New MacBook Pro Models Lack Optical Audio Out via Headphone Jack

[x-evil-x]

Yet another disappointment to add on the list. Technically, HDMI Audio is superior, but professionals still use the optical out and some home theatres do as well.

So Apple tells tech illiterate people to use iPad Pro, intermediates to use MacBook, and the top 10% and/or hipsters the MacBook Pro. So where do there rest go - the tech literate people, the students, the pro pros? Hello, Windows.

Still very common to see optical out from a tv to a receiver. For audio from the tv's apps to your receiver. My new samsung ks9000 has an optical out port on the connect box that i use.
I also used to use the toslink cable way back when i had a white plastic macbook. I would always keep my computer plugged into my tv and used it for a lot of things. Last 5 years not so much. I think apple has surveyed millions of people over the years to see how much they use all these things.

 

[obiwan]

For what? Gently asking out of curiosity.

I said that before because in my own situation (my professional environment happens to be the post-production world), as it is for many others, the Mac's digital out is/was often seen as a superfluous extra.

I have it connected to my Yamaha AV Receiver as an iTunes / Media player etc. My old amp only had optical in and not HDMI, but since I've upgraded my Amp it now has HDMI and Optical although the 2009 Mac Mini does not have audio over HDMI. The new MacBook Pro has neither.

Plenty of professional Audio Monitors still exist with optical inputs, and my recently purchased Thunderbolt Audio Interface still has both optical inputs and outputs. Audio pros still use this stuff, so to get rid of it for the sake of 0.2mm (pure speculation) is madness...

 

[DogHouseDub]

and once again...

 

[x-evil-x]

Also, i don't know why everyone is treating this entry level macbook pro as the new macbook pro. It should be looked at as the air replacement. nothing else.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Touch Bar macbook pro's still has optical

 

[OzyOly]

Hmmmmmmm tvOS and iOS single sign-on gets front-and-centre attention on main page, and a mac story gets pushed in the right sidebar ....... hmmmmmm

You mean the touchbar.

 

[Val-kyrie]

For me, this falls under the same category as removing the floppy drive, or removing the cd drive. Old technology that I don’t care about. I can appreciate that some do, however I think a lot here (maybe not you) are making a very big deal over something they’ve never used and did not even know existed.

I feel the same way about the move to USB-C. One cable to eventually connect everything? YES! No more USB-A, Mini-DP, HDMI, Power. It’s a painful transition for some, but it’ll eventually be forgotten.

I agree it's much of what you say, but I also see the point of view posed by others. Removing this arbitrarily limits the broader appeal of Macs to those in specific niches. Is it so bad to appeal to those outside of the mainstream?

I say this only because those who make up Apple's niche market base are in my experience among the most passionate and staunch Apple advocates. This part of Apple's consumer base is very valuable for their larger influence on those around them. Unfortunately, I see Apple moving more and more towards the mainstream, who lack passion and are more prone to various whims and trends. I would not want to count on them to maintain my user base.
[doublepost=1478265429][/doublepost]

and once again...

+1 for the Star Wars reference.
+2 for using Boba Fett.

 

[ILUVAPPLE69]

Apple collects anonymous usage data about how people use their MacBook Pros and determined from this data that not many people were using the TOSLink adapter.

 

[jonnysods]

Wait what?

How is this possible???
[doublepost=1478265841][/doublepost]

It's becoming ever more apparent that this is just a beefed-up MacBook, and not a Pro machine. If I were a creative professional who was waiting for an update, I'd be pricing out a Windows laptop at this point.

It's true, the problem is we are all knee deep in software investments we have already made. But you're right this blows.

 

[playtech1]

Apple has taken the 'one-port to rule them all' approach which, in the long-run, might be right.

But Apple may have seriously overestimated the speed with which its customers are willing to go along with them on that journey.

It's a shame they didn't take the same approach as they did with the iMac all those years ago. That went USB rather than legacy ports (although even that also had audio in/out, modem, ethernet, infrared, an expansion slot and, later on, dual firewire), but it was just one machine in a range that included many other models which met the needs of those who could not easily move on to USB.

This move to rely on USB-C and away from 'legacy' ports is in many ways more radical and less forgiving than the shift to iMac. It is going to be a tough few years to be a Mac fan...

