2018 13-Inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Has Four Full-Speed Thunderbolt 3 Ports

[fairuz]

You carry around an HDMI cable, yes? Or do you rely on the kindness of strangers? What is the difference between carrying around a regular HDMI cable and carrying around a USB-C to HDMI cable?

No need to carry anything. Wherever you go has an HDMI cable as part of the setup but not a USB-C cable or a video protocol over USB-C input. There are multiple kinds of USB-C cables too, and I don't know whether all of them support video. They might not even have Mini DisplayPort, but some setups do keep dongles for it since Macs have used it for so long.

Funny thing is the slimmer rMBP *added* HDMI, which the older MBP didn't have. It was the first and the last time any Mac had a regular video output, i.e. one that's ubiquitous and requires no explanation.
[doublepost=1532047918][/doublepost]

You don’t have to carry a dongle. I use an excellent dock that attaches to the MacBook, matches the color too. The beauty is that I can detach it when I’m at home with my USBC and TB3 accessories. But if I’m somewhere with legacy stuff, it’s all integrated. No need for a dongle

So you have the same exact functionality as the older MacBook except you have to buy and repeatedly reattach a dock for the old ports. Unless you have something at home that's specifically TB3-only or USB-C-only, which almost nobody has.

 

[Rocko99991]

You carry around an HDMI cable, yes? Or do you rely on the kindness of strangers? What is the difference between carrying around a regular HDMI cable and carrying around a USB-C to HDMI cable?

You don’t have to carry a dongle. I use an excellent dock that attaches to the MacBook, matches the color too. The beauty is that I can detach it when I’m at home with my USBC and TB3 accessories. But if I’m somewhere with legacy stuff, it’s all integrated. No need for a dongle

Right, a big adapter to fix the lack of ports is a good thing, right?

 

[Zdigital2015]

Wherever you go has an HDMI cable but not a USB-C cable and definitely not a DisplayPort over USB-C input. Worse, there are multiple kinds of USB-C cables; the basic ones have fewer capabilities, at least when Thunderbolt is involved.
[doublepost=1532047918][/doublepost]
So you have the same exact functionality as the older MacBook except you have to buy and repeatedly reattach a dock for the old ports. Unless you have something at home that's specifically TB3-only, which almost nobody has.

I am referring to a simple USB-C to HDMI cable - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBZYM8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gntuBb86H2KJ9 - which is no different than carrying around and HDMI to HDMI cable.

Right, a big adapter to fix the lack of ports is a good thing, right?

To reiterate, a USB-C to HDMI Cable, no adapter necessary, a simple cable with an HDMI connector on one end and a USB-C connector on the other end.

 

[fairuz]

I am referring to a simple USB-C to HDMI cable - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBZYM8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gntuBb86H2KJ9 - which is no different than carrying around and HDMI to HDMI cable.

Right, but you don't have to carry around an HDMI to HDMI cable. I don't carry any cables with my laptop except sometimes a charger.

 

[Abazigal]

Right, a big adapter to fix the lack of ports is a good thing, right?

I see it as “when one door closes, another opens”.

The versatility of usb C means that you can simulate virtually any combination of ports with a couple of them in a laptop, knowing that finding the right mix of ports for any user is just one adapter away.

There would be no wrong port. For example, I don’t need to agonise over whether to place my charging port on the right or the left of the laptop. With usb C, any port can be used for charging. Same for display out.

This in turn allows for a thinner and lighter form factor, because I no longer have to support a whole array of ports to cater to every use case. For example, if I have no need for an SD card slot, then I won’t bother getting an adaptor for me, nor will there be an extra slot taking up superfluous space in my device. If I don’t need to connect my laptop to a projector or external monitor, then I don’t have a hdmi or vga port being dead weight. And when I am not charging my laptop, that usb c port can also be an extra data point.

What I see here is the flexibility to turn those usb c ports into whatever port I require (with the right adaptor of course), meaning that no port would ever have a reason to go unutilised.

Personally, I do feel that the pros outweigh the cons here.

 

[fairuz]

I see it as “when one door closes, another opens”.

The versatility of usb C means that you can simulate virtually any combination of ports with a couple of them in a laptop, knowing that finding the right mix of ports for any user is just one adapter away.

There would be no wrong port. For example, I don’t need to agonise over whether to place my charging port on the right or the left of the laptop. With usb C, any port can be used for charging. Same for display out.

