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New MacBook Pro Models Lack Optical Audio Out via Headphone Jack
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Nope, but have now. Is it any good? Never liked sound bars that I have heard so far.
My lounge is wired for 5.1 at moment with two additional speakers going to the patio (split 7.1)
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I currently have a toslink cable connected between my samsung tv and yamaha AVR, I think I did it because of some issue with Samsung (CEC/Anynet+) TV's not playing nicely with AVRs.
There's a Dongle for that!(tm)
That being said, I haven't used TOSLINK in a long time. A long time. Before the Empire.
That being said, I haven't used TOSLINK in a long time. A long time. Before the Empire.
And what if they took away all the ports and switched to wireless charging or took away some feature you loved. I'm sure that there are very few people using the optical out but thats not the point. There are some that use it and it probably didn't cost much to have it in there?
I could add the same argument to accessibility. Perhaps they should take that out because the majority of other people don't use it much.
Great - we'll use it with the new MacBook Pro's HDMI port... oh wait, another dongle needed.
Professionals don't want to carry 10 $Q#"%$ dongles!
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The "pro" range is not about giving people choice. In fact there is a logic that exists in software that favours being "opiniated" and "convention over configuration". I find it funny how software developers nowadays live by these rules but expect hardware designers not to.
The reason for opiniated design is to reduce errors and problems. The more you govern what ties to your system the less can go wrong. Apple have subscribed to that view point for decades and this laptop is furthering those aims. Ultimately apples idea of success is the lightest product with the smallest footprint and least the amount of connected devices with as few moving parts as possible. Because they feel that that gives their users the best experience.
I that in 3 yrs time we will feel that this laptop has achieved all of that and everyone will wonder what the fuss was about, just like the floppy disk removal and the same with the cd rom removal.
Since TB3 uses USB-C for connection, which is being adopted across all computer makers, it will be better for all of us in the long run, TB2 was more of an Apple thing, now, you can plug in USB-C SSD or thumbs...I'm sure we'll see this b4 end of the year.
While JamesPDX has a point, I don't think SD cards are going to hold as much data as USB-C thumbs will.
Maybe Apple jumped the gun a little soon, however, there are docs you can get that include SD along with USB-A ports and etc. available.
there are docs available from various manufacturers, including this USB-C doc: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/usb-c/owc/usb-c-dock
...
As far as the optical audio port goes, (as I already stated in this thread), that audio codec is outdated, unfortunately, as no industry supports it any longer, (it is only limited by the electronics on either end, fiber optics are used in the fastest ethernet networks, and are used for longer TB cabling, not to mention Gb internet. In fact, the TB standard, as originally written years ago, called for optic cables for 100Gb speeds.). It has been pointed out that a main reason for this is because power requires copper cable, however, I do believe it is possible to drive power optically, but, no one is developing because of fiber optic cable cost and the copper industry's push to stay valid.
Now you get lossless audio through DisplayPort (via TB3/USB-C port) or HDMI. Personally, I think the TV/Video industry needs to adopt USB-C/TB3 connections as well, TB3 has enough throughput to drive lossless audio and UHD video with WCG & HDR, (DisplayPort (implemented here at 1.2, I think.), is also part of this standard USB-C connection, supports UHD/4K, but, not sure if at 60fps. The 5K LG monitor Apple's promoting actually uses TB3 over the USB-C connection, for single cable connection. Other 5K monitors require two DP or USB-C cables.). HDMI 2.0a uses video compression to drive UHD, if I'm not mistaken.
The positive side of USB-C ports is that they support multiple kinds of connections: data, audio, DisplayPort, ethernet, and in combination with TB3 in this case: 40Gb data transfer rates and PCIe expansion. So it's not just a data connection, like USB 3.0 and earlier. You can also charge your MBP just by connecting to a device that is plugged-in, and on any port, as power can go in both directions over USB-C and up to 100 watts. USB-C also doesn't matter which way you plug it in, can't be trying to plug it in upside down, and the plugs fit better...I have too many loose connections w/USB-A.
The key there is "if I do get". If you buy a new one, don't buy one that limits you. Buy one that has USB-A on one end and USB-C on the other.
