Belkin Announces New Line of USB-C Cables, USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

[garylapointe]

Or better yet, include those ports on the machine and we won't have to buy-n-bring-a-dock. Too bad there will never be a MacBookPro that has a BTO option that adds (or subtracts) ports for those of us who have use for more than one USB-C and one silly headphone jack.

I agree, just put them on the machine, make it a little higher along the edges (raising it up and get some free air cooling going on.

I use the USB to charge and sync my iDevices (sometimes BOTH at the same time).

I also use the USB to import photos from my digital cameras (both pocket and SLR).

I also use the USB to transfer files to a thumb drive. Why? Because sometimes (many times) I'm in an environment where I need to get a file from one machine to another and I don't have access to their network (or even if I do have access to their network, I don't have access for their network printers). So generally it's easier to put it on a thumb drive and have the PDF printed from a machine.

Sometimes I plug my computer into the printer via USB(!) and print that way (but all printers don't have that port) if I have the drivers installed.

Now I'll need wall chargers (cheaper than adaptors) and and 3-way plug adaptors so I can plug them all in at once...

Gary

 

[theBB]

Suggesting an ethernet port is an exaggeration of the issue, given retina macs and macbook airs don't have them either and haven't for years. A real complaint would be that Apple could have afforded a second USB-C connection on the new Macbook.

You were the one who specifically mentioned "legacy ports". If you only said "I wish there was a second UCB-C port", the thread wouldn't grow so long.

 

[spencers]

Gigabit ethernet FTW

I just can't give up the ethernet

 

[762999]

they don't say if it will charge the laptop when connected to a POE switch. That would be nice! A POE port can provide up to 25.5 watts of power.

 

[spencers]

they don't say if it will charge the laptop when connected to a POE switch. That would be nice! A POE port can provide up to 25.5 watts of power.

Hadn't thought of that. Would be amazing!

 

[gnasher729]

A simple compact portable dock is what's needed here: 1 x USB-C, 2 x USB 3, 1 x hdmi, 1 x ehternet. (All powered!)

According to the pundits here, you would make tons of money providing that kind of adapter.

Now I can buy a 2.5" 2TB external drive for about £70. If you make the case a only a little bit larger, you should be able to fit power supply, 1 x USB-C, 4 x USB 3, HDMI, Ethernet, and of course the 2TB external drive. None of the parts are expensive, and that for £100 would be an excellent deal.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the issue isn't people being ignorant of other laptops in apple's lineup--and that the real thing going on here is that people would love to have a laptop that features the design/weight of the Macbook with legacy ports?

I've never understood why people are so quick to say this. It's pretty obvious people didn't just forget about the other models.

AND I think the idea to move to a non-proprietary cable is being pushed by the EU requirements for homogenous cables across different brands to cut down on IT Waste and Clutter.

If all devices had the same batteries, and used the same cables, the number of batteries and cables needed would be reduced to way less than a half dozen, AND your old batteries and cables would work with your new computer. What a concept...

 

[kwikdeth]

Great to see the ethernet cable added

To those whining about needing a bunch of cables, why buy this laptop then? there are so many others in apple's lineup, find one that suits your needs.

because those of us who have been with Apple for a long time know that its only a matter of time till the rest of the lineup gets this kind of treatment. Apple doesnt make major strategic changes to their hardware lineup on a whim. You can expect their entire laptop line to go this route soon enough.

having said that, I have no problem with the idea of USB-C or the benefits it will bring. what I do have a problem with is the single port. Maybe Im revealing my age here but I well remember the days of Apple users being relentlessly teased by their PC brethren for the fact their machines only came with two USB ports. Now we will have only one.

 

[cfedu]

because those of us who have been with Apple for a long time know that its only a matter of time till the rest of the lineup gets this kind of treatment. Apple doesnt make major strategic changes to their hardware lineup on a whim. You can expect their entire laptop line to go this route soon enough.

having said that, I have no problem with the idea of USB-C or the benefits it will bring. what I do have a problem with is the single port. Maybe Im revealing my age here but I well remember the days of Apple users being relentlessly teased by their PC brethren for the fact their machines only came with two USB ports. Now we will have only one.

