Apple Likely Aiming for Late October Launch of Redesigned MacBook Pro

[lowkey]

Same as headphone jack on iPhone. "I don't use it, therefore nobody needs it".

I'm almost certain the leaked chassis with 4 USB-C ports and nothing else is going to be the new Air. Almost. Going from that plethora of ports to four USB-Cs would be painful to say the least. On the plus side, it would make me extremely happy about having bought the 2015.

Right, so you're almost certain that the wedge shaped Air body is going to get much thicker by making the front as thick as the back? LOL. I seriously doubt it.

I'm more than 'almost certain' that Apple won't be making their new laptops thicker than the current models.

My 2013rMBP has 2 thunderbolt, 2 USB and one HDMI port. In comparison 4 universal USBC ports seems much more flexible...apart from the loss of the SD slot.

 

[theluggage]

Nowhere in my post did I imply using the iPhone charger to run a macbook.

Read your own post:

which is a far cry from the cluster**** that's about to happen when you can't plug your iPhone 7 charger (USB-A) into the new Macbook pro (probably USB-C only) without a dongle

You won't be able to plug your late 2016 iPhone into your late 2016 Macbook Pro without yet another dongle.

No, you won't need a dongle - you need a USB-C to Lightning cable - here. In return, you'll be able to charge your iPhone either from the MacBook or from the MacBook's USB-C charger, so you'll only need to carry 1 charger and 1 cable. Also, Apple can change their mind at any time and ship a USB-C charger and cable with the iPhone as standard: but no way is that going to happen while the vast majority of their computer range only has USB-A.

Now, if you said that Apple should have dropped Lightning with the iPhone 7 and put a USB-C socket on the phone (before everybody kitted out with Lightning headphones and docks to replace the 3.5mm jack) I'd agree with you. Then there's the omnishambles that is USB 3 support on the 12" iPad Pro but not the 9.8"... Quite happy to criticise Apple when its deserved.

WOW! A whole four USB drives and USB-C to USB-A hubs I'm glad you can find them in a store near you, but they're not near me and most people aren't going to search for them on Amazon.

You're right - nothing will ever come of this internet shopping malarkey. Nobody will ever think of going to Google and typing "usb-c thumb drive".

Where are all the hard drives?

There's a whole page of them here.

...and all of your existing USB-C hard drives will work with one of these or one of these.

One NAS?

Which part of "Network Attached Storage" do you not understand?

And those cables all require dongles.

No - they are cables, with a USB-C plug at one end and either USB-A, USB-B, USB-micro B or DisplayPort plugs at the other. Sure - they're also available in dongle/adapter form if that's what suits you. The only things that need dongles are HDMI (currently - HDMI without a dongle should be coming soon), VGA (needs an active adapter), DVI (maybe cable versions will come with HDMI) and (& this is the one thing that is going to annoy people) Thunderbolt 1/2. Also MiniDisplayPort only seems to come in adapter form - but most displays have full-size DisplayPort input.

I haven't seen any PS/2 ports in anything recently manufactured.

I think we've already established that you're not looking very hard. The majority of PC motherboards still have PS/2 - including many small-form-factor Mini-ITX boards with limited back-panel space, which is really annoying.

Nah, that's an argument from silence. Neither you nor I can prove nor disprove it.

Look at the 12" Retina MacBoook. Does it have (a) a proprietary "Lightning 2" port that would tie everybody into proprietary Apple dongles, chargers and cables or (b) an industry-standard USB-C port, as used on an increasing number of PCs and phones, opening up a wide choice of third party accessories.

If Apple's prime motivation was selling cables, they'd have put a lightning port on the MacBook.

Make no mistake: when you buy a 2016 MacBook Pro you'll need to budget for a bunch of new cables, and probably a USB-C dock. However, the end result is going to be a lot more flexibility and wider choice of suppliers in the future.

Personally, I dopn't share your donglephobia and I'd expect to get one of these (or similar) for the desk:
http://ukstore.caldigit.com/screen/product/ac1a19f6-b9a0-4823-aa7c-ab8738fb6fd1
...and one of these (or similar) for the road (because I need to plug in to projectors):
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/M...er?fnode=8b&fs=f=12inchmacbook&fh=4595%2B44c7
...and maybe one of those double-ended USB-A/USB-C sticks.

...and then I'm done. Still only need 1 dongle on the road (I already need a VGA dongle) and at the desk I get single-cable docking for somewhat less (and with a far wider choice of 'or similar') than 2-cable Thunderbolt docking.

