I finally have a gripe with the MBP Retina

[vito]

problem seems to be disorganised cabling drops / cable management or lack off...

If the TB cable wasn't yanked out, it'll be just as annoying if your MBP retina was being tugged every so often instead.

we have several hotspot areas and usually around 30-40 people per section, Ethernet cables are allocated one per workstation so no one should be tugging on anyone else's!

 

[Angus9541]

I would have slapped the first fo that ripped it out with the hairy side of your hand... right in the face!!! Prevention is better than cure!!!!!

 

[ColoArtist]

I did some experimenting.

The Thunderbolt connector has more of a grip than I imagined. On a smooth wooden desktop I was able to pull my rMBP around by the connector. If I pulled straight out the rMBP would only move a couple of inches before disconnecting. However, since the port is recessed, if the pull angle was 90 degrees, like over the back of a desk, the rMBP would move until the connection straightened out...about 10"-12".

If I placed the cable underneath the two back feet of the rMBP I found the lightweight Mac was just heavy enough to keep the cable in place for me to pull the rMBP all of the way across my desk.

If you really want to insure that some jerk can pull your rMBP off of a desk by grabbing the wrong cable, I found that making a loop with the cable around my rMBP's hinge created a grip sufficient to pick up the rMBP by the cable.

On one of my desks I've got a smooth surface desk pad. It's smooth enough that the Thunderbolt's connection was strong enough I could pull the rMBP around by it...even when pulling straight out.

I didn't try it, but maybe some car wax on the rMBP's footpads would reduce the friction enough for the Mac to slide off of a desk via the Thunderbolt. A little Groit's Best of Show wax might be just the ticket.

Anyway, I'd vote for securing the ethernet cable something. I use little stick on CableDrops to keep cables from falling behind my desks. Maybe they'd provide enough grip to for at least a bit of security. They'd be portable enough and innocuous enough to use at a client's site...
http://www.amazon.com/Lounge-Design-CableDrop-Management-System/dp/B002EDM6OE

Sounds like you've got a neat job.

 

[SchuettS]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002C0SKBW/ref=mp_s_a_5?pi=SL75&qid=1347284238&sr=8-5

I'm guessing you hate the magnetic charger too.

 

[avalys]

If WIFI is not allowed due to security concerns, then I think the USB Ethernet adapter would be the better bet than the Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter. It's slower, but USB connection is somewhat more secure than Thunderbolt.

The security issue with Thunderbolt is only a potential risk if you are connecting foreign devices directly to the Thunderbolt port.

If you are connecting an Ethernet cable using an Apple Thunderbolt<->Ethernet adapter, this is no more a security risk than connecting an ethernet cable directly to a built-in port.

WiFi's security concerns are orders of magnitude greater than those associated with any wired connection.

 

[bogatyr]

The security issue with Thunderbolt is only a potential risk if you are connecting foreign devices directly to the Thunderbolt port.

If you are connecting an Ethernet cable using an Apple Thunderbolt<->Ethernet adapter, this is no more a security risk than connecting an ethernet cable directly to a built-in port.

WiFi's security concerns are orders of magnitude greater than those associated with any wired connection.

I believe he meant secure as in the USB port is tighter and wouldn't come out as easily. Since you can't use WiFi due to the security, wired is your only option and USB is less likely to pop out on you compared to TB.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I don't see the difference in the context of this thread.
Please expand.


The issue, if you want to call it that, could surely have be dealt with using a bit of lateral thinking. Some have given suggestions here. If the ethernet adapter was unplugged once, or twice, it shouldn't have happened again.

Most home users think that wireless is good enough and that you don't need ethernet because Wireless! Professionals understand that wifi is insecure and often not allowed at all in some corporations.

 

[nontroppo]

Sounds like something for a kickstarter project, a tensioned silicone lasso between the TB connector and something like a dummy HDMI connector on the other side. TB connectors have that hard ledge that would allow a silicone lasso to hold them in place...

Ethernet is NOT dead in spite of what Apple says.

Huh? I think the original post shows you that Apple doesn't think ethernet is dead either, which is why they developed a gigE adapter for the rMBP and the OP could use the rMBP for a job dependent on ethernet.