None if you have the charger plugged in, but for 80$ Apple can solve that problem.

 

[manu chao]

i feel it's obvious they're killing the air line and you can consider the ones on their site 'legacy' machines now.

In the same way, the Air line killed of the previous MB line.

i highly doubt they'll continue selling the thinner-than-air macbook and sell mba's for much longer than another cycle. they're consolidating not branching, but they still have all these airs to offload.

It is not about offloading. I highly doubt they have stockpiled a year worth of Broadwell MBAs.

It's about offering a cheaper option and also offering an option with more ports until things have gone even more wireless in two years (and they might be able to squeeze a second USB-C port into this machine) and also until there are more an cheaper USB-C adaptors/docks, not to speak of peripherals overall having moved from the USB-A to the USB-C.

The 13" non-retina MBP was kept there for similar purposes (cheaper option, not least being cheaper because larger storage and more RAM could be gotten cheaper from third-parties). If they follow this pattern, there will be one generation where the new MB shares the same processor generation as the MBA (aka what we have today) and then maybe two years with the MBAs not being updated. But it doesn't have to follow exactly that pattern.

----------

I agree. After seeing the internal pics, one USB-C on BOTH sides wasn't too much to ask. The question I would ask Is how that works for charging... Does only ONE side charge? What happens if TWO chargers plug in? Or TWO video adapters? Would the machine drive BOTH? Just one side? That's an Apple kind of question.

Yup, that is a wildcard that could explain the one-port-only.

 

[JamesPDX]

Monothingy

I will wait for the Monoprice cables.

It'll be really thick and heavier than the device to which it's connected. And you'll have to trim the sides when you find out that it's blocking an adajcent port, if there are any.

 

[shenan1982]

You mean the other laptops in Apple's lineup that also need adapters? silly comment bud, your in the same situation with anything that has a retina screen.

My MB Air needs an adaptor for ethernet. Your Air doesn't?

Ethernet is a waste of space. I use it all the time, and even I think it'd be a waste of space. You do realize the entire laptop is thicker than an ethernet port. How do you suggest they put the port in?

 

[shenan1982]

because those of us who have been with Apple for a long time know that its only a matter of time till the rest of the lineup gets this kind of treatment. Apple doesnt make major strategic changes to their hardware lineup on a whim. You can expect their entire laptop line to go this route soon enough.

having said that, I have no problem with the idea of USB-C or the benefits it will bring. what I do have a problem with is the single port. Maybe Im revealing my age here but I well remember the days of Apple users being relentlessly teased by their PC brethren for the fact their machines only came with two USB ports. Now we will have only one.

Completely understand, it's the ONLY way the entire line can become any thinner... it's to the point now where the physical port IS the density constraint. The fact is a ethernet port is thicker than the entire Macbook is, so obviously something has to be a dongle or it limits the ability to provide the thinness.

I'm guessing your right regarding this being the new direction, but just like the removal of ethernet from the air and being replaced with a thunderbolt to ethernet adaptor, people will adapt.

I'd bet that pro models will come with 2-3 USB-c ports in the future. In my opinion, going with the USB C standard is a huge benefit. Now you'll be able to buy cheap, third party accessories that essentially allow you to sit down and plug in one plug, and have power, ethernet, display port, usb replication, and more... people on here have been begging for such a feature for years because Mac laptops have lacked a "dock" solution to be able to plop it down, plug one thing in and have everything come alive at once. Not sure now that Apple is beginning to deploy a technology which allows that why the naysayers are so vocal against it.

 

[JamesPDX]

Utility, Utility, Utility.

Completely understand, it's the ONLY way the entire line can become any thinner... it's to the point now where the physical port IS the density constraint. The fact is a ethernet port is thicker than the entire Macbook is, so obviously something has to be a dongle or it limits the ability to provide the thinness.

