Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#81

Post by retrogradeorbit » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:12 AM UTC

kabdib wrote: post #24

It's pretty bad. We use YubiKeys a lot, and there are no ports for them. So sad. Also: Magsafe is great (it's saved my bacon a few times). Gone. ESC key, gone. Don't know about the keyboard yet, but everything I've read doesn't point to it being decent. Probably not buying this generation of MacBooks. Might just bite the bullet and finally go to Linux on some decent hardware. So, what's a decent laptop for running Li…

I run Ubuntu on a Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1. Everything as a laptop works including the touch screen. Sound took an extra driver install, but that was easy. The only thing that doesnt work is the automatic keyboard locking when in tablet mode, but honestly the tablet mode is a bit of a gimmick. It's too heavy for long use as a tablet. I bought it as a laptop, and for that its been really great. I was actually quite surprised. And the price is amazing. $600 USD.

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#82

Post by pcwalton » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:12 AM UTC

bane wrote: post #48

erwinkle wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been developing using the bash shell on Windows. It's got a couple quirks (like a couple second startup time on first startup, or docker issues) but it has performed exceptionally otherwise. I've primarily been doing nodejs development and installing random unix packages I need.

Out of curiosity have you thought about just running a linux server in a VM and sshing into it from the shell? It seems bizarre I know, but you get a "real" linux then, while still keeping a major OS for software compatibility with user apps.

It's faster to not have to have a separate filesystem, and with the new update or cbwin [1] you can launch native Windows apps from the command line.

[1]: https://github.com/xilun/cbwin

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#83

Post by eridius » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:12 AM UTC

ant6n wrote: post #28

I wish they'd just replaced 2 thunderbolt ports and magsave with 3 usb-c ports (leaving two usb, a hdmi port and sd card reader), made the screen matte, gave me 32gb and a fanless design.

Fanless design means performance is seriously crippled. The fact that the fanless MacBook works at all is impressive.

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#84

Post by dingo_bat » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:12 AM UTC

bane wrote: post #48

erwinkle wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been developing using the bash shell on Windows. It's got a couple quirks (like a couple second startup time on first startup, or docker issues) but it has performed exceptionally otherwise. I've primarily been doing nodejs development and installing random unix packages I need.

Out of curiosity have you thought about just running a linux server in a VM and sshing into it from the shell? It seems bizarre I know, but you get a "real" linux then, while still keeping a major OS for software compatibility with user apps.

I used to do exactly what you're suggesting. I had a headless vm always running in my laptop and I used to ssh into it. I have turned the vm off since I started using bash on Ubuntu on windows. There are hiccups, but 99% of the time I don't notice that it isn't "real" Linux.

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#85

Post by plandis » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:13 AM UTC

matthewaveryusa wrote: post #68

kabdib wrote: post #24

It's pretty bad. We use YubiKeys a lot, and there are no ports for them. So sad. Also: Magsafe is great (it's saved my bacon a few times). Gone. ESC key, gone. Don't know about the keyboard yet, but everything I've read doesn't point to it being decent. Probably not buying this generation of MacBooks. Might just bite the bullet and finally go to Linux on some decent hardware. So, what's a decent laptop for running Li…

Going linux on decent hardware isn't biting the bullet one bit. Thinkpads are seriously nice and the days where you couldn't get your audio and wifi working on linux have been over for ~5 years. Give it a shot, and you just might like it.

How's the build quality though? I was under the impression that Thinkpads are mostly plastic. Honestly, one of the best perks of a MacBook is the machined aluminum body. Does Lenovo have anything like that?

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#86

Post by anuragsoni » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:13 AM UTC

matthewaveryusa wrote: post #68

kabdib wrote: post #24

It's pretty bad. We use YubiKeys a lot, and there are no ports for them. So sad. Also: Magsafe is great (it's saved my bacon a few times). Gone. ESC key, gone. Don't know about the keyboard yet, but everything I've read doesn't point to it being decent. Probably not buying this generation of MacBooks. Might just bite the bullet and finally go to Linux on some decent hardware. So, what's a decent laptop for running Li…

Going linux on decent hardware isn't biting the bullet one bit. Thinkpads are seriously nice and the days where you couldn't get your audio and wifi working on linux have been over for ~5 years. Give it a shot, and you just might like it.

