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2 USB Ports on Aluminum MacBook

I don't know what a lot of these people are complaining about at all. 2 usb ports is plenty IMO. But like everyone here has suggested, if you need more than just get a hub. They're relatively inexpensive and you can have your millions of ports for whatever the junk you need to plug in all at the exact same moment.

Speaking of that, what are you all plugging into your usb ports that require more than 2?!
 
tristangage said:
Just as an example, perhaps I am transferring files between my phone and my external USB hard drive, whilst charging my iPod. 😎
Click to expand...

See, this is why you need an iPhone then 😛

Phone+iPod all in one 😎😎

iPhone and external hard drive or keychain drive are all I ever plug in, and even then, almost never at the same time. *shrug*
 
tristangage said:
Just as an example, perhaps I am transferring files between my phone and my external USB hard drive, whilst charging my iPod. 😎
Click to expand...

Ya, ok I guess. But really, does it take THAT long to transfer files to/from your phone? I'm sure your iPod can wait to charge for 10 min. That 10 min less charge isn't going to be that big of a deal! Haha. I'm not trying to be a douche or anything. I just think people are complaining about things that are so small because they can't find anything major wrong.
 
I can't believe all these stupid mac fan boys, "why would you need more than 2 usb ports?" "I'm sure apple will take this suggestion right to the top".

****

I completely agree with the op. I love my macbook but most other laptops have at least 4 usb ports. Honestly, i've never had a need for more than 2, but once i get my desk very soon i'll be hooking up an external harddrive and a wireless mouse so ill have no ports free which really sucks. It can't be a cost issue, so no one try and use that excuse. And yes, i think they should've put firewire on the new macbooks too.

Believe it or not, not every has/can afford hundreds of dollars worth of the most up to date accessories. Real customers actually have older camera's, mice, etc that they want to use on their macbooks. Thankfully my macbook has a firewire port. 🙂
 
I think two is enough. Keep in mind it is a portable computer. And, if you haven't noticed, it couldn't fit anywhere considering the logic board is on the left side (where all the ports are) and the 'empty' spot is where the battery is, and the right side of the MacBook contains the optical drive, and the hard drive.
I like how Apple doesn't squeeze a USB port anywhere they can fit it. (which i've seen)
 
Ov3rlord Falc0r said:
I don't know what a lot of these people are complaining about at all. 2 usb ports is plenty IMO. But like everyone here has suggested, if you need more than just get a hub. They're relatively inexpensive and you can have your millions of ports for whatever the junk you need to plug in all at the exact same moment.

Speaking of that, what are you all plugging into your usb ports that require more than 2?!
Click to expand...

Keyboard
iPod
Thumb Drive
External Hard drive
Monitor (It has a hub.)


More USBs would be nice but if you have a proper hub, then all you need to do is disconnect that and the MagSafe and go. Almost like a dock.....
 
I am so glad someone brought this up. It has been bugging me for quite some time now. Grrrrr apple for not covering their machines in easily replicated ports! I wanted to sit down at my desk and spend 15 minutes plugging stuff in, it makes me feel important. As for price I totally agree. I think I should be able to buy a BMW for the same price as a Kia. I mean they're all cars right?

/sarcasm if you didn't already pick that up.

I am not all that happy about no firewire though.
 
Jaredistheman said:
I can't believe all these stupid mac fan boys, "why would you need more than 2 usb ports?" "I'm sure apple will take this suggestion right to the top".

****

I completely agree with the op. I love my macbook but most other laptops have at least 4 usb ports. Honestly, i've never had a need for more than 2, but once i get my desk very soon i'll be hooking up an external harddrive and a wireless mouse so ill have no ports free which really sucks. It can't be a cost issue, so no one try and use that excuse. And yes, i think they should've put firewire on the new macbooks too.

Believe it or not, not every has/can afford hundreds of dollars worth of the most up to date accessories. Real customers actually have older camera's, mice, etc that they want to use on their macbooks. Thankfully my macbook has a firewire port. 🙂
Click to expand...

Hook'em up to an external powered hub. They can always stay plugged into the hub and just one plug to the laptop at all times. Saves time in connecting devices and reduces port clutter/filling.

Edit: It appear Fleshman03 suggested just this too.
 
Chase R said:
If you want more USB ports... go by a big bulky ugly PC notebook. If you've ever had a look at the logic board of a MB you would know why there is only two.
Click to expand...

Agreed, when i'm at college I only ever use a pen drive for my USB ports. When I'm at home, I plug in a hard drive for backups and an apple keyboard, which gives me two more. I think apple have got this one right.
 
fleshman03 said:
Keyboard
iPod
Thumb Drive
External Hard drive
Monitor (It has a hub.)


More USBs would be nice but if you have a proper hub, then all you need to do is disconnect that and the MagSafe and go. Almost like a dock.....
Click to expand...

If you have all of those things that NEED to be connected all at the exact same time then I'm sure you can splurge and purchase a usb hub. They're 12 bucks on newegg.com. But like I said earlier, I don't see a reason all of those items need to be plugged in at the same time.
 
No space.
 

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Jaredistheman said:
I can't believe all these stupid mac fan boys, "why would you need more than 2 usb ports?" "I'm sure apple will take this suggestion right to the top".