 

[maflynn]

I think we've already established that you're not looking very hard. The majority of PC motherboards still have PS/2 - including many small-form-factor Mini-ITX boards with limited back-panel space, which is really annoying.

Agreed, they're still around, surprisingly about a year or so ago, all the desktop computers were replaced at my work and they got the vanilla run of the mill HP desktops and they still use the PS/2 ports but what was missing was the Parallel port, which makes me scratch my head.

I can see dropping ports because they're deprecated but why the parallel port over the PS/2 ports?

 

[Mac 128]

Agreed, they're still around, surprisingly about a year or so ago, all the desktop computers were replaced at my work and they got the vanilla run of the mill HP desktops and they still use the PS/2 ports but what was missing was the Parallel port, which makes me scratch my head.

I can see dropping ports because they're deprecated but why the parallel port over the PS/2 ports?

American Airlines has been putting state of the art touch screen screen seat back entertainment systems in all of their planes which have a USB port, a headphone jack, and imagine my surprise when I discovered a 9-pin din connector. What's that about? Even as a manufacturers diagnostic port, why would they chose such an archaic port? I felt like I should plug my S-VHS into it.

 

[skids929]

With the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 launches having dominated the Apple news cycle in recent weeks, attention is now turning back to the Mac lineup, which has been in need of updates for quite some time as highlighted by our Buyer's Guide. Looking ahead to the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season, rumors have suggested Apple is preparing to update several of its Mac lines before the end of the year, led by a redesigned MacBook Pro that has been rumored to be ready for launch "as soon as October."

MacRumors has learned that Apple is indeed moving rapidly toward a launch of the new MacBook Pro models, with the company's current development work on macOS 10.12.1 focused largely on preparing the operating system to support the updated hardware's new features, which have been rumored by several sources to include Touch ID support and an OLED "touch bar" replacing the current row of function keys across the top of keyboard. Apple is also said to be shifting to "Polaris" graphics chips from AMD on the higher-end 15-inch models.

Leaked MacBook Pro top case showing space for touch bar in place of function keys​

Our understanding is that Apple is planning to seed one more beta version of macOS 10.12.1 for developer and public beta testing early next week, with a goal of finalizing the software update by the end of that week so it can be loaded onto the new hardware currently being produced by Apple's supply chain partners.

This timeline could of course change should last-minute bugs or other circumstances require adjustments to Apple's plans, but if it holds true, it appears Apple could have its new MacBook Pro models ready to ship to customers some time in the second half of October.

With an emphasis on preparing for the new MacBook Pro models and thus a need to stick to an aggressive timeline, Apple appears to be pushing off all but the most critical bug fixes and security patches beyond macOS 10.12.1. Less crucial fixes will be incorporated into the following macOS 10.12.2 update, which we understand Apple is aiming to begin seeding to developers around late October with a goal of public release around late November.

In addition to redesigned MacBook Pro models, Apple has also been rumored to be launching updated MacBook Air models with USB-C ports and new iMacs with AMD graphics chips before the end of the year. It is unclear, however, whether all three lines will be updated simultaneously and whether Apple will hold a media event to introduce the hardware or opt for a more low-key introduction via press release, perhaps with some embargoed media reviews alongside.

Finally, Apple is reportedly working with LG on a new 5K external display to replace the discontinued Apple Thunderbolt Display, although a timeframe for that product has yet to be reported. We've also yet to hear any word about the Mac Pro and Mac mini, both of which remain in significant need of updates.

Article Link: Apple Likely Aiming for Late October Launch of Redesigned MacBook Pro

It's about fricken time! My white Macbook can barely pull up a webpage and I have $4k burning a hole in my pocket with Apples name on it! New Macbook Pro and a new iMac! Let's go Apple you need the money to pay the mortgage on that STUPID new Jerry Jones designed building in Cupertino!

 

[Val-kyrie]

iDownload and MacDailyNews reporting that latest Sierra beta contains strings for ARM architecture:
“Could Apple be working on next-generation Mac hardware that would be powered by an in-house designed processor based on CPU blueprints from British fabless semiconductor maker ARM Holdings plc?” Christian Zibreg reports for iDownloadBlog. “That’s exactly the conclusion one could reach by looking closely at code strings in the macOS Sierra kernel, discovered by Dutch outlet TechTastic.nl.”

