New MacBook Pro Models Lack Optical Audio Out via Headphone Jack

[Elbon]

So much whining! If this machine isn't for you, don't buy it. Simple as that.

From what I've seen so far, it meets my needs nicely, and I can't wait to get my hands on one.

 

[stevefeinstein]

I don't think all y'all define"pro" the way apple does. Professional is a businessman who travels and uses productivity applications. Always has been.

Lead, follow, or get out of the ****ing way!

 

[FreshBoy]

Oh for God sake. For years, this forums users have complained that there are no new MacBook Pro's. Now we have them and... it's full of people bitching and bitching. Get a life people. How many of you use the optical output daily? Can you not appreciate the beautiful design, the build quality, the four USB-C sockets that will soon be able to offer most of your requirements?
Seriously, such horrible horrible, negative moaning about a great new design. Don't buy it if you don't like it, and move on. Life is short. Get out there and LIVE IT!!!

Yes Paul!!! Let it out

 

[Pootmatoot]

I don't think all y'all define"pro" the way apple does. Professional is a businessman who travels and uses productivity applications. Always has been.

That's just not true - Apple spent two decades intentionally cultivating the creative professional market, and that's a market that often genuinely needs core grunt.

 

[melendezest]

Ah, Apple pushing technology forward, at the expense of the user (this applies to) experience.

But, like most of the cheerleaders here are saying: If you don't like it, don't buy it.

There are alternatives out there folks. Break free from the chains of Mac exclusivity!

PCs have matched or surpassed Apple in features, flexibility, and aesthetics. They've also made great strides in user-friendliness and stability, although the Mac is still king there.

Apple is a different company than it was in many ways, but they always have and will continue to remove something (some of) you will miss with future device iterations.

So learn from history folks and stop expecting them to be something they're not.

There really is no better time than now to leave if you're not happy.

 

[Mac 128]

The "problem" with SD was that you could use it to expand storage witout Apple collecting premium of the ridiculously priced SSD upgrades. ;-)

You mean on-board expansion? S-L-O-W on-board expansion at that. And what are we talking ... 32-64GB max if you want any kind of cross-platform compatibility? 128-256GB if used exclusively with a Mac? That might be helpful, but frankly, I'd rather plug in a portable 500GB or 1TB external drive, especially given the excruciatingly slow transfer speeds of SD cards. Not to mention cost -- the cost per GB of an SD card is significantly more than even an SSD drive to say nothing of a HDD.

Worst use of the SD card slot I can imagine. I do think it's too soon to go away, but because professionals do use them to transfer files from cameras in the field, in situations where there's a benefit to traveling as light and efficiently as possible.

 

[JamesPDX]

Of course they lack optical out. I can't wait for the next revelation where there's no battery inside and that too must be connected by dongle.

No, it'll just run for 18 hours and then you'll have to buy a new Computer/Lifestyle Product. The good news? It'll be even thinner and will have no storage ports. Maybe WiFi, but that's it.
[doublepost=1478286477][/doublepost]

You mean on-board expansion? S-L-O-W on-board expansion at that. And what are we talking ... 32-64GB max if you want any kind of cross-platform compatibility? 128-256GB if used exclusively with a Mac? That might be helpful, but frankly, I'd rather plug in a portable 500GB or 1TB external drive, especially given the excruciatingly slow transfer speeds of SD cards. Not to mention cost -- the cost per GB of an SD card is significantly more than even an SSD drive to say nothing of a HDD.

Worst use of the SD card slot I can imagine. I do think it's too soon to go away, but because professionals do use them to transfer files from cameras in the field, in situations where there's a benefit to traveling as light and efficiently as possible.

If your SD card is slow, you're either buying cheap, slow cards, or well... You're holding it wrong! But the slot has to be able to read the newest and the fastest. And they're all just as thin, so...
[doublepost=1478286700][/doublepost]

Ah, Apple pushing technology forward, at the expense of the user (this applies to) experience.

But, like most of the cheerleaders here are saying: If you don't like it, don't buy it.

There are alternatives out there folks. Break free from the chains of Mac exclusivity!

PCs have matched or surpassed Apple in features, flexibility, and aesthetics. They've also made great strides in user-friendliness and stability, although the Mac is still king there.

Apple is a different company than it was in many ways, but they always have and will continue to remove something (some of) you will miss with future device iterations.

So learn from history folks and stop expecting them to be something they're not.

There really is no better time than now to leave if you're not happy.

If only some brave soul out there would load  onto an HP or Boxx workstation (and a workstation, not an emoji/FacebookStation.

 

[jerwin]

I suppose the perception is that the optical out was "free". It doesn't take up any more space than a headphone jack, and provides useful functionality.