This in turn allows for a thinner and lighter form factor, because I no longer have to support a whole array of ports to cater to every use case. For example, if I have no need for an SD card slot, then I won’t bother getting an adaptor for me, nor will there be an extra slot taking up superfluous space in my device. If I don’t need to connect my laptop to a projector or external monitor, then I don’t have a hdmi or vga port being dead weight. And when I am not charging my laptop, that usb c port can also be an extra data point.

What I see here is the flexibility to turn those usb c ports into whatever port I require (with the right adaptor of course), meaning that no port would ever have a reason to go unutilised.

Personally, I do feel that the pros outweigh the cons here.

That is, in the long term. As a single person who can't force others onto the new standard right now, because USB-C is rarely supported and even more rarely required, it makes sense to stick with the old ports until it's adopted. Anyone claiming otherwise is either very selfless or falling for the marketing.

Apple replacing all laptop ports with USB-C is speeding up the adoption for sure, but I doubt that was necessary to do on the laptop. If they just replaced the TB2 ports with TB3/USB-C, over time everything would still switch to USB-C as phones and peripherals started using it exclusively, since it's a better standard for those devices. And ironically, Apple is not using USB-C on their smartphones.

BTW, the SD card slot is pretty unnecessary, but it has the small benefit of letting you put a card in without it sticking out, meaning you can keep it in for extended periods of time.

 

[pubmsu]

I hope they are more reliable now too. My 1st gen. 13" MBP with Touchbar is unreliable as hell when it comes to external displays over Thunderbolt 3. The 15" ones don't seem to have the same issues. Even the Genius Bar confirmed that they have a LOT of problems with the 13" ones.

What kind of reliability problems?

 

[dannys1]

I’d rather have a single USB port than 4 thunderbolt ports.

Wouldn't you rather have 4 USB ports which is exactly what you get now - you guys really need to learn what you're talking about - the tech misunderstanding is beyond a joke now.
[doublepost=1532083926][/doublepost]

it makes sense to stick with the old ports until it's adopted. Anyone claiming otherwise is either very selfless or falling for the marketing.

Absolute nonsense - it was fully adopted 2 years ago, let alone now. Every single USB connection is available in a cable that terminates with a USB-C connector, buy those, throw the junk USB-A connectors out, welcome to the present, not the future.
[doublepost=1532084108][/doublepost]

Personally, I do feel that the pros outweigh the cons here.

In two years of usage I see no cons with USB-C and only pros. It's been a revelation and i'm glad to never use horrible USB-A ports again.

 

[Abazigal]

In two years of usage I see no cons with USB-C and only pros. It's been a revelation and i'm glad to never use horrible USB-A ports again.

Oh, I still need usb A ports. Thing is, I used a Thunderbolt dock with my MacBook Air for many years, so compared to that, a usb c dock is a freaking godsend in terms of size and portability.

And compared to the minidisplay to vga adaptor I used to tote around, a usb c adaptor isn’t much larger or bulkier.

So again, it’s just business as usual for me. Main advantage now is that at my desk, I only need to plug in one cable when I previously needed to plug in two.

Yay for progress?

 

[[AUT] Thomas]

We now only need DisplayPort MST support for the average dock to work and and link aggregation/failover for two Thunderbolt Ports so we can connect our eGPU using 2 ports.
Unfortunatelly, the latter is not yet specced as far as I know... but one can dream...

 

[Val-kyrie]

So does the 13 inch now support 2x LG UltraFine 5k Displays? All sources points to no, is it because of limitations with the integrated GFX card?

You will need to buy an eGPU to do that.

I hope they are more reliable now too. My 1st gen. 13" MBP with Touchbar is unreliable as hell when it comes to external displays over Thunderbolt 3. The 15" ones don't seem to have the same issues. Even the Genius Bar confirmed that they have a LOT of problems with the 13" ones.

Interesting. I will have to watch out for this because (if the keyboard is fixed), I would only buy a 13"MBP if I could also attach an eGPU reliably.

I doubt it, but you’re entitled to your opinion.

Once the debris thing is solved (as it likely is with the membrane now) people will only have their distaste for the travel to harp on, which is a comment on preference rather than reliability.

Key travel is an ergonomic issue with implications for one's health. Please don't belittle the issue.


Edit: Still, this is a nice bit of news in light of all of Apple's mistakes/misfires recently.