“It’s very peculiar that Apple would add support for ARM technology to macOS Sierra,” Zibreg reports. “As you know, all Macs manufactured since 2005 run Intel chips. The Apple appears to be implementing support for ARM chips in the Mac operating system could mean that first ARM-based Macs might appear this year.”

Please no. If Apple goes ARM, I go Windows. I use both, but I am going to need Windows more in the future (for MS Office compatibility) and now one of the programs I use commonly has transitioned from Mac only to Mac and Windows.

Just a few points.

Any USB drive you have now most likely already uses two different connectors. I'm looking at four drives on my desk now, all of which have cables which terminate into USB type A, but none of that drives have that connector. All you need is an inexpensive USB-C to USB-A connector cable to use those exact same drives. You do not need drive enclosures equipped with a USB-C connectors, unless you are specifically looking for a feature not supported by the others.

And no, not all of those cables require dongles. USB-C is capable of native HDMI. All you need is a new HDMI cable. The next TV you buy may have a native USB-C input. I would be surprised if the goal wasn't to provide native signal output for every common standard by using a simple connector change adapter.

Also, Apple did introduce a Lightning "2" connector with the 12" iPad Pro. So they did both.

I guess I am more open to buying and carrying a single cable, which to me is more elegant, simpler, and less prone to connection issues than a cable and a dongle. Although there are certainly a myriad of USB types, most peripherals include the cable necessary to attach the peripheral port type to a USB-A port, so there is a difference when compared to USB-C. The transition to USB-C is a bit different. As in your case, and in my office, all of the various USB connector types terminate in USB-A. What is happening now is the need to convert all type A to type C terminations, which will require hubs or dongles. In my office, this is not such a big deal, but on the road I cannot see how I will practically transfer files using a USB drive or SD card without a cumbersome dongle. It just seems awkward to me, and that is not what I have come to expect from Apple.

Isn't that like saying "What's the point of running if you will eventually still reach the same destination by walking there?"

Yes, left to its own devices, we might ultimately transition over to USB-C, but when, and at what cost from the delayed adoption of said standard?

My point is that for the general population the transition will be accomplished in the same amount of time. Apple needs to consider that it is part of a team with other PC manufacturers. Apple may sprint to the USB-C finish line, but the rest of the team is jogging, and the race won't be won until the entire team crosses the finish line. The transition is happening, but Apple has chosen the brusque route while the rest of the industry is transitioning more gracefully.

For example, many projectors in my school are still sporting only VGA ports. It suffices for connecting to our work-issued laptops (which still come with VGA ports). But it also means I couldn't connect my Apple TV (which requires a HDMI cable) a few years back, and some students whose laptops don't have VGA ports have to get their own adaptors (or use mine). I eventually settled for running Airserver off my MacBook Air until I finally got a classroom with a projector with a HDMI port.

So I lost 2 years of being able to run an Apple TV in my classroom the way I wanted it. Time and a more frustrating user experience. That was the price I paid for my school's hesitance in adopting newer tech.

While I sympathize and have a similar experience, I need to remind myself that things like school projectors are costly and are paid for by others, in this case, the taxpayers, and this in a down economy in my region.

Doesn't make the sale of adaptors a bad or wrong thing.

So what? Are we supposed to delay the adoption of a certain piece of tech just because someone might be in a position to profit from it?

My point is that I suspect that part of Apple's reasoning for USB-C ONLY is the profit that may be derived from selling adapters and dongles.

I don't even know how to respond to this. It's like you are trying to find fault just for the sake of finding fault.

Actually, I don't usually argue for an environmental point of view, but in thinking further about this issue, I just wonder if making a hasty transition is worse for our world than a gradual transition would be. This is more a personal pondering than a point, not an attempt to find fault. Perhaps a bit of devil's advocate, though

 

[T-Friz]

Where are the USB-C flash drives? Not in any store near me. I have yet to see a type-C connector for anything (except an adapter cable), and that despite constant visits to electronics stores in a large city.

