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Ihnatko: Retina MacBook is Apples best, but could be better
- Thread starter Pipper99
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I use ethernet but only at home and only when I want to transfer a large quantity of data to or from my NAS. For that purpose it is no drama for me to have the TB dongle permanently attached to the end of the ethernet cable on my desk. If I used ethernet at work I could do the same thing there.
I'd rather have the thinner laptop, thank you Apple.
I'd rather have the thinner laptop, thank you Apple.
Yep, I had the same reaction. I love using fast Ethernet when at work, but it's obviosly an arbitrary barrier to having a thinner laptop. Wifi is so ubiquitous these days that most people don't need it. The people that do need it (like me) can live with the dongle.
This is exactly how I feel. I need ethernet for transfer speeds, and I don't mind having to plug in the dongle. My comp stays wired 24/7, and it's no big deal. It would have been nice if Apple would have included it, but it wasn't a deal breaker.
Me too - I've tried it, works well.
The dongle itself is very slim, it's not much different to having the ethernet cable plugging in directly.
Also, most use cases for ethernet are in an office situation, where a general thunderbolt dock would make a lot of sense anyway. The dongle is feather weight, and not a big deal to carry.
Ethernet dongles are fine and at least apple had the foresight to add in 2 thunderbolt ports so you can use the adapter and connect to the display at the same time.
Can I get an answer to my question please? Can you get 300Mbps or even 150 Mbps using wifi? I'm referring to the retina MacBook pro.
Do you mean get an actual 150/300mbps transfer rate out of wireless or connect at 150/300?
I mean connect at 300 Mbps or 150 Mbps. Verizon FioS just update to those speeds and I want to upgrade.
If your modem/router supports them speeds then yes it will connect at 150 if at 2.4ghz or 300 if at 5ghz.
As far as I am aware you cannot get 300mbps out of 2.4ghz wireless.
Yeah everywhere except in my own property. Wifi makes me and my wife really sick. But as you say, the dongle will do fine, not a big deal.
THIS.
I heard on another podcast someone ranting about how his MacBook will look like a "Squid" with all the dongles hanging out of it. You dork, if you're not using Ethernet/Firewire, then you don't need the dongles plugged in!!! And if you are using Ethernet/Firewire, you're going to have wires plugged in ANYWAYS! The dongles aren't making your MBP look like a squid, you're making it look like a squid.
If it makes you feel better, think of the dongle as a part of the ethernet cable. Now you can plug your ethernet cable into one of two ethernet ports on the left side of your computer. You can even plug your firewire cable into the fireware port right next to it!!
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I think that Jason Snell ws getting annoyed with Andy's argument, too.
Yeah I noticed that, I wish Alex had been on that episode as I'm sure he would have argued against Andy fairly adamantly.
Exactly, what does connecting an extra couple inches of cable to your FW or Ethernet cable really matter at all? People need to use logical reasoning before they go off on these rants. Thinner is better, less weight is better. We've got the two best and most future proof ports in USB3 and TB. Why complain other than to get more hits for your review/article?
I'll pack the adapter in my bag and use a docking station at work. Keep getting thinner, please!
We have both that and a 2011 in the house and it's not like we regret getting the original just because a better one came out a few years later.
newer, better, and cheaper things will always come out down the road. that's just life.
I paid more for my 46" tv than my 64". Like double. Do I regret it? No, because I can't imagine having to spend 3 extra years with a standard def TV just to save a few dollars.
Yes, a lot. It's the principle of the thing. There's princiPALITIES in this.
- If Apple gave you a choice of any ONE dongle free with any Retina or Air, we wouldn't see nearly as many complaints. It seems wrong to charge for the dongle. Same thing with the DVD drive especially given it's nearly 3 times more expensive than its non-Apple counterparts and Apple won't let third parties make dongles for competition. If I could buy an AmazonBasics Thunderbolt/Ethernet dongle for the $5 it's really worth, I wouldn't mind that.
- It's simply not practical in a business world with Ethernet networks (and NO business is running solely on wireless for reliability and stability reasons) to expect thousands of employees to keep up with dongles.
- The Pro without Retina is nearly $700 less expensive than the Retina Pro. Yet the non-Retina Pro has the port still in it. Doesn't make sense.
- Some can't quantify exactly why Apple refuses to release a base Retina without the bells and whistles. I'm talking 13 or 15 inch, 4GB of RAM upgradeable to 8, 64GB SSD upgradeable to 256, for a reasonably low price and WITHOUT making it slimmer. The slim form factor has nothing to do with the screen. In other words, build a Retina that is full form factor and a slim Retina for those that want the extra kicks.
Figure the Retina adds about $300 to the price right? So release a base not-slim Retina 15" for $1899. Base non-Retina for $1599. I'd be all over that base Retina because it would have future-proofed tech BUT not compromise port availability OR upgradeability.
I can live with all the dongle. But external DVD ugh! I got two superdrive for my macbook air. But never carry it when Im out of town. It add weight to my carry on. So imagine you carry this macbook retina with 4.4 lbs plust external DVD for another lbs. so it is like carrying cMBP weight or much heavier. I know most of you don't use physical media. But it is good to know its there if you needed one. Like those ethernet dongle or firewire.