MagSafe

I agree the lack of MagSafe is disappointing. I cannot count how often my daughter runs around my desk and knocks off my power cord from my MBA. I realize why it's like this now (to support the multi-use port), but losing the MagSafe is a negative.

This is why I think they should have left the power charge port alone and added a separate USB (or other port for transfer). Well, that is the price you pay for a minimalist design.

 

Correct.

... except no Thunderbolt.

 

Magsafe has always been a marketing gimmick. And people keeping drinking the cool aid Apple give about how wonderful it is.

At the end of the day, one universal connector for both power and everything else makes more sense. Just wish they had two of those new ports on it for versatility – one on each side. But hey ho.

Of course they're re-splitting their laptop range here, eventually we'll have:

1) simple, lightweight portable Macs: "MacBook"
- with only USB-C 5Gbit i/o, later v.2 will have 10Gbit. The one port does everything (power/external displays/USB-based peripherals).

2) pro, not-as-lightweight & not quite as portable Macs: "MacBook Pro"
- with USB-C 5Gbit i/o, later v.2 will have 10Gbit. This port will do everything but NOT power for the pro machines (just external displays/USB-based peripherals).

- also with Tbolt 3 i/o (late 2015-early 2016) doing both power AND super-fast/multiple other things (4K/5K 60Hz multiple external displays/Tbolt-based peripherals). This will also perhaps allow more optical connections (along with <3m copper ones, as they do now).*


*I have a couple of loooooooong optical Thunderbolt cables for putting loud storage peripherals in a cupboard away from my desk. They're great, but as ever, expensive for what they are.

 

I do like the MagSafe (most of time - I often wish it was bit less sensitive) and I'm curious to see how that USB-C port is going to work out.

One correction though, MagSafe2 does *not* point to the back.

 

Harrumph. It helps prevent damage to your costly laptop, and it's reversible. How is that a gimmick?

 

...but there's no reason you have to put this adaptor in the rMB is there? The specs detail a power supply and a (separate) USB-C cable, 2m long. So why not put the adaptor into the power supply, along with the cable to your monitor and USB3 hub, and then just the single 2m USB-C cable runs to your laptop when you want charging and/or connectivity?

Any reports out there saying whether this is possible?

 

Because that's what Apple TOLD you it did. Half the time it doesn't work like that properly, and the other half the time the little light on it doesn't light-up.

Compared to a single GENERIC (i.e. you can use any CHEAP third-party USB charger, when they become available) cable for everything, Magsafe is insignificant and everyone will soon forget Apple's cool aid on just how wonderful it was.

...and hence, the use of Tbolt 3 to offer power on the new MBPro's due later. Tbolt 3 will offer up to 100W of power, meaning the 85W of the current 15" MBP is easily met.

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Yes. Apple are offering some USB-C to USB-A adaptors. Hence you can buy any max.3m long USB cable to charge with those adaptors, or use a USB-A to USB-C to charge.

Two of Apple's adaptors have USB-C+VGA/HDMI+USB-A. Hence as above PLUS use one of Corning's non-power optical USB cables for greater distance (perhaps to a hub if desired) without powering the rMB off it, instead powering on the other USB-C port on those adaptors.

 

Like Apple TOLD you that this "evolutionary/revolutionary" port is the way to go, though you wil have to have adapters to use basic functions.

You are in the same boat, just don't realize it.

 

magsafe if perfect. why mess with that. oh right, we need it thinner.

thinner than a MacBook Air which is already hard on the wrists because it's so ultra thin sitting on a table.

Thinner why. to appease shareholders? to appear innovative? certainly not to make it more funtional

 

Shrug. Haters gonna hate.

MagSafe has worked flawlessly for me and has saved my several MBPs over the years from clumsy dachshunds and kids, many times. It's a very cool solution to a common issue, and the issue grows worse as the laptops grow thinner and lighter and therefore easier to yank off a table. So count me among those saddened to see a non-MagSafe power connector on today's new Macbook.

The only time I've ever had an issue with the MagSafe connector's light not going on was when lint has gotten onto the contacts. A few pecks with a toothpick has cured that on the rare occasion it's happened. I'm talking perhaps three or four instances over the three Macbook Pros I've had since 2010.

If you're having more persistent problems (and I sure hope your "half the time this and half the time that" is hater-hyperbole), I urge you to go to the Genius Bar and have them figure out what's going on. Your MagSafe adaptor is covered by AppleCare.

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Because consumers like it. Thin-and-light wins.

I can attest to that. I upgraded to the 15" rMBP after toting my trusty 2010 conventional MBP for three years. Now, going back to the 2010 (which runs 24/7 as a server now) is awkward. So thick and heavy by comparison!

Once you go thin-and-light, it's very hard to go back.

And so you might change your tune when you pick up one of the new MacBooks for the first time. I haven't done so yet, but I know a couple people who have, and they say it's just stunningly light, nice to hold, and all-around gotta-have, with its spectacular new display.

Frankly I'm not looking forward to meeting this seductive new machine. I adore my 15" rMBP and use every bit of its compute power, so I'm not really a candidate for the new machine. But gotta say, as a frequent flyer I'm more than a bit envious of the portability of this new machine.