Why, the biggest electronics store in the world:the Internet.

http://www.staples.com/SanDisk-Ultr...6cd2x3qAqgWR9soB3Bg7VvC4yiJRZnEhnmhoCLCbw_wcB

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultr...d=1475333866&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Type...d=1475333990&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultr...5333866&sr=1-5&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Type...d=1475333990&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive

 

[Val-kyrie]

Why, the biggest electronics store in the world:the Internet.

http://www.staples.com/SanDisk-Ultr...6cd2x3qAqgWR9soB3Bg7VvC4yiJRZnEhnmhoCLCbw_wcB

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultr...d=1475333866&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Type...d=1475333990&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-Drive-Type-C-SDDDC2-032G-G46/dp/B01EZ0X23W/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1475333866&sr=1-5&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Type...d=1475333990&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+c+flashdrive

You're right - nothing will ever come of this internet shopping malarkey. Nobody will ever think of going to Google and typing "usb-c thumb drive".
There's a whole page of them here.

...and all of your existing USB-C hard drives will work with one of these or one of these.

See, you both assume that the average person knows there is a change in port type or that they even know what the name is called. If so, you have not been around enough people who don't live in the tech world.

Yes, it is possible to find USB-C peripherals on Amazon, but who is going to search for them apart from us geeks? Seriously?

Which part of "Network Attached Storage" do you not understand?

My point was that a few peripherals hardly makes USB-C ubiquitous. In fact, it is still very much a niche product. My problem is that creating a USB-C only product treats USB-C as if it were ubiquitous when in fact it is not.

Make no mistake: when you buy a 2016 MacBook Pro you'll need to budget for a bunch of new cables, and probably a USB-C dock. However, the end result is going to be a lot more flexibility and wider choice of suppliers in the future.

Personally, I dopn't share your donglephobia and I'd expect to get one of these (or similar) for the desk:
http://ukstore.caldigit.com/screen/product/ac1a19f6-b9a0-4823-aa7c-ab8738fb6fd1
...and one of these (or similar) for the road (because I need to plug in to projectors):
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1L2AM/A/usb-c-vga-multiport-adapter?fnode=8b&fs=f=12inchmacbook&fh=4595%2B44c7
...and maybe one of those double-ended USB-A/USB-C sticks.

...and then I'm done. Still only need 1 dongle on the road (I already need a VGA dongle) and at the desk I get single-cable docking for somewhat less (and with a far wider choice of 'or similar') than 2-cable Thunderbolt docking.

Again, the problem is that the future has not yet arrived. The present is a time of transition, and I don't know why you don't want to concede that point.

More USB-C peripherals will certainly happen, but I contend this will happen whether Apple transitions all at once or only with a few ports first. Apple's choice will certainly cost early adopts a lot more.

BTW, let me know how much you love dongles after you try to transfer files from a non-Apple colleague to your fancy new MBP while you are away from your office. Yeah, this won't be inconvenient at all, for like, you know, the next five years.

 

[T-Friz]

See, you both assume that the average person knows there is a change in port type or that they even know what the name is called. If so, you have not been around enough people who don't live in the tech world.

Yes, it is possible to find USB-C peripherals on Amazon, but who is going to search for them apart from us geeks? Seriously?

Well I totally agree with that, I was merely stating in my original post that I don't personally have a problem with USB-C. I can already see it confusing the hell outta my parents in particular... its going to cause problems for a lot of people. I'm required to get a MBP for the next college I'm transferring to so I don't have a choice either way, but I personally won't be bothered by their ports changing. That's all I'm saying

 

[Val-kyrie]

Well I totally agree with that, I was merely stating in my original post that I don't personally have a problem with USB-C. I can already see it confusing the hell outta my parents in particular... its going to cause problems for a lot of people. I'm required to get a MBP for the next college I'm transferring to so I don't have a choice either way, but I personally won't be bothered by their ports changing. That's all I'm saying

Fair enough

 

[Mac 128]

See, you both assume that the average person knows there is a change in port type or that they even know what the name is called. If so, you have not been around enough people who don't live in the tech world.

Yes, it is possible to find USB-C peripherals on Amazon, but who is going to search for them apart from us geeks? Seriously?



My point was that a few peripherals hardly makes USB-C ubiquitous. In fact, it is still very much a niche product. My problem is that creating a USB-C only product treats USB-C as if it were ubiquitous when in fact it is not.



Again, the problem is that the future has not yet arrived. The present is a time of transition, and I don't know why you don't want to concede that point.

More USB-C peripherals will certainly happen, but I contend this will happen whether Apple transitions all at once or only with a few ports first. Apple's choice will certainly cost early adopts a lot more.

BTW, let me know how much you love dongles after you try to transfer files from a non-Apple colleague to your fancy new MBP while you are away from your office. Yeah, this won't be inconvenient at all, for like, you know, the next five years.

