MacBook Pro and usb ports

[marklcfc]

I’m probably asking something here that’s been asked a lot, but I’ve not had a MacBook since my old one I bought back in 2009.

I notice USB ports are now just thunderbolt. I have 2-3 usb 2 devices I’d want to plug into, potentially one usb 3 and also I’d like to show my screen on a bigger monitor too sometimes so I need to plug that in too.

How can I achieve all this on the new MacBooks?

 

[BootLoxes]

You will need dongles. There are ones that have multiple ports like usb, ethernet, and hdmi all in one. You can pick them up in most electronic stores or online if you arent in that big a hurry

 

[s66]

Thunderbolt 3 ports on your computer also have all they need to

• allow you to directly connect usb-c devices.
• usb2 and usb3 can be connected through a usb-c to usb-a convertor. Apple and others sell them.
• a display:
  • Thunderbolt 3 (and earlier do too) carry displayport signals, some monitors can hook up to that directly
  • there's a whole slew of possible convertors to hook up things ranging all the way back to a 15 pin VGA

There are docking stations as well that connect to one thunderbolt 3 port on your computer and where you can connect multiple other devices to.

So as long as you have the right convertor, all you need on your laptop is are thunderbolt 3 ports.

 

[marklcfc]

If I buy a laptop that only has 2 thunderbolt 3 ports can I fit what I mentioned in or do I need one with 4 ports?

 

[salamanderjuice]

If I buy a laptop that only has 2 thunderbolt 3 ports can I fit what I mentioned in or do I need one with 4 ports?

You can do it with one port. Browse Amazon or your favorite retailer for USB C hubs. You'll find a number of devices that will give you multiple USB A ports, usually an HDMI, SD card slot or ethernet, etc. Some even have power passthrough so you can plug your AC adapter into the hub then like a USB keyboard, mouse and a monitor and have it all connected in a single cable. I kind of like this because it's super simple to get my laptop ready for transport. Pick the one that has the ports you'll think you'll need. If you do get one with power passthrough make sure it supports the wattage of your MB though.

 

[marklcfc]

I see them, there's alot to choose from. I can see some attach to the macbook itself through using both ports. Can you still charge the macbook through this hub?

 

[leman]

Your laptop comes with a bunch (depending on which one you own) of high-speed USB ports that use most recent USB standard connector. You can either upgrade the USB cables on your external devices (if they are detachable), or, as other have said, use a USB hub that offers legacy connectors. Each of the USB ports on your laptop natively supports DispayPort protocol (I am not sure whether they also support HDMI directly), so if your monitor does not support the newest standard you can always get a USB-to-DP cable or USB-to-HDMI adapter (depending on what your monitor uses). Or again, use a USB hub that integrates a HDMI port — most of them do.

 

[salamanderjuice]

I see them, there's alot to choose from. I can see some attach to the macbook itself through using both ports. Can you still charge the macbook through this hub?

Yes, if they support Power delivery. Read the specs and see what they say. Usually they'll say something like Power Delivery Port or USB-C pass-through charging with some wattage rating next to it like 45W or 60W or 100W. Get one that corresponds to the wattage of your MacBook's charger (e.g. 16" MBP would need 100W). I don't think there's much benefit to getting one of the ones that attaches to the MacBook through both ports, it's less flexible on what devices it'll support and unless you're running a ton of power hungry, speed hungry devices using both ports is overkill IMO.

 

[marklcfc]

I don't think there's much benefit to getting one of the ones that attaches to the MacBook through both ports, it's less flexible on what devices it'll support and unless you're running a ton of power hungry, speed hungry devices using both ports is overkill IMO.

You’re probably right it just looks a bit of a mess when it isn’t

 

[Fishrrman]

"I notice USB ports are now just thunderbolt"

NO.
STOP RIGHT THERE.

They are NOT "thunderbolt" ports.
They ARE "USBc ports" that also support thunderbolt connections.

Words mean things.
Repeat the above to yourself 15 times in succession, so that you remember this from now on.

What you need:
You can get short "dongles" like this that will enable you to connect USBa type cables to them:

uni USB C to USB Adapter 2 Pack, Thunderbolt 4/3 Compatible Male to Female USB-A Converter, Type-C to USB Heavy Duty Aluminum OTG Cable for MacBook/iPad Pro/Air, Galaxy S24, Laptops, Tablets, etc

uni USB C to USB Adapter 2 Pack, Thunderbolt 4/3 Compatible Male to Female USB-A Converter, Type-C to USB Heavy Duty Aluminum OTG Cable for MacBook/iPad Pro/Air, Galaxy S24, Laptops, Tablets, etc

tinyurl.com

Or... if your drives have removable cables "at the drive end", you could get cables with a USBc connector on one end, and a USBa connector on the other, like this:

Anker USB C Cable, [2-Pack, 6ft] Premium Nylon USB A to USB C Charger Cable for Samsung Galaxy S10 S10+, LG V30, Beats Fit Pro and Charging Cord for USB C Port Camera (USB 2.0, Black)

Premium Nylon Cable The Durable Sync-and-Charge Cable Superior Durability Engineered with a tough nylon exterior to resist damage from the outside and a precision-designed interior to withstand thousands upon thousands of bends. Universal Compatibility Supports high-speed USB-C charging for devic...

www.amazon.com

 

[marklcfc]

I've got my Macbook Pro now. I just wanted to ask about using the external monitor and closing the macbook itself - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201834

Will that work with one of those hubs or do I need the official apple hdmi usb-c to av adapter for that?

 

[salamanderjuice]

It will work fine.