 

[LanTao]

BTW, the SD card slot is pretty unnecessary, but it has the small benefit of letting you put a card in without it sticking out, meaning you can keep it in for extended periods of time.

I have that in my MacBook Air, as extra storage. Unfortunately every now and then macOS thinks the thing was ejected and pops up a notification that this was done unsafely. This even happens when the computer is stationary and neither in use nor in sleep mode.

Sometimes macOS messes up so badly that the whole controller disappears until I reboot. It's not a great solution in practice.

 

[Soccertess]

nice! three more places to put dongles!!

that's awesome.

 

[wood1208]

Very cool. Now is there any chance they release a 4 port non touchbar model? Heck, I'd even settle for the 2 port non touchbar macbookpro being updated.

I hear you brother. Can it be conspiracy by Apple to let "affordable" Function Keys Macbook Pro die letting millions of Macbook Pro lovers(who don't care limited use touch bar) disappointed or waiting for Intel to further drop i5-8259U processor price or modifying 13" Function Keys Macbook Pro to add 4 USB Type-C ports to bring it in-line with touch bar 13" upgrade ? Apple or Time will tell what Apple has in mind !!!!

 

[Rocko99991]

I see it as “when one door closes, another opens”.

The versatility of usb C means that you can simulate virtually any combination of ports with a couple of them in a laptop, knowing that finding the right mix of ports for any user is just one adapter away.

There would be no wrong port. For example, I don’t need to agonise over whether to place my charging port on the right or the left of the laptop. With usb C, any port can be used for charging. Same for display out.

This in turn allows for a thinner and lighter form factor, because I no longer have to support a whole array of ports to cater to every use case. For example, if I have no need for an SD card slot, then I won’t bother getting an adaptor for me, nor will there be an extra slot taking up superfluous space in my device. If I don’t need to connect my laptop to a projector or external monitor, then I don’t have a hdmi or vga port being dead weight. And when I am not charging my laptop, that usb c port can also be an extra data point.

What I see here is the flexibility to turn those usb c ports into whatever port I require (with the right adaptor of course), meaning that no port would ever have a reason to go unutilised.

Personally, I do feel that the pros outweigh the cons here.

I agree the points you bring up are valid. Being able to charge on any port, video out on any port, etc. is very versatile.

If USB C was as common as A, it wouldn't be an issue, but it's painful for now. Hard to walk into a brick and mortar store and find a usb C to HDMI, flash drive, C to A adapter, etc.
[doublepost=1532098087][/doublepost]

Right, but you don't have to carry around an HDMI to HDMI cable. I don't carry any cables with my laptop except sometimes a charger.

Then you probably don't do presentations for a living. Been to many many places that only have standard HDMI cables or inputs. So carrying around cables and or adapter with these laptops is required.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I hear you brother. Can it be conspiracy by Apple to let "affordable" Function Keys Macbook Pro die letting millions of Macbook Pro lovers(who don't care limited use touch bar) disappointed or waiting for Intel to further drop i5-8259U processor price or modifying 13" Function Keys Macbook Pro to add 4 USB Type-C ports to bring it in-line with touch bar 13" upgrade ? Apple or Time will tell what Apple has in mind !!!!

Ultimately, I believe Apple will discontinue the nTB 13" MacBook Pro when the 13" MacBook is introduced, or let it remain in the lineup, but not update it as they have done in the past with both the 2012 13" MacBook Pro and the 2015/2017 13" MacBook Air.

Should Apple want to further update the nTB 13" MacBook Pro, it cannot at this point, because Intel has still not announced 8th Generation 15w U-Series CPUs with Intel Iris Plus Graphics (presumably called, Iris Plus Graphics 645). Looking at Intel's ARK, there are no CPUs currently using the Core i5-8360U or Core i7-8660U monikers, which would most likely be the names they would received based on their predecessors naming scheme.

Unfortunately, the nTB 13" MacBook Pro would probably be limited to two Thunderbolt 3 ports as the 15w U-Series CPU look to still be limited to x12 PCIe lanes as opposed to the 28w U-Series, which now contains x16 PCIe lanes.

One can only speculate at this point, I am afraid, but hope springs eternal.

 

[Abazigal]

I agree the points you bring up are valid. Being able to charge on any port, video out on any port, etc. is very versatile.

If USB C was as common as A, it wouldn't be an issue, but it's painful for now. Hard to walk into a brick and mortar store and find a usb C to HDMI, flash drive, C to A adapter, etc.