You're arguing against yourself. On the one hand you say the transition will happen without Apple's help all in good time, but admit the average person knows little if anything about USB-C.

So how long should we wait for the masses to figure it out? What's their incentive to figure it out? How long should manufacturers support every legacy port, and therefore keeping the cost for products unnecessarily high?

One need look no further than the digital TV transition for the insight we need. Despite superior digital broadcasts being available for years before the transition, digital TV sales languished. Demand was low and cost was high. And by the time it happened, millions were unprepared for it despite ubiquitous and major ad campaigns for well over a year. As soon as the government shut off analogue transmissions, the impact was dramatic, converter/adapter box sales shot up, as did digital TV sets. And people were saying, why did the government just shut off analogue broadcasts, why didn't they give people a transition time -- which is exactly what they did -- they gave them years with an actual, well-publicized, deadline for the cutoff, and they still weren't ready.

The same for USB and the floppy on the iMac. The world wasn't ready for that, when Apple chose that route, despite the technology having been around for a couple of years already. Where's the evidence that had Apple not made the choices it did with the iMac that USB would have caught on and eventually becomes the standard? It's been almost 20 years since Apple made that choice and yet there's still PS/2 ports as standard equipment, and VGA ports and a other legacy connectors that have long since been replaced -- proof that left to their own complacency, USB would just as likely likely still be an exotic port used for some specialty applications.

 

[Val-kyrie]

You're arguing against yourself. On the one hand you say the transition will happen without Apple's help all in good time, but admit the average person knows little if anything about USB-C.

So how long should we wait for the masses to figure it out? What's their incentive to figure it out? How long should manufacturers support every legacy port, and therefore keeping the cost for products unnecessarily high?

I'm not arguing that the transition won't happen without Apple's help; I'm arguing it needs to be an industry-wide effort and going all in with no transition won't do anything to speed this up; it will however irk the naïve consumer.

As people buy laptops with USB-C ports and buy new peripherals with USB-C cables in stores, they will ask questions and gradually migrate, but they won't be willing to throw out perfectly usable equipment and may have a difficult time figuring out hubs and adapters. (Yes, I'm serious.) Even my parents have to be told how to connect things and I have been working with them for years.

One need look no further than the digital TV transition for the insight we need. Despite superior digital broadcasts being available for years before the transition, digital TV sales languished. Demand was low and cost was high. And by the time it happened, millions were unprepared for it despite ubiquitous and major ad campaigns for well over a year. As soon as the government shut off analogue transmissions, the impact was dramatic, converter/adapter box sales shot up, as did digital TV sets. And people were saying, why did the government just shut off analogue broadcasts, why didn't they give people a transition time -- which is exactly what they did -- they gave them years with an actual, well-publicized, deadline for the cutoff, and they still weren't ready.

I'm glad you think so highly of the transition. In my area of the country, people in rural America lost (most or all of) their TV signals and incurred the cost of moving to satellite. (There are no cable options there.) I even called the local broadcast stations, who told me they knew the transmission power was too low for those people to receive a signal. The FCC corroborated the information and the situation has remained the same since. The public did not win. Analog was far better for transmitting signals long distance and through objects.

As to your point about people not being ready--this shows just how little most people know about technology. If you spoke with these people, you would also realize how angry they were when they spent money for a DTV converter and either received far fewer channels or still couldn't receive a signal. These are the same people you expect to know what hub or adapter to buy or how to connect them.

The same for USB and the floppy on the iMac. The world wasn't ready for that, when Apple chose that route, despite the technology having been around for a couple of years already. Where's the evidence that had Apple not made the choices it did with the iMac that USB would have caught on and eventually becomes the standard? It's been almost 20 years since Apple made that choice and yet there's still PS/2 ports as standard equipment, and VGA ports and a other legacy connectors that have long since been replaced -- proof that left to their own complacency, USB would just as likely likely still be an exotic port used for some specialty applications.

Are you really trying to argue that Apple's adoption of USB is what turned the whole industry? If so, how do you differentiate Apple's adoption of USB and its success as opposed to Apple's adoption of FW 400/800 and its obsolescence?

The fact is that the tech industry as a whole moved to USB. Apple was among its earliest adopters, but it's success depended on the efforts of the entire industry. Apple only hurts its users when it forces sudden all or nothing changes rather than a smoother transition.

Obviously including legacy ports hasn't hurt USB one bit. Despite these ports, USB is ubiquitous. Your argument only goes to show that retaining some "legacy" ports during the transition won't stop that transition at all.