And there's no "dongle", just a simple $4 adapter that lives on the end of your thumb drive, until you have to remove it.
You have to have a unique cable for every drive you currently own. I'm looking at 6 drives on my desk, and there are 5 different connectors among them. I have to carry 5 different cables just to be prepared to use whichever drive I grab off my desk now. If all 6 drives had the same port, I'd be down to two cables to have one with USB-C. Or, I could just carry the $4 adapter at the end of the cable and only remove it when I needed to plug into legacy equipment.
This is literally the least of anyone's concerns with the move to USB-C.
High capacity SD cards are ridiculously expensive compared to even SSD drives per GB, but especially to HDDs. And there's nothing quick about it. The USB thumb drives would be cheaper and faster in every case. However, I get that the SD card is probably being dropped too soon. Despite the obvious trade offs, I do feel for those who use it, especially photographers. I'm less concerned about those who use it as external storage, because there are so many other better methods. In you're use case, I do wonder about the person who manages their external storage on them, and in your example finds they've got the wrong card installed in the field -- which makes them no better than forgetting a thumb drive -- at the end of the day everything takes planning.
And finally, if somebody has a problem with the new MBP, then just buy the old one -- real world performance seems to be about the same, and they will last just as long ...
1. I know there are docks ('docs' as you call them) available that's not the frigging point - you know what would be better than walking from my lab to my office or to a client with a MacBook Pro and a Dock? Walking with a MacBook only!
2. Do you remember how much TB1 and TB2 were touted and how long it took for *any* peripherals to come out?
3. Professionals (me included) live and work in the "now" not in some magical lalaland future where all our equipment is
TB3 over USB-C (for example - a nice one used one of these (http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-10815...-mhz-to-7-ghz-265-ghz-or-110-ghz?cc=US&lc=eng) is 70 000 USD *used*. It has a USB-A port - no I don't want to carry yet another dongle/ dock because Jony Ive is sacred of ports)
4. The optical port has two big advantanges for pros: electrical isolation (useful for dodgy live stage-setups) and *almost no protocols*. Look at the front page last week, where it turns out that Apple's new Macbook Pro TB3 implementation is not compatible with certain existing TB3 chipsets. TOSLINK was compatible with everything that could accept optical in. I've even made a TOSLINK connection (the physical part) with a diode and resistor taped to a plastic fiberoptica cable back in the 90s. Or are you still so naive to believe TB3 will "just work"...?
I think they should've kept HDMI because it was one of the PURE standards that Apple developed, and many MANY many devices still connect via the port. Projectors are starting to (and finally I should add) ditch VGA in lieu of HDMI. It would've been the one port we Mac users would've used often that didn't require a dongle.
Well you mentioned that you didn't want to buy it because a friend of yours uses that port. I'm just saying if you don't, be happy they included what you use.
If they did take away something I use, I would have to make the call then. I personally am not affected and can only wait until they did, before I can decide if the gain is more than what I lose.
The number of people that opt for those little SSDs to expand storage is very very very small. I'd be surprised if 0.00001% of users had one. They aren't a threat for Apple and their storage options. They're far far slower and simply not something most are aware of or would ever consider. I'm positive Apple didn't make this change due to the couple people that have purchased those little SSD memory cards.
OK, so if you went to buy a new Mercedes and found you were paying $80,000 dollars for a car equipt like a Toyota Tercel you'd be ok with that?
I converted to a fully HDMI system some time ago to make it easier to "upgrade" to ATV4 (but still use ATV3 - another story...). A key element of the system was a ViewHD HMDI to TOSlink converter so I could use my old Hifi system, that lacks HDMI input. The ViewHD also has pass-through HMDI to run my projector.
With my Macbook I only ever need one dongle - the HDMI adapter that includes a USB3 port. That way I only have to plug in that adapter to connect to an external monitor, power supply and an external hard disk - a simple docking solution.
With my Macbook I only ever need one dongle - the HDMI adapter that includes a USB3 port. That way I only have to plug in that adapter to connect to an external monitor, power supply and an external hard disk - a simple docking solution.
Did you say "dongle"? For a while I was worried I'd be able to use the headphone jack without a dongle. Thank God there's a dongle I can connect to a dongle that makes a dongle work!
