Apple Including Free MagSafe 2 Converter with Thunderbolt Display

[MacRumors]

As we noted on Monday, Apple's new MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro use a new MagSafe 2 charging standard that is thinner and wider than the previous MagSafe. In order to assist people using the new machines with older equipment like chargers and displays, Apple released a small MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter for $9.99 to ensure continued compatibility.

Apple has not updated its Apple Thunderbolt Display with the new MagSafe 2 standard, but as mentioned on its online store page, the company is now including a free MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter with newly-purchased displays.

It certainly is not a tremendous cost for Apple to include a $9.99 adapter (which actually costs Apple significantly less) with a $999 purchase, but it is a convenient inclusion for new purchasers who otherwise might not realize that they need a converter. Those who are aware of the new MagSafe 2 standard should also be aware that they do not need to purchase a separate converter if they wish to purchase an Apple Thunderbolt Display.

(Thanks, Jordy!)

Article Link: Apple Including Free MagSafe 2 Converter with Thunderbolt Display

 

[Stingray454]

Nice addition. I really want one of those, but I guess they will update them to support USB 3 as soon as the current stock sells out.. So I'm holding out for a little bit longer still.

 

[jeutie]

My tip made it to Mac Rumors? Amg, thanks!

 

[Feisar]

It certainly is not a tremendous cost for Apple to include a $9.99 adapter (which actually costs Apple significantly less) with a $999 purchase

Should read:

It certainly is not a tremendous cost for Apple to include a $9.99 adapter with any MacBook Pro with Retina Display purchase.

 

[WildCowboy]

The converter should have been included in the box with all RMBPs.

Apple looks to the future, not the past. The Retina MacBook Pro works as intended out of the box without the converter, and it would be unnecessary for a significant number of people who wouldn't be using it with a display or an older power adapter. So to Apple it would mainly serve to clutter up the clean presentation inside the box.

Bundling it with the Thunderbolt Display will likely see a greater proportion of people needing to use it, and even many of those who don't need it yet will likely need it in the future when they buy new machines.

 

[jonnysods]

Very generous.

 

[Feisar]

Apple looks to the future, not the past. The Retina MacBook Pro works as intended out of the box without the converter, and it would be unnecessary for a significant number of people who wouldn't be using it with a display or an older power adapter. So to Apple it would mainly serve to clutter up the clean presentation inside the box.

Bundling it with the Thunderbolt Display will likely see a greater proportion of people needing to use it, and even many of those who don't need it yet will likely need it in the future when they buy new machines.

Completely agree and understand your argument but there are individuals who are upgrading their existing MBPs with one or maybe more pre-thunderbolt displays.

Nothing feels better than getting hit with that one more thing that you have to purchase to in order ensure continued compatibility with your previous Apple investments.

 

[e-coli]

Considering, this is very kind of Apple.

They should just go ahead and update it to USB3. As-is I don't see many people buying one of these at the minute.

But Apple is usually pretty bad about updating their displays, so we'll see. (hopefully they have the same anti-glare as the new RMBP)

 

[gregbenz]

Magsafe 2 + USB3

Nice addition. I really want one of those, but I guess they will update them to support USB 3 as soon as the current stock sells out.. So I'm holding out for a little bit longer still.

Agree, current monitor is great, but it seems like a good idea to wait for a simpler connection with USB3 to the monitor and no Magsafe adapter. Probably a no-brainer for Apple to put these into the next update, which seems likely this year based on past cadence.

 

[adildacoolset]

It's good to see that they are doing that. Would be better if they offered it with the macbook pro.

 

[Ferazel]

Now if they updated the Display to a retina display (5120x2880) and added USB 3 that would be quite the upgrade to the pro market.

However, driving all that bandwidth (Displayport, USB3, Firewire, Gigabit) through a single thunderbolt connector would be pushing the 10 Gb/sec throughput of the current generation thunderbolt would it not? I don't want my monitor's refresh rate to drop because I'm copying files from a USB 3 stick.

 

[ghostlyorb]

At least they aren't being jerks and making you spend even more money!

 

[norrismantooth]

I just purchased a Thunderbolt display 2 weeks ago, along with a 17" MacBook Pro.

