Google Announces New Chromebook Pixel With USB-C, $999 Price Tag

[jrswizzle]

For exaple something that happens almost every day in the business world: Somebody walks up to you and gives you a USB flash drive with some files. And please, don't say "Airdrop" now, since it is a proprietary Apple protocol that is not supported by the majority of notebooks in the real world.


I still haven't heard a single good reason why Apple shouldn't build an additional USB port into the thing.

Flash Drives with USB-C will be here.....

And that's more a problem with the type of USB port, not that there's only 1.

If the person has an iOS/OSX device, why not ask them to AirDrop it?

There are also numerous other ways to wirelessly transfer a file via bluetooth and/or wifi.

But again, this is a problem with the USB-C port, not the lack of a second. I would guess it's not going to take long for USB-C thumb drives to pop up.

As for not adding a second, I've already said this: perhaps they just can't fit another in and still get the battery life they want. My guess is, those internals are packed tightly and every inch is taken up.

Or maybe I'm wrong and you'll get a second port in the future. Still doesn't help your scenario if it's USB-C.

 

[ryanasimov]

If Apple didn't make product ads, what template would other companies have to work with?

 

[usamaah]

Ludicrously fast photocopiers over there...

What part of the macbook seems copied? I'm curious.

 

[Christian 5G]

And here we go now we will see USB-C on every new Apple product

 

[Avenged110]

Chrome might not be the most memory efficient, but who the hell would need an i7 and 16GB of RAM to run a browser?
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Does the average user really plug a bunch of stuff into their laptop anymore?

I rarely plug anything into my MBA.....not sure why folks, especially tech-minded folks here, are so resistant to wireless forms of data transfer.

If you're docking the laptop, the adapter offers plenty of options from the one port. And you still get ultra light and thin the rest of the time.

I do rather frequently for various things. Cables are fast, power-efficient, and ubiquitous. But seriously, (I have a rMBP) I'd so much rather just be able to plug these things into the computer than have to keep track of adapters on adapters on adapters. Everyone prefers different things and that's fine, but I'm not clawing my eyes out over a few ports on the sides. Also MagSafe. That's a flagship "what makes a Mac a Mac" feature IMHO.
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As for not adding a second, I've already said this: perhaps they just can't fit another in and still get the battery life they want. My guess is, those internals are packed tightly and every inch is taken up.

I have a feeling this is more about making a statement than any legitimate technical reason.

 

[michelepri]

If you're talking about external drives, you can do that now. They're called NAS devices.

The upside is no cables. The downside is they're not nearly as fast.

Not yet, but they will get there soon. You can already stream HD video today, so the technology is there.

 

[Rigby]

If the person has an iOS/OSX device, why not ask them to AirDrop it?

Sure, but most people don't.

There are also numerous other ways to wirelessly transfer a file via bluetooth and/or wifi.

We don't need numerous incompatible ways, but just one that is universally accepted. Until that exists, it it not a realistic alternative to the good old flash drive.

But again, this is a problem with the USB-C port, not the lack of a second.

True. I'd actually prefer a Type-A as the second port. Let's not kid ourselves, Type-A USB devices are ubiquitous and will be for years to come.

I would guess it's not going to take long for USB-C thumb drives to pop up.

Which of course wouldn't solve the problem since most people don't have USB-C ports on their computers.

 

[iPad Air]

is this what youre focused in on?

it has full connectivity at a price point that shames the macbook.

Not really. I was just making a side observation.

I think $299 more for just OSX makes good sense. There is ONLY one thing I would criticize the new MacBook for...that is it only has one USB-C port. It seems like Apple might have put one on each side of the MacBook.

 

[ksuyen]

This is pretty similar to the Apple Watch. Cool features and over-priced. This will also sell at the pace of the Edition model.

Too bad this laptop is fashionably poorer, way way too ugly.

note: and I disagree with your comparison, just so you know. Apple Watch is priced perfectly.

 

[Renzatic]

Not yet, but they will get there soon. You can already stream HD video today, so the technology is there.

