And that's why you're an Apple apologist. Again, you bring business and popularity to a discussion about hardware attributes, to justify Apple's decisions. I already know what you state in the first paragraph is true. But it's pointless to know that.
The thread started with an individual commenting on what product attributes would be changed from existing products to future products. The whole thing is a hardware comparison.
There is nothing arbitrary about my post. There's no wish list. We are talking about capability (what you can or cannot do) that Apple used to build into its products and no longer does so. So, it's not really about what we wish the products had. It's about what we used to have, and don't anymore for whatever reason (in this case thinness for the sake of coolness, or whatever).
It is really simple:
Can I do more with my MBP than with any other new portable that Apple makes? Yes.
Were features/capabilites taken away from existing products when releasing the new? Yes
Are the capabilities removed still useful today (i.e.. are there still Ethernet networks, do people still use/buy/rip/collect DVD, is there still legacy/enterprise hardware out there, etc)? YES
So then, is the older product more capable than the new? YES.
Can I do what I was able to do with my 2011 machine with a 2014 machine? NO.
Can I replace my 2011 machine with a 2014 and do everything I need to? NO.
Why? Well, that's another discussion, that you particularly want to jump into every time any detraction to Apple's hardware choices are pointed out. But it is utterly irrelevant when comparing products, as the reasons why do not affect buying decisions (apparently for most, but not all).
I get that my views aren't universal. But in my world, more capable means superior.
Apparently in yours, thinner (at the expense of capability) is superior.
While I don't agree, I can accept that.
But I find it interesting that you allude that I'm "bashing" Apple in an Apple forum, as if that's something that I'm not supposed to do. This is a discussion forum. As such, pros and cons are to be expressed with regards to all Apple-related information.
It is pretty much impossible to address your point of view without bringing up the Apple's business decisions (since that is the entire point), but I will try. When I recently purchased my Macbook(retina 13 inch MBP), I could have gone with the classic, mid 2012 non retina Macbook Pro since it had all of these old features and ports. The question was, why would I want to?
1)It's over a pound heavier which yes, it makes a lot of difference when carrying it from class to class, to and from work, etc.
2)It is dated technology. The processor is already two years old. It has a standard, slow 5400 hard drive, older graphics etc. Yes the drive can be updated to SSD and ram expanded but for the cost of those upgrades, I could have had the retina MBP.
3)Technology has evolved. It's not just about "for the sake of coolness or whatever," these archaic features just aren't needed anymore for most users. Anything that you claim is a bonus on your old machine can be done on my 2013 retina MBP with an adapter. I haven't lost any functionality from what your machine could do, I have gained so much more.
1) Should I ever need to plug into an ethernet connection, a 5 dollar adapter from Amazon will allow me to do that. (Before you tell me how I shouldn't have to buy an adapter to accomplish what your machine accomplishes) I would much rather have one less port on the side of my machine which means one less internal components which means lighter, easier to transport, and overall less than can go wrong later.
2) Should I need to use an optical drive(haven't in over 5 years)-I can get an external for 20 bucks for the one time I actually need it. (again much prefer the less bulk and lightness of a machine with no drive on the side of it. It's unnecessary weight and more moving parts that could break later.
3) VGA-Same solution as #1.
I could keep going but you get the point. All of these archaic features that have been removed are no longer needed by 9 out of 10 users. What we have gained is much more important to most everyone.
1) Battery life-Removing things like an optical drive allowed Apple to change the design of the battery, allowing for much better battery life. 9-15 hours off charge for a laptop is MUCH more important than having an optical drive that may get used once a year.
2) Speed-all of the new machines are significantly faster than their predecessors. Once you experience everyday tasks on a newer Mac with PCIe based storage etc, anything else feels like stepping back in time.
Long story short, anything that you think you have to have such as an optical drive, ethernet port etc can all be done on the newer macs with a simple adapter or usb cable. You also gain a much faster machine with much better battery life and a display that blows the older displays out of the water.
So in my opinion an the opinion of the majority of consumers, the newer machine are MORE capable than the old ones. There is a more efficient way of doing 90 percent of the tasks that these old features were designed for. Instead of discs, use thumb drives or sd cards, instead of ethernet, get on wifi. Are there rare times when you may need these things? Sure. Get an adapter. I would much rather have an adapter in my bag than lug around a 5 or 6 pound laptop with a ton of ports on the side that are not necessary most of the time.
Again I use the comparison of the classic non retina mbp which is still available today, and the retina mbp or the Macbook Air. People are choosing the lighter, faster, and more efficient machines. Yes less ports is more efficient for most users. I find the weight difference possibly the most important improvement. College students, young professionals and artists are the bulk of Apple's consumers. They don't want to lug an archaic machine around. They want light, thin, fast, and yes aesthetically pleasing machines. That is the future of computers and technology in general.