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Who gives a crap? It's a freaking power connector. I actually really like the new one, it comes out so easily!

I do since it prevents me from being able to use my (compulsory) smartcard reader with an extension cable from now on, the new magsafe plug gets in the way. Makes for yet another item to take along on my travels (and possibly to forget)
 
What's the use keeping the MB plugged in on your lap?
These plugs are for on a desk. Charged rMBP's last for many hours!

And the new design is necessary to charge faster and improves also the battery life. There is some chip in the plug balancing the power.
 
I have nearly knocked my laptop off the desk once or thrice ;) because of the straight adapter. The T shaped adapters definitely pop off more easily, which is the point.

When the force pulling on the straight cable is angled in such a way, it just pulls the whole computer.
 
The Magsafe 2 might be a technically more sound design, but there are aspects of it that haven't exactly been thought through ... making corporate use somewhat more complicated ... and if I put it on the other side, there's the Thunderbolt adapter in the way ... grrmmpphhh

What about the readers with just a longer cable. This design is very fragile, awfull. Those companies deigning those should know computers have more than one port next to eachotehr.
 
Technically the T design is better. It allows the cord to cone out easier when someone trips over it. The L cord took more force therefore hurt the laptop a bit more. I have rested both the L and T on a 13" MBP 2009 and the T worked better.

T is not better than L (and L not better than T). It depends on how you set it on your desktop or how you have it on your legs.
 
I use the magsafe for quick and easy hookup and disconnection. I don't really care about what its original purpose was. At home my cables are neatly tucked away in a place where no one walks. On the road I am on batteries.

The magsafe1 just has a better design for that purpose. The magsafe2 disconnects way to easily. There is also more strain on the cable because of the way it protrudes out of your macbook. The magsafe1 can be directed nicely out of your way to the back. It might also be just the sofa I am sitting in
 
What about the readers with just a longer cable. This design is very fragile, awfull. Those companies deigning those should know computers have more than one port next to eachotehr.

The designs with a larger cable usually end up being almost as large as a cassette tape with at cable that is at least 2 feet long ... When traveling as frequently as I do, you will want to pack as little as possible. And as I said earlier, my current smart card reader when folded up is smaller than a USB stick :)
 
T is not better than L (and L not better than T). It depends on how you set it on your desktop or how you have it on your legs.

For what the MagSafe is designed for, the T connector is undoubtedly better. It doesn't really matter which way the cable is going, it's still going to disconnect when someone trips over the cable. In my experience, with the L connector, if someone tripped over the cable in the direction where the plug is connected:

---------------> DIRECTION OF TRAVEL
............. | (CABLE)
............. |
MAGSAFE []-->] MACBOOK

the cable either doesn't disconnect or disconnects when it's too late (after the computer falls onto the floor or the person trips, sometimes both).


I do have to admit that the MagSafe 2 disconnects a bit too easily for my liking- even a little tug and the plug disconnects from the computer. Probably very safe in the event of someone tripping over the cable, but inconvenient when moving the laptop around. The original plastic MagSafe was great imo, it disconnected only when I needed it to disconnect, simple as that. Shame about all the fraying and fire events reported from bricks made based on that design...
 
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For what the MagSafe is designed for, the T connector is undoubtedly better. It doesn't really matter which way the cable is going, it's still going to disconnect when someone trips over the cable. In my experience, with the L connector, if someone tripped over the cable in the direction where the plug is connected:



the cable either doesn't disconnect or disconnects when it's too late (after the computer falls onto the floor or the person trips, sometimes both).


I do have to admit that the MagSafe 2 disconnects a bit too easily for my liking- even a little tug and the plug disconnects from the computer. Probably very safe in the event of someone tripping over the cable, but inconvenient when moving the laptop around. The original plastic MagSafe was great imo, it disconnected only when I needed it to disconnect, simple as that. Shame about all the fraying and fire events reported from bricks made based on that design...

Thats a good point....i guess i would rather be safe then sorry....
 
Why did they go back to the old design with the cord sticking straight out from the side?

Now when I use its on my lap, I keep disconnecting the laptop power with my knee, because it protrudes out too far.

Plus it was nice to channel the cord away from you not out to the side of you.

Not a huge deal i guess, but I was very happy with the last generation of MagSafe and this is a step backward, imo.

The adaptor and old MagSafe does kind fix the channeling it away from you issue, but it still sticks out.