Oh, A NAS set up with a gigabit wireless connection would be fast enough to stream even a couple of 4k videos (compressed, obviously) without a breaking a sweat. But if you've got a job that requires moving tons of heavy data back and forth between computers, they're slower than even an external SATA3 connection, and don't even come close to comparing to 10Gb Ethernet.

So I wouldn't be recommending everyone go wireless yet. Especially not for the pro crowd.

 

[ScepticMatt]

wrong.. it's HARDWARE is just as powerful..

Nah, the Chromebook is literally twice as fast. Doesn't make ChromeOS any more useful though.

looks just as powerful and overpriced as the new macbook

It would have made sense to install Linux if you could upgrade to a higher SSD,
but with only up to 64GB, very few are going to bother.

Pretty nice that it sports TWO USB ports. I do not get Apple's obsession with thinness sometimes.

4 USB actually (2 USB-A and 2 USB-C) plus an card slot.

 

[gnasher729]

Yeah, until you are traveling somewhere for vacation, business, whatever with no wifi connection and realize your new macbook is a complete paper weight with a flappy dongle that needs to be attached to it to even be productive i am positive you'll be saying to yourself
.

Excuse me, but doesn't the MacBook come with a 256 GB drive? So what exactly do you think it can't do that it could do with more USB ports? Do you think having an extra USB port would magically give you WiFi?

 

[oliversl]

I'm a little suspicious about this "industry standard" USB-C, let see how the market unfold a year from now. This USB-C should be everywhere by then.

In the case of Apple, I wonder what will happen to all the effort invested in Lightning and Thunderbolt …

 

[HenryDJP]

Can't say I love this or hate it....but I certainly won't be buying one.

 

[sundragon]

Not a fan of the Pixel but I love the reference to LUDICROUS SPEED:

https://youtu.be/mk7VWcuVOf0

How come none of you have done this already??

 

[ScepticMatt]

Well now MacBook users can buy cheaper adapters from Google,

In the case of Apple, I wonder what will happen to all the effort invested in Lightning and Thunderbolt …

It's dead, Jim. Maybe they will design an Alt-Mode for USB-C.

USB-C will be on everything in the near future. Laptops, smartphones, displays, printers, flash drives, power adapters and more.

 

[nefan65]

if you cant see how far far more versatile the macbookpro and pixel are relative to the new macbook, i just dont know what to tell you.

Sounds like you can't give any examples. Just FUD.

 

[gnasher729]

again.


You are on the road in a pinch and need to access a file with no internet connectivity.


Because you own a macbook, you have trained yourself to use the cloud for all of these things.


That night, it was never worth buying hte macbook over any PC or macbookpro, or pixel for that matter.

Seriously, what world are you living in?

If there is a file on a flash drive, internet connectivity doesn't make one bit of difference.

If there is a file on another computer, internet connectivity doesn't make one bit of a difference. Ten seconds to create my own network, and unless the other computer is absolute rubbish, you are copying. In my experience significantly faster than going through a flash drive.

 

[bchreng]

Excuse me, but doesn't the MacBook come with a 256 GB drive? So what exactly do you think it can't do that it could do with more USB ports? Do you think having an extra USB port would magically give you WiFi?

Because... Magic!

If he's traveling somewhere for work or vacation, he ought to seriously consider paying a little extra for a wifi tethering option for his smartphone, or wifi from the hotel where he's staying.

 

[afawcett]

"Ludacris Speed, GO!" - Dark Helmet

 

[Mac-Mac-McAfee]

And peeps say Apple is expensive. Only 32 or 64gb of storage? Couldn't even hold OSX or apps. Besides that it'd be nice for half the price they're asking - especially if you don't need to use it.

 

[Datalinks]

so now we need to mind not pulling the cable again ?

 

[Eidorian]

More than one USB port, innovation came in just a day!

 

[flyinmac]

We all know the story by now... Gen 2 will pop along with an additional port, and the adapters will drop in price.

Generation 2 will take away the one port and Apple will find a way to charge us for an adapter that permits charging the computer.

 

[anthorumor]

Jonny Ive should have put USB-C on both sides.
That way, people can choose which side they would like to charge and trip over because it's not a magsafe.

But wait, that's a gen 2 feature