2016 Macbook Pro and Dell UP2715K 5K Display MST

[subjonas]

This is such a joke. In 30+ years of using Macs I've NEVER seen such a ridiculous situation as the 5K/Thunderbolt 3 situation. Adapters, software hacks, multiple cables, plugging/unplugging, hardware firmware updates (on the LGs), jiggling cables, switching ports. This isn't just the MacBook Pro—people using desktop Macs are having the same problems.

This is Apple's fault, and it really kind of ticks me off that they're just ignoring it. The fact that they've said they're going to make a "pro display" some day in the future (that will likely cost $2K) is no consolation. In fact, it's quite an insult.

Perhaps people born in the 80s and 90s are more willing to accept this as the price of getting what you want in tech. But those of us who had this situation, then Apple came along and made "Plug & Play commonplace, find it completely unacceptable.

I'm in the market for a new MacBook Pro, but I want to make it my sole computer—which means having an external display—and this situation has completely turned me off on doing so. So I'm making due with my current aging iMac 27" and rMBP 15" models.

I’m very confused as to which parts of which devices are the bottlenecks that makes MST the necessary nightmare that it is. But from what I glean, it seems to be at least equally other companies’ fault (Intel or monitor manufacturers) as it is Apple’s.

I’m also waiting for all this to be sorted out and completely simplified before upgrading my mbp and monitors. I don’t want any long term workarounds. For now, thankfully, my 2012 rmbp is running as well has it did when I got it on launch day. I wonder if keeping it on Mavericks has anything to do with that.

 

[timo_k82]

Hello arijon!

Using the Sonnet-Adapter I can't use the "closed-lid" mode by plugging the power cable in at start. I have to start the Mac first by opening the lid and waiting for the log in screen. If I close the lid now, I have no problems using the "closed lid" mode. I have read on the apple support site, that it should be possible to start the Mac, only by plugging in the power cable and using a bluetooth mouse and keyboard. It doesn't work for me. Did you try this?

Thanks for your help!

Timo