 

[Mac 128]

I'm not arguing that the transition won't happen without Apple's help; I'm arguing it needs to be an industry-wide effort and going all in with no transition won't do anything to speed this up; it will however irk the naïve consumer.

As people buy laptops with USB-C ports and buy new peripherals with USB-C cables in stores, they will ask questions and gradually migrate, but they won't be willing to throw out perfectly usable equipment and may have a difficult time figuring out hubs and adapters. (Yes, I'm serious.) Even my parents have to be told how to connect things and I have been working with them for years.



I'm glad you think so highly of the transition. In my area of the country, people in rural America lost (most or all of) their TV signals and incurred the cost of moving to satellite. (There are no cable options there.) I even called the local broadcast stations, who told me they knew the transmission power was too low for those people to receive a signal. The FCC corroborated the information and the situation has remained the same since. The public did not win. Analog was far better for transmitting signals long distance and through objects.

As to your point about people not being ready--this shows just how little most people know about technology. If you spoke with these people, you would also realize how angry they were when they spent money for a DTV converter and either received far fewer channels or still couldn't receive a signal. These are the same people you expect to know what hub or adapter to buy or how to connect them.



Are you really trying to argue that Apple's adoption of USB is what turned the whole industry? If so, how do you differentiate Apple's adoption of USB and its success as opposed to Apple's adoption of FW 400/800 and its obsolescence?

The fact is that the tech industry as a whole moved to USB. Apple was among its earliest adopters, but it's success depended on the efforts of the entire industry. Apple only hurts its users when it forces sudden all or nothing changes rather than a smoother transition.

Obviously including legacy ports hasn't hurt USB one bit. Despite these ports, USB is ubiquitous. Your argument only goes to show that retaining some "legacy" ports during the transition won't stop that transition at all.

You completely missed the point about the digital TV transition. TV picture and technology is far better than what was possible over analogue. People were warned for years to prepare for the transition, it was even delayed for years to help get the word out. If the government had continued to cater to analogue TV just to satisfy a few people who didn't care about picture quality, or needed the longer range reception, we wouldn't have the robust wireless infrastructure we have today which needs the bandwidth that was previously occupied by analogue transmissions.

And the transition proved that no amount of prep or encouragement motivated people to move forward. So, sorry. I completely disagree with your premise. If we catered to the general population with every decision about technology, nothing would ever move forward. At some point the switch has to be pulled, and chances are it's going to affect a significant number of people, no matter how much preparation or transition time is put into the effort.

We will have to agree to disagree now, because I think you're 100% wrong, and my arguments support that.

 

[Val-kyrie]

You completely missed the point about the digital TV transition. TV picture and technology is far better than what was possible over analogue. People were warned for years to prepare for the transition, it was even delayed for years to help get the word out. If the government had continued to cater to analogue TV just to satisfy a few people who didn't care about picture quality, or needed the longer range reception, we wouldn't have the robust wireless infrastructure we have today which needs the bandwidth that was previously occupied by analogue transmissions.

And the transition proved that no amount of prep or encouragement motivated people to move forward. So, sorry. I completely disagree with your premise. If we catered to the general population with every decision about technology, nothing would ever move forward. At some point the switch has to be pulled, and chances are it's going to affect a significant number of people, no matter how much preparation or transition time is put into the effort.

We will have to agree to disagree now, because I think you're 100% wrong, and my arguments support that.

I am not certain we totally disagree. I agree with you that the switch has to be pulled at some point, but you raised up my point: digital TV had a transition. Where is the transition for USB-C?

That is all I ask. Shalom.

 

[Rigby]

Just a few points.

Any USB drive you have now most likely already uses two different connectors. I'm looking at four drives on my desk now, all of which have cables which terminate into USB type A, but none of that drives have that connector. All you need is an inexpensive USB-C to USB-A connector cable to use those exact same drives.

Before USB-C, USB cables have always been asymmetric. The reason for this is that USB is an asymmetric connection (host/target). The "different connector" on the peripheral side is simply to prevent people from plugging two hosts or two targets together, which would not work and may in some cases even damage the hardware. All standard USB cables have a type A on one end and a type B on the other (there are several variants of the type B connector designed for different device sizes). Type-A to type-A cables do exist, but are not used for standard USB connections. USB-C, on the other hand, can use the same connector on both ends since the connectors are "smart" and can negotiate the connection when you plug them in, which is also utilized to make the connectors reversible.

