ports, but they are Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports.

No USB ports.

Upvoting this because it was ridiculously down-voted, and I'm not sure why.

No, USB-C ports are not 'USB' ports. Not as 'USB' ports have been for at least a decade and a half. Almost two.

USB 1.0 and USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 managed to all use the same connector, and not charge us out the ass for adapters to use the same hardware.

If you're not pissed about USB-C, or you somehow think that having a port you can no longer plug any of your previous devices into without a costly and non-bundled adapter is equivalent to having an actual, standard USB port, you probably simply haven't had to deal with dongle life.

We have an inside joke at my work where we literally call these ports 'not-USB'.

The fact that Apple's flagship phone and flagship computer can't connect out of the box without paying for an additional cable indicates blatantly how horrible this situation is. That they had the audacity to release phones only a month ago that were still incompatible after all this time almost makes me feel that they are intentionally messing with us.

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#123

Post by rspeer »

notatoad wrote: post #103
falcolas wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In contrast - my USB hubs, external USB drives, and CD reader are all USB A. My phone is Lightning. My spare chargers are two flavors of magsafe. The cords I've begun to accumulate to work with a USB C computer have varying capabilities, to the point where I can't safely interchange them for fear of blowing past their tolerances accidentally. I'm not so keen on this change.

>for fear of blowing past their tolerances accidentally this is not how USB-C works. you might end up with a cable that doesn't support high voltage, but it simply won't upgrade to a higher voltage and your device will charge slower or not at all. I agree that it's frustrating that all USB-C cables aren't interchangeable, but to imply they're potentially unsafe is wrong. There was a bunch of out-of-spec cables on the…

I got an out-of-spec USB-C cable three weeks ago.

While driving a long distance, I noticed that I had failed to bring any way to charge my phone in the car, so I bought a USB-A to USB-C cable at a rest stop convenience store.

It served its immediate purpose of not leaving me lost with a dead battery. But it doesn't charge many other devices, and it only works when plugged in with the USB logo facing down.

I don't consider the problem of fake USB-C cables solved.

(I have no idea what brand it is, and the convenience store themselves probably bought whatever the cheapest counterfeit thing on Amazon was)

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#125

Post by setquk »

Ratiofarmings wrote: post #99

So they finally removed the last computer with mag safe and a good keyboard from their lineup. I am not at all happy about that. All this computer needed was a new cpu, memory and a type-c port.

I wasn't a fan of magsafe. I'd rather have a machine that doesn't die if you look at it funny apart from the narrow case of falling over the cable.

(I have killed three macbooks)

Not only that I've seen a magsafe connector on fire.

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#126

Post by prolikewh0a »

tptacek wrote: post #108
Ratiofarmings wrote: post #99

So they finally removed the last computer with mag safe and a good keyboard from their lineup. I am not at all happy about that. All this computer needed was a new cpu, memory and a type-c port.

Magsafe is done. The writing was on the wall when the rMBP switched to USBC. If you want a magnetic breakaway USBC cable, just buy one.

Are there any breakaway USB-C's that work with 45-65W? Serious question.

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#127

Post by Karunamon »

lostgame wrote: post #121
nkkollaw wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No USB ports.

Upvoting this because it was ridiculously down-voted, and I'm not sure why. No, USB-C ports are not 'USB' ports. Not as 'USB' ports have been for at least a decade and a half. Almost two. USB 1.0 and USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 managed to all use the same connector, and not charge us out the ass for adapters to use the same hardware. If you're not pissed about USB-C, or you somehow think that having a port you can no longer…

It was probably ridiculously downvoted for being worthless snark that adds nothing to the conversation.

As to "costly", a USB -> USBC hub can be had for around the same price as a regular hub on Amazon, starting around $4.99 and going up from there.

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#128

Post by 51lver »

notatoad wrote: post #97
ummonk wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's getting better every year, as peripherals and other devices switch over to USB-C. Apple's imposition of USB-C as the one cable has been very frustrating, but we're starting to see the fruits of it.

if apple were truly imposing USB-C as the "one cable" it would be less frustrating. it's crazy that still, three years after the macbook pro switched to all usb-c, if you go to the apple store and buy a brand new iPhone and a brand new mac, you need an aftermarket cable to connect the two.

Aftermarket means it was supplied by an accessory manufacturer and not the original equipment manufacturer, generally without the OEM's blessing. It's really more of a car term than a computer term.

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#129

Post by kbenson »

minhazm423 wrote: post #107
andr wrote: post #15

Given that 15 minutes later, in the iPad part of the event, they claimed the new iPad is faster than 92% of all notebooks sold in the last year, the writing is on the wall. For me, the next Macbook to be excited about, would be one with an ARM processor. Still, really disappointing that for the new Air they do not allow you to go to 1TB SSD, but they won't allow you upgrade from a dual-core i5. Feels like a political…

>Given that 15 minutes later, in the iPad part of the event, they claimed the new iPad is faster than 92% of all notebooks sold in the last year, the writing is on the wall. For me, the next Macbook to be excited about, would be one with an ARM processor. hey not a huge technocrat when it comes to pc parts, but could u explain that part to me? what is the writing on the wall? what is arm exactly? and what makes u thi…

ARM based processors which are used in most mobile devices and use a different instruction set, as opposed to x86 based processors, such as those available from Intel and AMD. Apple licensed the ARM technology and builds their own chips using it, and really good chips at that. So good, that some people are now calling for Apple to release an ARM based laptop (which has been done by others, but not to much popularity).

There would be advantages (power savings) and disadvantages (most existing MacOS software wouldn't work until recompiled at a minimum)

Re: Apple Finally Updates MacBook Air with Retina Display, Touch ID

#130

Post by AlphaSite »

dayvough wrote: post #104
diegorbaquero wrote: post #102

If only Apple could make their Pro line without Touch Bar but with Pro specs, that'd be nice

I was kinda disappointed they didn't touch the MBP lineup this time around but hey we might get something come WWDC.

It did get updated not 3 months ago.
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