I'm guessing your right regarding this being the new direction, but just like the removal of ethernet from the air and being replaced with a thunderbolt to ethernet adaptor, people will adapt.

I'd bet that pro models will come with 2-3 USB-c ports in the future. In my opinion, going with the USB C standard is a huge benefit. Now you'll be able to buy cheap, third party accessories that essentially allow you to sit down and plug in one plug, and have power, ethernet, display port, usb replication, and more... people on here have been begging for such a feature for years because Mac laptops have lacked a "dock" solution to be able to plop it down, plug one thing in and have everything come alive at once. Not sure now that Apple is beginning to deploy a technology which allows that why the naysayers are so vocal against it.

But what is the supported maximum cable distance without a USB-C repeater? What is the cost per foot? -This is why Cat 6 Ethernet is so great. It's dirt cheap and you can run it a long, long way. And although I love Thunderbolt: Compared to optical Thunderbolt, a fifty-foot run of fully-shielded Cat6 Ethernet cable is free. You can even DIY for connectors.

 

[shenan1982]

But what is the supported maximum cable distance without a USB-C repeater? What is the cost per foot? -This is why Cat 6 Ethernet is so great. It's dirt cheap and you can run it a long, long way. And although I love Thunderbolt: Compared to optical Thunderbolt, a fifty-foot run of fully-shielded Cat6 Ethernet cable is free. You can even DIY for connectors.

Can you please send me a 50 foot run of CAT6 for free, or link me to a site selling CAT6 for free? Thanks! I have no use for it, but I'll take it since it's free, LOL.

Not sure how the length is relevant. If someone must have ethernet, they're still going to have the port, it's just going to be 3 inches outside of the laptop via dongle, so the relevance of the allowable length of the cable is quite irrelevant. The same 50 foot plug will get you the same network connection, in fact, with the dongle you'll be able to take your laptop 3 inches further than ever before.

I think people will look at this argument in the future as such a silly one. We should all be jumping for joy that Apple has FINALLY gone with a universal standard that makes sense. While right now USB-C is hard for many to grasp, I bet within 6 months you'll be able to buy a single dongle that has all of the USB C capabilities (power, usb, display port, hdmi, and vga) all in one small dongle, so you'll be able to sit down, plug in, and have connections for everything.... a dream compared to having to sit down, plug in your magsafe, then plugging in your usb hard drive and your usb lightning cable and your cdmi, and the display... now it'll be one click and you're connected to everything. People are failing to see the benefit of USB C because they're too caught up in the way things worked in the past. USB C = a docking station in one dongle.

 

[JamesPDX]

The Choiceless Plus Plan 3.1

Can you please send me a 50 foot run of CAT6 for free, or link me to a site selling CAT6 for free? Thanks! I have no use for it, but I'll take it since it's free, LOL.

Not sure how the length is relevant. If someone must have ethernet, they're still going to have the port, it's just going to be 3 inches outside of the laptop via dongle, so the relevance of the allowable length of the cable is quite irrelevant. The same 50 foot plug will get you the same network connection, in fact, with the dongle you'll be able to take your laptop 3 inches further than ever before.

I think people will look at this argument in the future as such a silly one. We should all be jumping for joy that Apple has FINALLY gone with a universal standard that makes sense. While right now USB-C is hard for many to grasp, I bet within 6 months you'll be able to buy a single dongle that has all of the USB C capabilities (power, usb, display port, hdmi, and vga) all in one small dongle, so you'll be able to sit down, plug in, and have connections for everything.... a dream compared to having to sit down, plug in your magsafe, then plugging in your usb hard drive and your usb lightning cable and your cdmi, and the display... now it'll be one click and you're connected to everything. People are failing to see the benefit of USB C because they're too caught up in the way things worked in the past. USB C = a docking station in one dongle.

Send me a SASE and $500 shipping and handling, and I'll send out ASAP.