So no, in the scenario you mention you don't need a USB-C to type A, but a USB-C to type B (or mini-B or micro-B) cable.
[doublepost=1475360801][/doublepost]

American Airlines has been putting state of the art touch screen screen seat back entertainment systems in all of their planes which have a USB port, a headphone jack, and imagine my surprise when I discovered a 9-pin din connector. What's that about? Even as a manufacturers diagnostic port, why would they chose such an archaic port? I felt like I should plug my S-VHS into it.

That's an "eXport" connector. It's a proprietary system used by Panasonic that can be used to connect e.g. iPods to the IFE system and feed audio and video from the iPod to the screen in the seat while at the same time charging the iPod. It has been around for a number of years and hasn't gained traction.

 

[Mac 128]

I am not certain we totally disagree. I agree with you that the switch has to be pulled at some point, but you raised up my point: digital TV had a transition. Where is the transition for USB-C?

That is all I ask. Shalom.

Technically there was a transition, in reality it didn't matter if they gave them 20 years to do it, or just switched it off without warning. Nobody did anything about it before the transition, and scrambled as if they never knew it was coming after they flipped the switch -- both manufacturers and consumers alike. The converter box fiasco was the case study -- the government gave coupons for free converter boxes for those who applied. Few applied. So the manufacturers didn't make very many. The switch came and millions suddenly caught without TV reception applied. The manufacturers were caught without any stock, and complained that they didn't have to honor these new coupons, and millions had to wait months to get their converter boxes while the government sorted it all out. And that's just one part of it.

Point is, Apple could design a new MBP with every legacy port possible, and that would only encourage people to keep using them, create no demand for USB-C products and nothing would ever move forward until Apple took the option away.

That approach doesn't work, and the digital TV transition proved it. It won't hurt any less doing it suddenly, versus giving the consumer years to do it, if the consumer doesn't proactively make the effort to change. And it's been proven time and time again that is almost always the case.

 

[Workerbee Redux]

People should understand that Apple is not so much concerned with their customers being able to connect everything to Apple machines, they never have been. What they are currently planning for is a machine without any ports at all - inductive charging, WiFi, Bluetooth and wireless USB. It will be the final evolution of 20y of Apple design.

That's not practical today. However, in the mean time, USB-C is the Jesus port that does it all. Apple shied away from eliminating the headphone jack in the MBP, but just barely. All other ports are replaceable by USB-C and Apple expects its customers to either use wireless or buy new periphery. MagSafe had to got because even v.2 is too tall and would compromise structural strength of the body - much like Ethernet ports did in the 2011 unibodies.

 

[Rigby]

People should understand that Apple is not so much concerned with their customers being able to connect everything to Apple machines, they never have been.

Personally, I think Apple should understand that people don't live in Jony Ive's imagined future, but rely on these machines for their work today, which sometimes requires connecting them to the peripherals that we have today.

What they are currently planning for is a machine without any ports at all - inductive charging, WiFi, Bluetooth and wireless USB. It will be the final evolution of 20y of Apple design.

Given the way the Mac product line has (not) developed recently, it looks like what they are really planning is to abandon the Mac in favor of some iPad on steroids.

 

[Soccertess]

Source?



The reviews I've seen has been overwhelmingly positive. "Behind spec" is what you call the new A10 processor that smokes all the Android processors in the wild? Ooooookay.

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

Source? Are you kidding me? It's been reported in the news. God help us if Apple fan boys aren't even reading Macrumors.

https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/11/iphone-decline-affecting-apple-suppliers/

Anyways, latest from Asia is that they are exceeding the lowered sales forecasts. I'm sure you know how to use google, try it.

 

[Workerbee Redux]

Personally, I think Apple should understand that people don't live in Jony Ive's imagined future, but rely on these machines for their work today, which sometimes requires connecting them to the peripherals that we have today.

Do tell this to those of us who have been around a bit longer and suffered through the original iMac - our whole investment in SCSI peripherals, ADB keyboard and mice, LocalTalk connectivity and more.

Apple has not been caring about compatibility with people's older investments since Jobs got back at the helm. If you think you cannot live with a handful of dongles and a laptop featuring four of the most versatile and powerful ports ever invented, do yourself a favor and look into PC laptops and Windows or Linux. Both systems are much better than the Mac fanbase usually acknowledges. Seriously, a computer is a tool, if it doesn't fit your needs, go shop elsewhere.