Though I suppose that if you don't have legacy equipment, both hdmi and usb support more digital audio formats.

My suspicion is that the TOSLink was phased out because of digital rights management issues.

 

[insomniac86]

Other way around. If we needed it, people would have been using it. Were you or anyone you know ever using a MBP to feed optical audio to a home theater?

It was a single connector to get 5.1 surround sound to any of Logitech's 5.1 speaker systems. Logitech speakers are extremely popular in the gaming or even general PC world.

 

[JamesPDX]

I was wondering about this when I was looking at the LG 5K monitor. How do people normally connect their external speakers without TOSLINK? Is there a USB-C to TOSLINK option?

Oh, I'm calling it now that there will be a "oxygen-free" or "pure silver" USB-C to TOSLINK (but not ADAT) dongle that will sell for $2000 and will come in a little velvet bag and a hand-rubbed Walnut box.
[doublepost=1478287195][/doublepost]

It was a single connector to get 5.1 surround sound to any of Logitech's 5.1 speaker systems. Logitech speakers are extremely popular in the gaming or even general PC world.

Or just HDMI into your Home Theater Receiver.

 

[cfacendini]

If they removed the audio jack, then why does it show up on the tech specs for both models on the Apple website? To me that says it is still there.

 

[insomniac86]

Options are nice but this is one I'd have no problem doing without. I'm not surprised not many used it. How much money did they save and not pass on to you I wonder?

Since you haven't noticed, we are now paying more for "less". So what actually should be said is "how much money do they make by removing this feature?"

 

[aristotle]

If they removed the audio jack, then why does it show up on the tech specs for both models on the Apple website? To me that says it is still there.

The jack is still there but it is now analogue only. Previous models has optical as a well as analogue in the same port.

Does anyone know if the HDMI adaptor passes through Digital multi-channel audio?

 

[sofila]

If they removed the audio jack, then why does it show up on the tech specs for both models on the Apple website? To me that says it is still there.

It is the optical audio out that we're talking about

 

[insomniac86]

Or just HDMI into your Home Theater Receiver.

What do you mean?

 

[jerwin]

If they removed the audio jack, then why does it show up on the tech specs for both models on the Apple website? To me that says it is still there.

In most older macs, there's a little LED at the tip end of the audio jack. That LED can send a digital audio signal over a fibre optic cable. This adds extra functionality to the audio jack.

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

More and more you're buying a cats in bags with Apple. Gone are the days you'd blindly think/assume that buying an Apple product would have your needs covered.

Gimmicky features, drastic price increases, reduced port selection and bricked long standing functionality.

Those days aren't gone; they never existed to begin with. The floppy drive, the optical disk drive, the full-size DVI port, the FireWire port... Mercilessly jettisoning old technologies that a handful of users still "need" has been Apple's trademark for decades now.

 

[JamesPDX]

I suppose the perception is that the optical out was "free". It doesn't take up any more space than a headphone jack, and provides useful functionality.

Though I suppose that if you don't have legacy equipment, both hdmi and usb support more digital audio formats.

My suspicion is that the TOSLink was phased out because of digital rights management issues.

IDK. But TOSLINK has built-in DCMA stuff built in. TL and ADAT are quite different and Apple really screwed the pooch when they went with simple TOSLINK instead of ADAT (Which is superior, but nobody knows about it but studio geeks.)
I have a tube-pre in my studio that can send 8 simultaneous PCM 24-bit/44.1 -or 48khz channels and pass that into another interface. And that Firewire 400 interface (which also has RCA-type S/PDIF and Wordclock i/o allows me to record 16 simultaneous, phase-locked/same-clocked 24/44.1 tracks into Pro Tools. I could even do that on a G5 or a 1.42GHz G4 Mini to an external drive. I love new things, but going backwards to squeeze a buck or two in order to null a device's utility is obscene.

What Apple should have done instead? When a 1/8" TRS goes into the port, it senses the resistance and either becomes a headphone jack, or a TRS Balanced Stereo Out. Too late.

 

[MrGimper]

Just popped into my local Apple store as I was in town, and took the opportunity to check out the 13" MacBook Pro sans Courage Bar, as it was the only one they had in.

Hmmmmm.... screen didn't look that much different to the 2015 13" they had along side it. Didn't like the keyboard (still too shallow, needs to be like the Magic Keyboard imho). It's a bit thinner, and probably feels a bit lighter, but no compelling reason for me to upgrade my 2014 model. All a bit underwhelming in the flesh.

And before the "if you don't like it don't buy it brigade" jump in, I won't be buying it.

 

[dysamoria]

Some already are doing just that.