Oh well, love the laptop, just wish they would have left the charger alone it was great the way it was.

I was kind of surprised by this, too. The engineers had moved on to a new design for practical reasons, (maybe bordering on theoretical), and retreated to a past design. Must have been someone who reconsidered after many sleepless nights and this is what resulted in the end.

Regardless, the magsafe innovation in all its iterations was a great one.
 
Wirelessly posted

The previous MagSafe design is part of what made Macs special. Now it's as cumbersome as all the others on the market. I don't think this would have happened under Steve.
 
Wirelessly posted

The previous MagSafe design is part of what made Macs special. Now it's as cumbersome as all the others on the market. I don't think this would have happened under Steve.

I'm sorry. What??? You are either A) brand new to Apple. Or B) have a terrible memory of past magsafe!

The only difference between this and magsafe 1 ("T") is a smaller connector. Why would Steve not want to make a smaller connector?
 
I'm sorry. What??? You are either A) brand new to Apple. Or B) have a terrible memory of past magsafe!

The only difference between this and magsafe 1 ("T") is a smaller connector. Why would Steve not want to make a smaller connector?

The MagSafe 1 T shape connector was dropped in favor of the L shape under Steve as it was a more elegant design. The new MagSafe isn't just smaller; it reverts back to the obtrusive T shape that most of us dislike.
 
The MBPr is my first MacBook, and consequently, my first Apple product with MagSafe.

I went to the Apple store last week, and specifically wanted to see what the difference between the previous MagSafe and the MagSafe 2 was. Now remember, I had never seen the L-shape connector before, and was shocked when I was playing with them. I knew the concept of the MagSafe, and the VERY first thing that came to my mind when touching them was, "Uh, this L-shaped design isn't very 'safe' because I'm having a hard time disconnecting it at multiple angles."

Not rocket science. It only takes 10 seconds of playing with the two to realize that the T-shape does its job better than the L. Yes, I agree the L-shape is very nice when you are on your desk and running the cable away from clumsy feet.

I'd love to see a MagSafe 2 L-shape for use at desks... and then use the T-shape when traveling.
 
This might just be personal to the 11" mba, but I've always been annoyed as hell that they made it into an L-shape. The thing in one orientation prevents you from using the headphone jack and then forces you to position it the other direction and cause more strain at the connector because that's not the direction I wanted the rest of the cord to go in the first place. A T-shape circumvents this issue entirely. However, I'm still annoyed that they had to resort to creating a new proprietary port but whatever, just Apple being Apple.

I guess all of this just means that you can't seem to please everyone.
 
The MagSafe 1 T shape connector was dropped in favor of the L shape under Steve as it was a more elegant design. The new MagSafe isn't just smaller; it reverts back to the obtrusive T shape that most of us dislike.

More elegant, but I know several people who have had their MacBooks crash to the floor under the L-shape.
 
Nice thing about the L-shape was the cord would lay 180deg to the laptop, backward or forward, a much cleaner look than this T-abomination that comes out at a right angle from the unit. I can see the T-mag for an iPhone, but not a laptop.
 
I use the magsafe for quick and easy hookup and disconnection. I don't really care about what its original purpose was. At home my cables are neatly tucked away in a place where no one walks. On the road I am on batteries.

The magsafe1 just has a better design for that purpose. The magsafe2 disconnects way to easily. There is also more strain on the cable because of the way it protrudes out of your macbook. The magsafe1 can be directed nicely out of your way to the back. It might also be just the sofa I am sitting in

Agree with this
 
I use the magsafe for quick and easy hookup and disconnection. I don't really care about what its original purpose was. At home my cables are neatly tucked away in a place where no one walks. On the road I am on batteries.

The magsafe1 just has a better design for that purpose. The magsafe2 disconnects way to easily. There is also more strain on the cable because of the way it protrudes out of your macbook. The magsafe1 can be directed nicely out of your way to the back. It might also be just the sofa I am sitting in

You are not exactly making sense here.

Magsafe 1 "T" style was this
ae36758a-3b3d-3354.jpg


Here is Magsafe 1.5 "L" style
ae36758a-3b6e-4c55.jpg


Here is Magsafe 2 "T" style
ae36758a-3b97-3dd0.jpg


Magsafe 2 is just a smaller magsafe 1 "T".
 
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