Yesterday, my business specialist messaged me to tell me I could swap out the MBP for a new one.

Talk about downtime. Then, with all the iFixit Stories claiming nothing can be upgraded, I'm worried. The new computer will cost almost $1000 more than the one I just purchased (to get the same specs as what I have).

Hardly a good deal. I think I'm going to keep what I have.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

I wonder if they'll include a 'MagSafe2 to MagSafe converter' when they inevitably introduce a new TB Display with the 2 connector built in

 

[Astro7x]

Completely agree and understand your argument but there are individuals who are upgrading their existing MBPs with one or maybe more pre-thunderbolt displays.

Nothing feels better than getting hit with that one more thing that you have to purchase to in order ensure continued compatibility with your previous Apple investments.

$10 should not be an issue to anybody that is has multiple Thunderbolt displays and is buying a Retina Macbook Pro. For simply the convenience of not having to use their AC adaptor. Sorry...

How about the $100 I had to pay for a converter to get my Thunderbolt display to work with my Mac Pro? I think that's worth complaining about. But to be fair, I saved $250 by buying it on Amazon so it's sort of balances out.

 

[KylePowers]

Think this means that there will be no update to the Thunderbolt Display this year?

I guess all it'd really get is USB 3.0 and a switch to MagSafe 2.0?

 

[jclardy]

This is why we all love Apple. Other companies would charge you a lot for these converter units. But Apple includes them for free. Great job!

I don't know, I think they did it just to meet customer expectations of "it just works."

Some unknowing individual walks into an Apple store and buys a $999 Thunderbolt display and a $2199 laptop, brings them home and finds out that their brand new products don't work together (for charging, at least)...

Kind of a bad situation for a customer who just spent $3000 to have to drive back to the store and buy a $9.99 adapter.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

This is why we all love Apple. Other companies would charge you a lot for these converter units. But Apple includes them for free. Great job!

IDK what most companies would do, but Apple tends to charge butt-tons for converters like this. Consider: they just released the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adaptor for $29.

Edit: I had thought it was $50... for $29 I guess that's reasonable given Thunderbolt is still pretty new.

 

[ric275]

Very kind of Apple

 

[Consultant]

IDK what most companies would do, but Apple tends to charge butt-tons for converters like this. Consider: they just released the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adaptor for $50.

It's $29. Not $50.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463ZM/A

 

[HiRez]

I just don't understand why they didn't make the Thunderbolt spec capable of carrying enough power for a laptop in the first place, would have made all this a lot easier. You wouldn't have to use the power component if you didn't need it, but it would be there. Apple putting the Thunderbolt port on the opposite side from the MagSafe port on the MacBook Air was also goofy (fortunately they did it right with the new MacBook Pro Retina).

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

It's $29. Not $50.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463ZM/A

Whoops, not sure where I came up with $50 from. I'll correct that post.

 

[cambookpro]

This is why we all love Apple. Other companies would charge you a lot for these converter units. But Apple includes them for free. Great job!

It's a nice gesture, but these adapters and the like that Apple sell are simply extortionate. Even simple things like iPhone cables, £15?!

Even a tenner for one of these MS->MS2 is overpriced, no doubt they cost less that a quid to make. I'm not saying that Apple don't make great stuff, but saying they include them as freebies whereas other companies don't is a bit naïve.

 

[FoxMcCloud]

They should include all necessary adapters with the products. They are doing good here but I do feel they could do it elsewhere. Like the MBP-R, might be nice for pros to have the Firewire adapter in the box no? And the Gigabit perhaps. How about the Superdrive.

These things cost peanuts for Apple but they charge high prices for them, and considering for over £1600 all you get is a laptop, its box and a charger.

Remember the days when stuff used to come with lots of goodies?

Someone will probably winge on and mention cost, but christ on a bike would it hurt the stratospheric margins Apple has on everything they sell that much to include some adapters?

 

[Lance-AR]

How about the $100 I had to pay for a converter to get my Thunderbolt display to work with my Mac Pro? I think that's worth complaining about. But to be fair, I saved $250 by buying it on Amazon so it's sort of balances out.

How do I connect Thunderbolt Displays to a Mac Pro? This could save my month!