This article from LinkedIn nicely summarizes Apple's changes and is reflective of the ongoing discussions on MR.

Excellent. Also the linked article about the mishmash of USB-C variations: http://blog.fosketts.net/2016/10/29/total-nightmare-usb-c-thunderbolt-3/

 

[insomniac86]

Don't be ridiculous. The cost saved is pennies per unit. Irrespective, the "save" does not make the MBP less expensive for the buyer, it just makes Apple's profit bigger. There were times when Mac was used by less than 1% of the computer users - still today it's just few percent. By your logic Mac should be eradicated due to lack of popularity. Now how would you feel if someone took away this minority need/choice of yours?

How people don't understand this blows my mind. I've read a few comments along the lines of "removing these features saves us money". Are you guys brain dead? There's no cost saving past onto the customer. It's pure profit for Apple. Apple increased the price too.

Derp-a-Derp central.

 

[djphat2000]

...And I thought the previous Retina was gimped. Aside from having a nicer screen I didn't see much benefit over the Air when coming from a much more flexible MBP 17". So for the first time I bought the Air over the Pro.

These new MacBook Airs are branded as MacBookPro and carry the price tag of a Mac Pro.

Give me a Retina MBP 17" with more ports and dual processors. A true desktop replacement.

I want a 17" too. I loved mine. However, I understand that not enough folks out there purchased it to justify continuing the line-up. Apple does go were the money is. Not enough of us to keep that model afloat means it has to go. People want thinner and lighter, and at least very good battery life with great performance. It comes at a cost for all that in a beautiful portable. USB-C is currently the smallest and fastest interface. So, even mini-D/ thunderbolt 1/2 goes in favor of this. I will also miss my magsafe power connector. But, it makes sense to remove it in place of being able to charge the laptop from any port on the laptop.

My current 2015 doesn't have an ethernet jack. And I do need that fairly often. So, Thunderbolt to ethernet dongle, and I'm in business. We can even go 10Gb, an not be limited by the old NIC port at 1Gb. But, I'm sure someone is still complaining there is no 56k modem built-in anymore.

 

[JamesPDX]

What do you mean?

Everything with and HDMI out plugs into the many-HDMI-ported home theater receiver. The receiver does all the routing and signal monkey business including the final HDMI signal to your HDTV. The good ones automatically compensate for latency issues so that your picture stays in-sync with your audio.
[doublepost=1478289415][/doublepost]

I want a 17" too. I loved mine. However, I understand that not enough folks out there purchased it to justify continuing the line-up. Apple does go were the money is. Not enough of us to keep that model afloat means it has to go. People want thinner and lighter, and at least very good battery life with great performance. It comes at a cost for all that in a beautiful portable. USB-C is currently the smallest and fastest interface. So, even mini-D/ thunderbolt 1/2 goes in favor of this. I will also miss my magsafe power connector. But, it makes sense to remove it in place of being able to charge the laptop from any port on the laptop.

My current 2015 doesn't have an ethernet jack. And I do need that fairly often. So, Thunderbolt to ethernet dongle, and I'm in business. We can even go 10Gb, an not be limited by the old NIC port at 1Gb. But, I'm sure someone is still complaining there is no 56k modem built-in anymore.

Well, I use Thunderbolt and Ethernet at the same time. I'd even like 2 extra ports each. But thank god I got my 2012 QC Mini's when I did or I'd be SOL and shopping for a nMP for Pro Tools and a ethernet slave machine for VSL/VEP6.
[doublepost=1478289545][/doublepost]

I've used the HDMI a handful of times. If I'm going to have an hdmi cable (which I don't carry one with me), I'll gladly find a super small dongle from USB c. The thing is, in a year or so, everyone will realize how versatile those ports are and how the others would've been a waste.

Sounds like the one-port Macbook or an iPad is the machine for you. Lucky.

 

[ssgbryan]

You can't be serious. Are you actually suggesting someone might switch to Windows just because there's no longer an optical output on the MacBook anymore?

Do PCs even offer optical output in a standard configuration?

But it is one more straw on the camel's back. For some, it is the final straw. In my case it was the 16Gb limitation.

 

[Gudi]

So much for consideration of your neighbour. Look, its removal doesn't affect me but your attitude stinks. If you were really part of the Apple community you would care about the effect of Apple's decisions on others. When we lose users, we lose. Period.

First they came for the Floppy Drives, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Floppy user.

Then they came for the Optical Drives, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a CD/DVD user.

Then they came for the Headphone Jacks, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Headphone user.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.


PS: Is a lost user a loser? I don't know, I only know Apple has the courage™ to kill the last single-purpose port as soon as Intel is ready with 'USB Type-C Digital Audio'.