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If you call yourself pro, which are you more likely to use: the optical out or the analog one? Take a wild guess. Sure, it's fun to be able to plug in my headphones also to my laptop once or twice a year. I'm more interested in using the digital out, though. Still, it makes perfect sense. That choice was just as "pro" as every single other thing in the new macbook wannabepro.
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No. I was feeding the sound to other systems. Then again, all my devices are connected through optical links at the moment all the way to the active speakers. Two of my friends were using it to feed optical audio to their home theaters, too. No idea if any others do, that's not something I usually ask.
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I can sell you two SD cards from different vendors. Both are extremely slow (both in write speeds and especially WiFi speed), small and expensive. They can't handle my camera's RAW burst speed at all and they take half a day to upload a handful of photos. I gave up on them long time ago, pulling the card out, inserting it in the SD slot, copying the files and putting the card back in the camera is so much faster it's not even funny. Then again, at that point I usually set one to upload and start filling the next one. If it's work I need to get them ready to be sent quick. If it's just fun pics of our cats they can take all weekend to upload wirelessly.
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Problem for me is that they have taken out lots that I use.
- Ram now soldered ($300+ to add 8gb ram, never again)
- SSD now soldered??
- no MagSafe
- No sd slot
- No USB-a
- No network port
- No DVD drive (but no biggie cos I didn't use it often but had to purchase an external one to rip dvds for kids)
- No hdmi port
- No head phone jack (phone)
So is a fair summary:
1) Including optical output would have cost Apple a few cents
2) Including optical output would not have meant increasing the size of the Macbook Pro (unlike the ugly iPhone 7 camera 'bump') or it's weight
3) Optical input is used on a number of devices including audio mixing decks, the majority of A/V receivers as well as professional DAC's in order to improve audio quality - something that 'Pro' users (like in MacBook 'Pro') want
4) People who don't use optical output on their Macbooks say that the same functionality could simply be achieved using a USB-C to HDMI dongle ($34.95), a 30cm HDMI cable ($8) and an HDMI to TOSLINK dongle ($29.95)
Cost to Apple for incorporating optical output : A few cents, with no difference in Macbook Pro size or weight
Cost to pro consumers for Apple not doing this : About $75 and having to use 2 dongles and a 30cm HDMI cable
1) Including optical output would have cost Apple a few cents
2) Including optical output would not have meant increasing the size of the Macbook Pro (unlike the ugly iPhone 7 camera 'bump') or it's weight
3) Optical input is used on a number of devices including audio mixing decks, the majority of A/V receivers as well as professional DAC's in order to improve audio quality - something that 'Pro' users (like in MacBook 'Pro') want
4) People who don't use optical output on their Macbooks say that the same functionality could simply be achieved using a USB-C to HDMI dongle ($34.95), a 30cm HDMI cable ($8) and an HDMI to TOSLINK dongle ($29.95)
Cost to Apple for incorporating optical output : A few cents, with no difference in Macbook Pro size or weight
Cost to pro consumers for Apple not doing this : About $75 and having to use 2 dongles and a 30cm HDMI cable
Does any of the r-mbp have all of those?
DVD drive? No...
Network port? My mbp doesn't have one.
SD slot - I don't have one of these on my current pro.
RAM - has been soldered for a long time.
Soldered hard drive? I read two conflicting stories on this but personally, rather the laptop be smaller. I respect your opinion here though.
Headphone jack - wrong discussion thread. Maybe you should head over to the iPhone board.
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Do they actually have space in the laptop to add those? I ask because I really don't know.
USB c to hdmi dongle can be bought for less than $10 on amazon.
Searching for mini jack components in the internet you can easily find out that the normal mini jack and the one with optical interface are exactly the same size... So what's the point in mounting the inferior one?!! That's what drive me mad.... 3000 € for a Mac and they're sparing on components?!! Or, worst... Maybe the sound card haven't a 5.1 or 7.1 exit?! So that even the optical interface would have been pointless if mounted?!!
Mmmmh... Bad scenario....
Don't forget the ethernet port. That connection has a lot of utility. Way more useful to me than Bluetooth or WiFi. YMMV.