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New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

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Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#461

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally I think the versions with 4 USB type-C ports are great and can't wait for peripheral devices to catch up; several versatile ports is much better overall than the mishmash of different types of special-purpose ports for peripherals, displays, networking, charging. Anything that needs a particular legacy port can be done just fine via dongle. It is unfortunate that some laptops have only 2 USB type-C ports t…

> The batteries are bottlenecked on FAA limits passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium ion batteries (101-160 Wh) https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/more_info/?hazmat=7 100Wh internal battery like the 16” MBPB + 2x160Wh, I don’t see an issue with FAA rules.

>100Wh internal battery like the 16” MBPB

Which is what the parents meant. We dont need thicker laptop for bigger battery because we already hit that limit. And with lots of battery improvement coming in the next 5 years they could have made the same 100Whr battery smaller without sacrificing other features.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#462
post #345
post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My favorite part of my touchbar MBP is that it uses USB-C charging. MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. Magsafe is more than neat, it pretty much solved the major annoyance with laptop power cables (e.g. someone trips on cable, and laptop gets jerked around, eventually da…

I love the design of the MagSafe chargers, you point out a great advantage of them, but sadly they aren't durable. And like the parent comment said, they are expensive. I'm on my second for my current laptop and it's frayed on the end so I'm soon to be on my third. Hopefully a next iteration of MagSafe takes this issue more seriously.

This can only be planned obsolescence. Anti-fray cable ends have been a standard feature of headphones for decades.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#463
I use a USB-C to mag-charging adapter on my ipad pro, and I love it.

I like the idea of using repairable components like this because if my mag-charger gets broken by a toddler, the usb-c port is fine and I just get a new one without having to pay $300 to repair the ipad.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For someone who has worked as a travelling consultant for almost ten years, I couldn't care less about thinness. Obviously I don't want to carry any bricks around. But the thickness of 2013 models was totally fine for me. It allows for even more battery packs and room for cooling, as well as an Ethernet port. Shocking. There used to be laptops that actually included Ethernet ports, without any Thunderbolt dongles, th…

Personally I think the versions with 4 USB type-C ports are great and can't wait for peripheral devices to catch up; several versatile ports is much better overall than the mishmash of different types of special-purpose ports for peripherals, displays, networking, charging. Anything that needs a particular legacy port can be done just fine via dongle. It is unfortunate that some laptops have only 2 USB type-C ports t…

When everything is connected via USB type-C you have to trust way more. Currently, I don't have to trust the outlet in the wall, since it only has two or three connectable lines, and I plugin my vacuum cleaner, I am pretty sure it will only transfer energy, no data. But in a speculative future with USB type-C connected vacuum cleaners and USB ports installed in the house, I'll always wonder whether there is some backdoor somewhere in the house, that infects the firmware of my vacuum cleaner. I know this sounds like paranoia, it is not. I used to know that a sd-card connected to the sd-card reader doesn't send key strokes to my computer or uses my network to phone home. In a world where everything is connected via USB type-C those kinds of assumptions are pure speculation. And don't get me started on the different kinds of cables for USB type-C.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#465

I'll believe it when I see it. I could believe them getting rid of the touchbar, but bringing back magsafe? I'm sticking with my 2015 MacBook until it's irreparable, and I do like the magsafe port, but is there really any point in going back after moving to USB-C? I think I just like magsafe because it's cool more than that it actually has some sort of superiority over USB-C. I've tripped over the USB-C cable to my w…

My favorite part of my touchbar MBP is that it uses USB-C charging. MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. Could this be talking about an iPhone 12 style magsafe with a large pad? Not sure how that would work, you'd have to set your computer on top of it to have enough contact…

Likely Apple will still support USB-C charging even after adding back MagSafe.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#466

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was talking about the things that add magsafe charging while still allowing data transfer for current usbc macs. I'm simultaneously sad and happy to not be proved wrong. :(

This is what I use with my Intel 16” MBP and M1 Air. Magnetic Thunderbolt3 USB C Adapter 24Pins USB-C Connector, Support PD 100W Quick Charge, 40Gbp/s Data Transfer and 6K@60Hz 4K@60Hz Video Output Compatible for MacBook Pro/Air and More Type C Devices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_...

I tried several of those and the magnets were all so bad that they couldn't even support the weight of the cable itself and would lead to fraction-of-a-second disconnects, which in one case led the mac to disable charging on the port (temporarily. the apple store fixed it but I don't know how).

At this point I don't think the reward is worth the risk. But I am glad to hear that at least some of them aren't terrible.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#467

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have people tripping over the cords under your desk?

Are all people's desks conveniently placed for cable management?

Well I’ve got a power strip so I’m not running separate power cords for my computer, a powered USB hub, a lamp, an external hard drive, etc. since that would need a whole bunch of wall outlets that I definitely don’t have.

Having more than two things plugged in at a desk is pretty common situation and literally everyone solves it with a surge protector / power strip. So the laptop cord isn’t dangling across the room, it just runs from the power strip under the desk up the wall to the laptop on the desk. Not a situation where MagSafe would do anything for it.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#468
post #270

It's not fully impossible to build an up-to-specs magnetic USB C connector, it just hasn't happened yet. I am 100% if anyone ever pulls it off, it'll be Apple. https://twitter.com/USBCGuy/status/1186718432932159488 > No, because per the spec, and current technological limitations, there is no way to do a proper connector and logic board. > It might be possible some day with active electronics, and special electroopti…

I see some 24 pin "magnetic usb-c" adapters with 100W PD and TB3 compatibility on Amazon/Aliexpress. They need an existing cable so likely they just pass-thru cable capability discovery to an existing chip. Apart of some wear issues, reviews are rather positive. Anyone tried such?

Yes, Amazon reviews completely override the laws of physics. It is known.

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#469

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are all people's desks conveniently placed for cable management?

Well I’ve got a power strip so I’m not running separate power cords for my computer, a powered USB hub, a lamp, an external hard drive, etc. since that would need a whole bunch of wall outlets that I definitely don’t have. Having more than two things plugged in at a desk is pretty common situation and literally everyone solves it with a surge protector / power strip. So the laptop cord isn’t dangling across the room,…

There are well setup home office desks (I use one, now, didn't always have one), and there are all kinds of office makeshift desk situations, from a simple small ikea desk with a laptop on it and not much else, to the kitch table used as a desk (and cables going to the wall).

Sometimes you're also on the sofa and need to charge, and so on...

Re: New MacBook Pro models to feature magsafe, no touch bar and more ports: analyst

#470

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is what I use with my Intel 16” MBP and M1 Air. Magnetic Thunderbolt3 USB C Adapter 24Pins USB-C Connector, Support PD 100W Quick Charge, 40Gbp/s Data Transfer and 6K@60Hz 4K@60Hz Video Output Compatible for MacBook Pro/Air and More Type C Devices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_...

I tried several of those and the magnets were all so bad that they couldn't even support the weight of the cable itself and would lead to fraction-of-a-second disconnects, which in one case led the mac to disable charging on the port (temporarily. the apple store fixed it but I don't know how). At this point I don't think the reward is worth the risk. But I am glad to hear that at least some of them aren't terrible.

I use it to connect to the dock on my desk, so the cable weight wasn’t an issue, but I can see how the weight of the cable pulling down would disconnect the magnetic connector.
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