 

[manu chao]

I'm guessing your right regarding this being the new direction, but just like the removal of ethernet from the air and being replaced with a thunderbolt to ethernet adaptor, people will adapt.

When Apple dropped the 56K modem from their laptops I got a dongle with an external modem but I probably used it only for a year or so before I switched to a wireless modem USB dongle and shortly after that to a MiFi (Wifi router+wireless modem).

 

[brand]

Can you please send me a 50 foot run of CAT6 for free, or link me to a site selling CAT6 for free?

By definition one can not sell something for free.

 

[dampfnudel]

Not really because unlike lightning, USB C is a standard that you'll now see quickly rolled out to numerous devices.

Will that include the iPhone and iPad? I know some people will complain that Apple is changing it again after only 3-4 years with the Lightning connector, but 1) it would appease the Europeans and 2) ultimately, it would be better for long-term compatibility/convenience/affordability for everyone.

 

[Agent-P]

Will that include the iPhone and iPad? I know some people will complain that Apple is changing it again after only 3-4 years with the Lightning connector, but 1) it would appease the Europeans and 2) ultimately, it would be better for long-term compatibility/convenience/affordability for everyone.

I would assume they'll eventually replace lightning with USB-C. Then all of Apple's portable devices will share a single input for charging.

 

[JamesPDX]

Thingate vs Engineering

When Apple dropped the 56K modem from their laptops I got a dongle with an external modem but I probably used it only for a year or so before I switched to a wireless modem USB dongle and shortly after that to a MiFi (Wifi router+wireless modem).

I see your point, but you'll notice that you can plug any of your current USB devices into that old laptop and those devices will work. The -example- of this new Mac shows that there's no plan to support the data-intensive networking needs that WiFi cannot meet. I'm not writing about MacRumors and Twitter bandwidth needs, I'm concerned about the i/o connectivity for the i/o interfaces and media-drive needs of professional applications, both NAS and DAS. There is a smug "Oh, WTF, just put in a single port and maybe someone will come up with a hub that can handle all that stuff..." -Like those Thunderbolt docks that only have overlap in places like "headphone jack" or "eSATA".

Maybe the laptops are just "done" and us media creators will just have to stop using them because our hardware won't work on a glorified Chromebook, or maybe there will be an "unthin" pro model and we'll be rather pleased that Apple isn't just about little electronic fashion statements and Emoji diversity.

We'll see.

Could someone that works with Avid or Lightroom weigh-in here?

 

[JamesPDX]

Free for One Dollar!*

By definition one can not sell something for free.

The cable is free*.

-There are just shipping and handling charges. And now I've added a "Unauthorized Definition Sharing" surcharge of $1457.92 USD.

What can I say? I've read a lot of cereal boxes and telecom bills in my life.

Your Call Is Important To Us.

 

[manu chao]

I see your point, but you'll notice that you can plug any of your current USB devices into that old laptop and those devices will work.

You can also plug them into the new MB, you just need a USB-C to USB-A cable.

The -example- of this new Mac shows that there's no plan to support the data-intensive networking needs that WiFi cannot meet. I'm not writing about MacRumors and Twitter bandwidth needs, I'm concerned about the i/o connectivity for the i/o interfaces and media-drive needs of professional applications, both NAS and DAS.

Will people with the media-drive needs of professional applications, both NAS and DAS would want to work on a computer that has a 1.1 or 1.3 GHz Intel Core M inside?

 

[ellsworth]

Great! Now can Apple lower the price of their Thunderbolt cables so I can buy a box before they disappear? Thanks

 

[MH01]

My MB Air needs an adaptor for ethernet. Your Air doesn't?

Ethernet is a waste of space. I use it all the time, and even I think it'd be a waste of space. You do realize the entire laptop is thicker than an ethernet port. How do you suggest they put the port in?

I'm not at all. Just pointing out that if you buy a modern apple laptop and need legacy port, you need to get adapters.

People complaining about the new MacBook and its lack of ports need to realise that the whole apple range lacks ports, and you need to carry adapters.