 

[Mac 128]

Do tell this to those of us who have been around a bit longer and suffered through the original iMac - our whole investment in SCSI peripherals, ADB keyboard and mice, LocalTalk connectivity and more.

Apple has not been caring about compatibility with people's older investments since Jobs got back at the helm. If you think you cannot live with a handful of dongles and a laptop featuring four of the most versatile and powerful ports ever invented, do yourself a favor and look into PC laptops and Windows or Linux. Both systems are much better than the Mac fanbase usually acknowledges. Seriously, a computer is a tool, if it doesn't fit your needs, go shop elsewhere.

You haven't been around long enough. The MacPlus was the first Mac that caused all serial cables to be replaced, when they went from DE-9 To 9-pin DIN which mean AppleTalk adapter boxes couldn't be moved when upgrading. The SE eliminated a whole generation of Mice and keyboards with the introduction of ADB. Of course there was the move from Serial drives to SCSI, the former for which dropped support starting with the Mac II. Then there were years of incompatible expansion card slots standards changing.

Apple has never cared about supporting backwards compatibility when they introduced a new technology, with or without Steve Jobs.

This is the first time since the iMac that a major port has needed changing. FireWire was created to serve a need USB didn't address, and didn't need to for most people. FireWire is an interesting example since it was essentially replaced by Thunderbolt, and along the way Apple eventually dropped FireWire, never supporting backward compatibility as they went from 400 to 800. They added an HDMI port as they removed DP. But they never supported VGA. And quickly dropped legacy ports like Ethernet. So now, they have a single port that does everything. Why would they continue to accommodate legacy ports since they've never done that in the past? And when doing so would only slow down the transition to get everyone using the same simple universal port for everything (including audio).

 

[Rigby]

Apple has not been caring about compatibility with people's older investments since Jobs got back at the helm.

Really? The Macbook Pros always had a nice assortment of ports. And it has nothing to do with "older investments", but with peripherals and connectors that you encounter in the real world today, including brand new ones. USB-C is years away from replacing type A, Display Port and HDMI (if it ever does). It makes zero sense to throw away all commonly used ports now. Unless, of course, your main goal is not to provide your customers with the most useful product, but to drive some agenda of what connectors you think people should be using.

If you think you cannot live with a handful of dongles and a laptop featuring four of the most versatile and powerful ports ever invented, do yourself a favor and look into PC laptops and Windows or Linux. Both systems are much better than the Mac fanbase usually acknowledges. Seriously, a computer is a tool, if it doesn't fit your needs, go shop elsewhere.

Oh my.

 

[fcapriles]

The current AirPort Extreme can handle 300 Mbps. Is your bandwidth faster than that? If so, where can I get sum.

Im at 200 Mbps which is why the express wont do anymore...

Looking into the suggestions on the Eero and Net Gear... but have been using apple wifi since original airport...

 

[Mad4WDW]

You are aware that folks, especially many pro photographers, are still using CF?

I'm not even a pro, but I've hated the priority of SD since ever (and yes, I'm aware that most CONSUMER cameras use SD...)



How often do you have to transfer 100+ Gigs of photos?

I transfer more than 100gig every week more than once dude, I'm a photographer so everything I shoot gets backed up and transferred onto externals later

 

[Ankaa]

I transfer more than 100gig every week more than once dude, I'm a photographer so everything I shoot gets backed up and transferred onto externals later

I do a lot of photography, myself, and when I do photo ID out in the field I end up having tons of gigs of data at a time...not more than 100, though, that's quite excessive and actually THOUSANDS of raw pictures, but yeah, if you say so. I think even on busy days I've never maxed out two 32 GB cards, which, again, was a couple or more thousands of pictures. Almost every day a week. And I was still fine, you know, even without being able to use the SD slot.

They get transferred to one external hard drive and than backed up ...but what's the problem with backing up hard drive to hard drive instead of copying it over twice from the card? Sincere question...just trying to understand your objection.

Sometimes it just feels people object things just for the sake of objecting it and because they're so used to, one may even say stuck in, their workflow. Instead of being the teeniest tiniest bit flexible. I like the idea of wirelessly transferring my data, but alas my camera doesn't have wifi. It might be a bit slower, yes, but it's also much more convenient.

But yeah, as I mentioned before, since I don't use SD, I couldn't care less whether there is an SD slot or not. But, if its removal gives rise to something else, e.g. bigger battery, I'm all for it.