Griffin’s $40 BreakSafe Power Cable Brings MagSafe to the 12-Inch MacBook Starting April 25

[Mw0103]

Some people just don't get it. At first, it seems you leave the nub in all the time, but the nub serves no purpose, so yes, you plug the whole thing in to charge, unplug the whole thing when you're done (or want to use that ONE port for something else) and if you trip over the cord or drop the Macbook, the connector breaks into two as it's supposed to do.

Those who think you're supposed to leave the nub in the port don't think outside the box much.

From the website linked in the article:

The streamlined magnetic connector is only 12.8 mm deep so you can leave it plugged into your laptop’s USB-C port when not in use.

 

[goobot]

From the website linked in the article:

The word CAN clearly means it's optional.

 

[mr.steevo]

This thread is asinine.

If you own this cable and don't want the "tumour" sticking out of the computer, unplug it.

 

[Djbpwny]

I wouldn't want a little tumor sticking out of my $1500 new Macbook. In my 7 years owning Macbooks I've never tripped on a cable. Is USB-C really that strong of a connector that the cable wouldn't pop out?

y'know, you can remove this when you don't have it plugged in. You actually can't keep this thing plugged in all the time if you want anything that uses USB for data transmission to plug in.
When you're charging, just plug in the cable like normal, but if someone trips over it or you do like I have and pick it up to go, forgetting it is plugged in, your MacBook is safe and it's thanks to the "little tumor sticking out of [your] $1500 Macbook"

 

[manu chao]

The word CAN clearly means it's optional.

MagSafe provides a security net and convenience (it's easier and nicer to plug in and to unplug). If you pull the nub out every time, you have a solution with even less convenience than the default USB-C. And most days my laptop doesn't even see any peripherals beyond the power supply, meaning for me, I'd leave the nub in normally (but then I also don't see it as a big aesthetic problem).

 

[goobot]

MagSafe provides a security net and convenience (it's easier and nicer to plug in and to unplug). If you pull the nub out every time, you have a solution with even less convenience than the default USB-C. And most days my laptop doesn't even see any peripherals beyond the power supply, meaning for me, I'd leave the nub in normally (but then I also don't see it as a big aesthetic problem).

The purpose of this is safety.

 

[Mike Oxard]

The purpose of this is safety.

Exactly, and you don't even need to have the MagSafe end plugged in to the MacBook, you can plug it in the other way round so the "wart" is in the power supply.

 

[mw360]

If you pull the nub out every time, you have a solution with even less convenience than the default USB-C.

What everyone is trying to say is that you may pull out the 'nub' with the cable still attached to it, all in one gesture. That makes it exactly the same convenience as a regular cable. (Unless you are worried about the connector breaking apart in transit or something.)

Seems like an adequate solution and no doubt Apple gets some patent license fees to help keep them afloat.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

I wouldn't want a little tumor sticking out of my $1500 new Macbook. In my 7 years owning Macbooks I've never tripped on a cable. Is USB-C really that strong of a connector that the cable wouldn't pop out?

Yes. Your Macbook will go crashing down to the floor.

 

[gsmornot]

Don't sweat it guys, this thing won't be hanging from your Macbook all the time, it will stay connected to the $79 Multiport adapter. When you pull the adapter out, this will go with it.

 

[mpainesyd]

Hopefully it will work when plugged into an HDMI-USBc adapter that is, in turn, plugged into the Macbook. This is a typical configuration when charging my Macbook with external hard disk and monitor connected.

 

[manu chao]

The purpose of this is safety.

You mean if I were to buy this for mere purpose of convenience, I would be misusing it?

The idea behind MagSafe might have originally been safety-only but that doesn't prevent people from liking it also (and for some people predominantly) for the convenience.
[doublepost=1461412894][/doublepost]

What everyone is trying to say is that you may pull out the 'nub' with the cable still attached to it, all in one gesture.

That is the part I have doubts about. How can it be possible that pulling at the cable on the hand allows for it to disconnect at the magnetic junction if that pull was unintentional but not to disconnect if the pull is intentional?

 

[nick42983]

Ahhh, MacRumors logic. "It has never happened to me, therefore it will never happen to anybody."

You invented the "therefore it will never happen to anybody" part, mea culpa for not being a klutz. My question still stands, does the USB-C connector really fit tightly enough into the Macbook that it'd yank it off a table if the cable was tripped over?

 

[adebookpro]

I can appreciate the design of this product, but it should not be necessary. MagSafe has saved my MBP a few times, because the battery is insufficient (it's an old MBP) and I have to work with it plugged in. The MacBook battery lasts the day, only being plugged in to charge over night - like I charge my iPhone and iPad (which also don't have MagSafe)...