 

I'm actually someone going from the 15" rMBP back to a 'FatBook' (13" uMBP). I'll miss the thin and lightness of that machine but the headaches all the 15" MBPs I have owned since 2011 have given me thanks to dGPUs (across 3 models: early 2011, mid 2012 Retina, late 2013 Retina) are just not worth it. I got the value of the laptop back on an Apple Gift Card (long story) and ordered a nMP.

I'm certainly going to be jealous of this new machine and I can't wait to try the Force Touch trackpad on the new 13" rMBPs next week (those are due out this week). I'm still not 100% sold on the keyboard but I'll have to try it. Also not sold on the fact that there is only one of the 'one connector that does it all' on the machine. Include two and it would be fine but if you need to charge at the same time that you need to hook up a (soon to be released) Type-C thumb drive your just ****ed.

 

MagSafe in this day and age is irrelivent.

Ok when MagSafe came out and we were struggling to get 3-4 hours and you had to either buy a second brick for home/work to charge there I can completely understand MagSafe in that situation.

Today with the whole MacBook lineup being able to offer up 8 or more hours on battery is MagSafe really needed? I'd personally say no. I don't use my iPad plugged in and I won't use this plugged in.

 

A lot of people seemed to have forgotten why MagSafe was introduced. Here's Steve Jobs introducing the MagSafe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeqF7zcBOVA

"Now how many of you have ever had your notebook go flying off its work surface when somebody caught your power adapter cord in their foot?"

It's not a gimmick, it has nothing to do with the lights. It solved a very real and a potentially expensive problem. It has not been made irrelevant.

I agree with the TS. The removal of the MagSafe is a huge step-back to the pre-2006 days.

 

Except MagSafe really is that good. The number of times my Mac has been saved from being ripped onto the floor from a desk, from my lap etc. when someone's tripped over my power cord (sometimes even myself) has more than sold me on MagSafe.

The loss of MagSafe - not ports - is the biggest problem with this Mac.

The only way I can see Apple fixing it is with Apple creating a USB-C to MagSafe 2 adaptor.

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Intel processors specifically underclock and don't reach their full potential when not plugged in. With a CPU as crap as the Core M, this is so important.

Not only that, why would I specifically want to burn through battery cycles when it's not necessary?

 

Could't they at just make some kind of magnetic plug on the power cable or something like that and we would still have some kind of macsafe?

If I bought the rMB, it would be dead within a month. My old MB has survived for 7 years. Using it every day, and falling over the stupid cable all the time. Thank you macsafe.

 

I was hoping for an Apple Watch-like charger, where you would just stick it to some part of the enclosure.

 

Now that would be smart

This multiport connection is a real mess.... I am sure this new mac works/looks great when using it and not charging, but what if i need to charge my rMB and also sync or charge my iphone while on the go? I have to carry that cumbersome box at all times? Come on!!

If they want to enter the wireless age, they should have taken their time and innovated a bit more. How about some sort of wireless adapter for HDMI, thunderbolt, etc. The iphone can already be synced via wifi, but how about wireless charging so it can truly be wireless.

I have a bad taste in my mouth from the original Rev 1 MBA, so I will be sticking to the rMBP for the time being.

 

I used to replace my daughters cheap notebook about once a year.
Tripping over power cord and smashed on floor.
Got her a MBA with MagSafe 3 years ago.
So far so good - hope I haven't jinxed myself.
Most people that talk about Apple marketing gimmicks don't use Apple products.

 

I think there's just too much power draw for that still... but just think how much the sizes of the power bricks have shrunk in 10 years... the original Macbook Pro power brick was almost 5"x3.5"x1.5" and now the new one for the Macbook looks to be about 2x2x1. It's come a long way, and power requirements are getting less and less, so maybe in the not-to-distant-future.

 

Magsafe is awesome but magsafe the usb-C port is a tricky thing.

While USB is hot pluggable there are some problems with it. Think the USB-C/Magsafe thing gets tripped of and the power goes out. No problem. It gets out while writing to a harddrive, it may really mess everything up.

I dont know what I would like more. I love the Magsafe but a more secure connection when the Macbook actually needs to be plugged into anything is kinda useful. The thing isnt made to be plugged in all day and chill on your desk. Its for on the go.

Give it a couple iterations and we may have wireless charging

 

Gimmick? not to me, I trip on the power cord enough time to loose count.

 

One thing to consider is that MagSafe works as a safety feature because the weight of the notebook means the MagSafe adapter comes unplugged before the notebook could be dragged off a desk if someone trips on the cord. The new MacBook is so light, it's likely the MagSafe wouldn't do the job it was designed to do, and the MacBook would be pulled off the desk before the MagSafe would disconnect.

 

I don't know what laptops you used, but the MagSafe connection works GREAT for me. From your post it seems you're saying the connection does not work or does not disconnect as easy as it should. I have three MacBook Airs in my house and all three have MagSafe connections. All of them charge 100% of the time and they disconnect if pulled. The laptop does not move.

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I disagree the new laptop is too light. It does not take much at all to disconnect the MagSafe. Even at two pounds you have to realize it is flat on a surface. The laptop isn't standing up vertically, so the weight is distributed.

 

I agree with you, however with the 11" MBA I notice that sometimes the computer is too light for the magsafe to pull off instead of moving the computer. So it wouldn't surprise me if they couldn't get the magsafe connector to work with this light of a computer without it being too easy to accidentally pull off, so for this particular model not having it may not be a huge deal.