****

I completely agree with the op. I love my macbook but most other laptops have at least 4 usb ports. Honestly, i've never had a need for more than 2, but once i get my desk very soon i'll be hooking up an external harddrive and a wireless mouse so ill have no ports free which really sucks. It can't be a cost issue, so no one try and use that excuse. And yes, i think they should've put firewire on the new macbooks too.

Believe it or not, not every has/can afford hundreds of dollars worth of the most up to date accessories. Real customers actually have older camera's, mice, etc that they want to use on their macbooks. Thankfully my macbook has a firewire port. 🙂
Click to expand...

You are getting unnecessarily aggressive to people who are allowed to post their own opinions. If you so desire extra USB ports, buy an external USB hub. A belkin USB powered hub gives you a total of five ports, and I know you can get this for less than £10. That's not hundreds of dollars worth of the most up to date accessories, so you should be safe.
 
So I'm 90% sure the OP was joking, but since this is generating some serious, discussion, here are my thoughts:

You will rarely if ever need more than 2 USB ports because whenever people list the things they have it's usually along the lines of "when I'm at my desk I need to hook up an external hard drive, mouse, keyboard, iPod, etc." The fact is, you never need more than 2 USB ports when NOT at your desk. So just get a hub, which you leave at the desk, and call it a day.

This is one of the few cases where I agree with Apple getting by with the minimum. More USB ports would effect the outer aesthetics of the case, but more importantly, effect how things are placed inside it. If you look at the Macbook right now, there is ZERO room for a larger logic board to have more USB ports...

And I don't care at all.

I only use ONE USB port most of the time, because I just have a hub at my desk that I plug in. Connected to the hub is a mouse, keyboard, hard drive, camera, and phone. I'd rather have the convenience of plugging in a single plug via a hub than five. Purists can argue that my hard drive will be marginally slower through a hub than if it was plugged directly in, which is true, but it is the same situation of me not caring enough to be inconvenienced by it.
 
I'm surprised that all of you who tend to favour to toe the line doesn't try argue that more than one "high powered" USB port (aka the MBA) is utterly unnecessary.

Now, go power two external hdds (or a hdd needing both those ports) and copy it all to an external card reader or what have you.

Just because you people think dongles and can solve anything (i.e. the ports on an MBA is plenty) that doesn't mean that everyone can get by with non-existing ports and "dongle" their way out of practical problems.


[added]
As for the argument that there is no space on the motherboard: Well, that's true, but only because they decided to design it so there would be no more space. Just as there are no space for an expresscard or a hidden PCI-e slot to add a sim card for 3G connectivity. It's a matter of deciding and then design.


Come to think of it, I'm not that surprised ...
[/added]
 
Tosser said:
As for the argument that there is no space on the motherboard: Well, that's true, but only because they decided to design it so there would be no more space. Just as there are no space for an expresscard or a hidden PCI-e slot to add a sim card for 3G connectivity. It's a matter of deciding and then design.
Click to expand...

When I say there is no space for one on the motherboard, I don't mean the motherboard part. Yes, you can make the motherboard larger to have an extra port on it, but there is ZERO space in the computer to make the motherboard larger. Just as there is zero space to add an expresscard slot. The Macbook Pro's larger size allows for it to have more components.
 
Knolly said:
When I say there is no space for one on the motherboard, I don't mean the motherboard part. Yes, you can make the motherboard larger to have an extra port on it, but there is ZERO space in the computer to make the motherboard larger. Just as there is zero space to add an expresscard slot. The Macbook Pro's larger size allows for it to have more components.
Click to expand...

Hmm, and I was saying that it's a matter of CHOOSING to add one in the design phase.
It's fair enough that there aren't any expresscard port (seeing as there is an optical drive taking up space), but surely it's big enough volume wise (and side area wise) to have three USB ports.

Apple laptops have always only had two usb ports (except the 17 incher), wereas other laptops usually have had 3 or more. Just like they used to have only one button on their mouse, and a single button on their trackpads (still have that). It's a choice to design it that way, not because it's technically impossible to do it.

Go take a look at the X300/X301. It's a competitor to the MBA when it comes to size and weight, yet portwise and such (it also include an optical drive) it's much closer to the MacBook:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x301/4505-3121_7-33255266.html
 
I have one usb port in use on my macbook whilst it is on my desk, that feeds to a usb switching hub that shares my camera dock, desktop usb socket for flash drives, tablet and k/m connection to my kvm switch between my macbook and mini, printer is on the network, additional storage is on the network.
 
The thing that bothers me is not that there is only 2 but it's how close they are to eachother

I can't fully plug in my friends usb flash drive because it's a bit wide while i plug the printer to print his stuff. but it works, i hope it's not bending anything.
 
3505497858_134ff3a272_o.jpg


There's already a hub in the macbook, it's only a matter of adding another plug. Remove the kensington lock and voilà. I find it funny how people assume that if there isn't space in the current version of the logic board it can't be done at all. Apple decides what they want on the logic board, then have a size for it then space all the components as apart as possible. On another note, the dvd drive looks HUGE.

Mind you, I don't want more than 2 usb ports on my macbook. If I need more than two at once, I'm usually at home or have planned something crazy. In either case I'll have a hub with me. If I had to change something about the usb ports, I'd put a bit more space between them.
 
@Paolo:

Two things:
1. I would NEVER by a computer without the lock slot.
2. That is where the latch for the battery cover goes. There is NO SPACE. The reason that the space is there is because of the mechanism where the having a lock on the computer makes it unable to open the battery cover.
 
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