Thinkpads are really good when it comes to laptops that play nice with linux. I still have my T430s around and I love the keyboard and form factor.

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#87

Post by israrkhan » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:13 AM UTC

No Magsafe? it was one of the coolest feature on macbooks. No HDMI? No USB ports? No SD card? No Escape key.. negatively impact vi/vim experience.

Basically they want you to buy adapters for everything (maybe next version will also drop the audio jack).

and they call it a step forward? Surface book looks a lot better to me despite lacking in graphics specs.

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#88

Post by manyxcxi » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:13 AM UTC

I've got a Cinema Display, though it's been relegated to my second monitor it is pretty nice to have all my cables routed cleanly to that and just plug in the MagSafe/T2 connection and my MiniDP connection from my big monitor every morning and just be done with it.

Some cursory searches suggest I'll be anywhere from $80-150 in getting a Thunderbolt 3 -> Thunderbolt 2 adapter. This, just to get back to even after an upgrade.

I love my MBP, I've gotten one every other year since 2008, except for that time I lost my laptop bag off the motorcycle on the freeway. It's the best blend (for me) of *nix and 'Just Works'. I can't even fathom going back to Windows, but I might go see what Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora desktops look like these days, and I hear Dell has some decent upper end hardware again...

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#89

Post by Yodoshi » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:13 AM UTC

usaphp wrote: post #27

Yodoshi wrote: post #16

Even worse is that there is no real option if you're developing for IOS. Imac is a no go due to not wanting desktop and other macbooks don't seem the right type for heavy multitasking, compiling etc. It's MBP or bust.

Can you tell me you usage scenario if you are a developer for iOS, what exactly is prohibiting you from using this new generation of MacBook pros? I have not used my USB or hdmi ports on my 15" retina for years, the only port I am using is the thunderbolt to connect 4K display, but the only time I am using it is when I am at my desk, attaching a dongle to the desk monitor is quite easy and solves the only possibly is…

It's not that im prohibited from developing, its that the value proposition of a macbook pro is going down and I have no other option other than a macbook pro, all these changes are detrimental to me and I have no alternative.

Can't use (now) old magsafe, can't simply connect hdmi to current screen without an adaptor, yubikey will be useless and will need a replacement, adaptor for headphones because I use hd598s and will never use wireless headphones, need to get used to new f keys when using vscode shortcuts when meddling with non ios or react native code.

Nothing is a death knell, but feels like they're choosing a death by 1000 paper cuts with these incremental changes.

I honestly can't point to a gain except maybe able to click on a emote faster using the magic bar and other odds and sods that a magic bar offers.

Re: Apple’s new MacBook Pro kills off most of the ports you probably need

#90

Post by AvenueIngres » Fri, Oct 28, 2016, 1:14 AM UTC

douche wrote: post #52

eibrahim wrote: post #3

So disappointed. I had my wallet ready to order but this is no different than my current MBP. A half baked touch screen!!! Not worth the $3500 I was going to drop on a new MBP. I can't imagine going back to windows because I enjoy the terminal and vim but seriously considering it specially that now I can run bash on windows

It's really quite absurd to spend $3500 on a laptop. That's baffling. That's more than the down-payment on my pickup truck. That's more than we paid for the last two blade servers at work, that have a combined 96 cores and, I think, 288 GB of RAM. That's just a little less than the seven laptops I have owned in my entire life.

My laptop is my primary tool I used in my job, which allow me to support my family and myself. I spend around fifty hours a week using it. Investing in a good tool, when there is a guaranteed pay-off and productivity (or living quality) increase isn't unreasonable at all.