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96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

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Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#51

Post by Daishiman »

pilif wrote: post #47
jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

A $30 adapter for a $2000+ machine isn't what I would call expensive. It does make the machines a lot thinner though and normally, you don't need wired Ethernet any more. I easily reach 60+ MB/s now over WiFi, so for the times where I really need the additional power I don't care about having the additional dongle with me.

When you work in an actual office with several dozen machines besides you, interference becomes important.

Also, the profit margin on those adapters is pretty astounding.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#52

Post by snorrah »

pilif wrote: post #47
jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

A $30 adapter for a $2000+ machine isn't what I would call expensive. It does make the machines a lot thinner though and normally, you don't need wired Ethernet any more. I easily reach 60+ MB/s now over WiFi, so for the times where I really need the additional power I don't care about having the additional dongle with me.

It's not expensive, it's inconvenient. Being able to quickly jack in to a gigabit network and not have to worry about fiddling about with wifi keys and unreliable speeds is something you should get with a high end laptop like an MBP.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#53

Post by hrrsn »

jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

Retina models ditched the Ethernet port, so 2012 is when that happened.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#54

Post by zimpenfish »

jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

At least since the mid-2012 Macbook Pro Retina (which is what I have.)

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#55

Post by hrrsn »

snorrah wrote: post #52
pilif wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A $30 adapter for a $2000+ machine isn't what I would call expensive. It does make the machines a lot thinner though and normally, you don't need wired Ethernet any more. I easily reach 60+ MB/s now over WiFi, so for the times where I really need the additional power I don't care about having the additional dongle with me.

It's not expensive, it's inconvenient. Being able to quickly jack in to a gigabit network and not have to worry about fiddling about with wifi keys and unreliable speeds is something you should get with a high end laptop like an MBP.

I've been using (and carting) a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter since I bought my first Retina in 2012 and it's really not all that bad. If you're constantly using it daily then carrying it around isn't a huge ask.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#56

Post by [deleted] »

jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

[deleted]

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#57

Post by bane »

jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

My desktop is basically filled with an octopus of dongles these days. It's ugly and annoying, and increases the footprint of my laptop 2x.

I guess USB-C is supposed to help with this?

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#58

Post by jsingleton »

jwr wrote: post #49
jsingleton wrote: post #43

Only just realised from this that MacBook Pro's no longer have an Ethernet port! When did that happen? You need to buy an expensive thunderbolt adapter. I can understand removing it from the ultra portable super-thin models but not from the top end professional model.

Yeah, I was disappointed by that, too. It's not about the cost, I don't care about the extra $40 or so, but now there is one more "dongle/cable" I need to worry about.

You're right that it's more about not having it with you when you need it. However it does add up.

£25 for Ethernet and then another £25 if you want FireWire too. And £25 for VGA and £25 for DVI (though to be fair you can get this from the HDMI port). But you can only have 2 of these plugged in at a time. Other laptops of this price come with all the adaptors in the box if the ports aren't integrated.

I like having the option of Ethernet available easily. For example, BT have been having big internet issues for the last few days and it's handy to rule out the WiFi. Also with a previous ISP (sadly not with BT) the WiFi was the limiting factor and I had to plug in to get full speed. Then the HDD was the limiting factor!

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#59

Post by zwily »

konradb wrote: post #33
thraxil wrote: post #23

Is it really simpler and more efficient to have 96 individual power bricks with custom mounting hardware rather than one (or a few) larger, high-efficiency AC to DC converters and just distributing DC within the rack?

You would have to terminate in magsafe connectors. You'd either have to butcher the wiring on all the power bricks or come up with some frankenstein thing with airline adapters, which I believe are now discontinued for some reason.

I'm guessing it's because airlines are moving toward just having standard power jacks. In fact, I can't remember the last plane I flew on that actually had the power jack the airline adapter needed.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#60

Post by Artemis2 »

shazow wrote: post #50
yuvadam wrote: post #40

Why are you keeping the lids partially open and drawing excessive power for the displays + backlight, instead of just using InsomniaX [1] ? [1] - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/22211/insomniax

"They are actually being held open 7mm by a custom 3D printed wedge. This opening allows for the screen to be used for testing as well as ample air circulation. You can’t see the temperature sensors tucked into each notebook’s keyboard area." Air circulation makes sense. There is a vent in between the screen pivot and the base, and also the gaps in the keys allow for some heat to escape. Agreed that the screens shoul…

What's brilliant is that when the screen is closed, the same vent opens on the back of the computer. That's extremely elegant.
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