They seem common enough in my local tech store, as well as online websites such as amazon.

It’s really short term pain for long term gain. I remember initially balking at the thought of paying for a lightning to vga adaptor for my iPad mini in 2013. However, fast forward to 2018, and I am still using it with my iPad Pro. The money spent has more than paid for itself.

Same here. Yes, buying adaptors all over again will sting, but think long term. If usb C indeed is the future, it won’t matter whether you get them now or later, so may as well embrace it and get over this initial barrier.

 

[ibivibiv]

You carry around an HDMI cable, yes? Or do you rely on the kindness of strangers? What is the difference between carrying around a regular HDMI cable and carrying around a USB-C to HDMI cable?

No, I don't. I am a PROFESSIONAL, that means I work in offices and speak at conferences. I walk into a room with equipment to plug into. ALL of that equipment has HDMI cables hanging out of it. I used to never carry anything. Now I have to carry ****. Apple used to make my life easy, now they make it hard. Its pretty simple. I don't work in a coffee shop people. I don't just sit in a cube writing word documents.

 

[dannys1]

Oh, I still need usb A ports.

Why?? For what? Change them for USB-C cables instead. Much better than using bulky adapters.

 

[sarge]

It’s really short term pain for long term gain. I remember initially balking at the thought of paying for a lightning to vga aIf usb C indeed is the future, it won’t matter whether you get them now or later, so may as well embrace it and get over this initial barrier.

Shouldn't that rightfully be short term gain for long term pain? By the time this adoption takes root 5 years from now this forward looking device will be kaput because previous DIY fixes like, oh I don't know, RAM, SSD, & battery replacement are no longer possible. No one is fooled here

 

[fairuz]

Absolute nonsense - it was fully adopted 2 years ago, let alone now. Every single USB connection is available in a cable that terminates with a USB-C connector, buy those, throw the junk USB-A connectors out, welcome to the present, not the future.

Keyboards and mice, which just have male USB-A usually? It's not just USB but also HDMI and the others. It sounds like you just bought like 20 different cables and started making decisions about which peripherals you can buy, all of it temporary because later peripherals are going to be USB-C (I hope). What did you gain, the ability to plug the connector in either way?

 

[marco114]

Well I won't be buying one. It doesn't have any ports I use, and I'm not going to carry around a bunch of adapters. Sorry Apple. I need a SD Card slot and a USB. Take two Thunderturds away.

 

[fairuz]

I have that in my MacBook Air, as extra storage. Unfortunately every now and then macOS thinks the thing was ejected and pops up a notification that this was done unsafely. This even happens when the computer is stationary and neither in use nor in sleep mode.

Sometimes macOS messes up so badly that the whole controller disappears until I reboot. It's not a great solution in practice.

I've been using it on my MBP as semi-permanent extra storage too. I've had it disconnect only 3-5 times over a year, requiring me to take out the card and reinsert it. I think your mileage may vary based on what adaptor you use. Or IDK if the MBA has a worse controller.
[doublepost=1532124765][/doublepost]

Same here. Yes, buying adaptors all over again will sting, but think long term. If usb C indeed is the future, it won’t matter whether you get them now or later, so may as well embrace it and get over this initial barrier.

It does matter because you won't need to get those adaptors if you wait until later. They're just temporary fixes. Later it'll be all USB-C on both ends everywhere.

Also, the cables aren't guaranteed to not change. There are already multiple different USB-C cables, depending on the Thunderbolt capabilities. The protocols are independent of all this and subject to change too. So what's the point of trying to predict the future instead of using what works now? Unless you need to buy a laptop now and plan to keep it until USB-C replaces the other connections, so at least 4 years.

 

[Abazigal]

Shouldn't that rightfully be short term gain for long term pain? By the time this adoption takes root 5 years from now this forward looking device will be kaput because previous DIY fixes like, oh I don't know, RAM, SSD, & battery replacement are no longer possible. No one is fooled here

Regardless of what device you switch to, it will likely still support usb C and all your adaptors will continue to be relevant.

 

[umbilical]

Still too dang expensive. Give me the same computer with NO Touch Bar and let me keep $300 in my pocket.

yes! why apple force to the pros to use that lame bar? we pros don't need that thing, shortcuts are the king! I miss my Esc exactly on the corner top left, also I don't need the insecure touch id, typed password is better. I bet that bar consume more battery too! just a waste of money.