 

[Bob-K]

*SIGH*

Professionnals use EXTERNAL GEAR - not the Mac's outs. Professionals don't give a crap if the headphone jack is just analog or a combo.

These comments are just sad. When you have zero clue what "professionals" do, don't comment on a pro machine. The funny thing is that only people not interested in the new Macbook Pro are commenting and whining. The PROS do NOT CARE about this feature.

See the post re: Eric Persing of Spectrasonics. Of course you're free to disagree, but Eric and his company are long-established major players in soundware development and they use the MBP digital out every day.

 

[CyberBob859]

The demo at the event showing how to use emoticons with the new MBP really is starting to seem like more than just something Apple did to waste a few minutes. It was a real tell of their intended market for this machine.

What surprises me most is that even in the face of what is clearly a gimped "pro" machine there are still people that don't work for Apple that vigorously defend it. This has to be the worst thoughtout "pro" laptops from a workflow and utility perspective Apple has ever released -- I've owned one from just about every generation since the Duo so I have a little real world perspective there, not just grazing a Wikipedia page.

If this was a MacBook it would be fine, but it's a MBP, or so the label plate says. Just shows you what lemmings Apple thinks we all are that we could be mesmerized by a shiny touch bar. (I like the touch bar, but attach it to a versitile laptop please).

(And yes, I know what optical audio is. It's not a killer feature, but it is useful and why take it out if the audio port is remaining? Of course the answer is it saves Apple a couple bucks -- a couple bucks they are not reducing the cost of the machine by obviously).

They should've just invented a new category for this device, called it the "MacBook Plus", and let people know that the Pro machines are coming next year.

 

[fa8362]

Thanks (Cr)Apple. It makes me feel special when you take away features, jack the price up $500, and try to force me to do what you want instead of what I want.

 

[512ke]

Apple was in serious trouble at one point, and part of what saved them was marketing to creative professionals.

Now Apple has outgrown that niche and become a mass market consumer company targeting the high end.

They make highly capable machines with an elegant touch and a great ecosystem.

However, I would argue that they don' target creative professionals any more. If they did, you'd see upgradeable components, a richer variety of outputs/inputs, digital audio out, and more backwards compatibility with the existing gear that creative professionals typically own.

I would also argue that this elegant high end consumer focus, featuring machines that cannot easily be opened much less upgraded by the user, is 100% in keeping with the aesthetic of the first Mac.

My 512ke by the way still works!

 

[2010mini]

I get that. But why remove it? What's the benefit of removing it for consumers?
I could understand if it helped kept cost down but that obviously isn't the case. Just leave it for who uses it and who doesn't would continue to not know its there.

That is the same answer given ever time a manufacturer removes dead/old features. We all want unified standard for tech hardware. But in order to do that we need to let things go. If manufacturers keep holding on to old standards, that future will never be realized. it's time to move forward..... let old tech go.

 

[Sasparilla]

Another bad news story every day.

What next? It secretly runs Windows but not MacOS

Shhhhh, don't give them any ideas, they'll realize how much cheaper it'd be to not support OS X / Mac OS....

If getting a Mac Pro laptop I'd get the prior model since they're still selling it and take the ports etc... Going forward the Air is going away and the laptop line (Macbook and Pro) are now just different versions of the Air along with its serious limitations. Wanting a laptop without the downsides of total dedication to thin / lightness means Apple has cast you off as a potential customer.

Cannot wait to see what they do with the Mini (already seriously hobbled) and the Pro (what can one say there - crazy prices and 3 years of no updates). I dread Apple execs porting the lower end laptop hardware into the iMac and killing it off. Its not a great future down the road in Macville. Apple is going to squeeze themselves out of the market over time...was so nice when they were gaining market share there because of the hardware they were putting out.

 

[macduke]

So what's next? No FaceTime camera? No automatic display brightness? No adjustable keyboard brightness? The Bluetooth chip is limited to three feet? You can only plug it into "special" Apple-approved external displays? It only works with newer, unreleased USB-C accessories? You can only use 3 of the 4 ports at a time or it explodes? If you try to disable iCloud Drive file sync it murders you in your sleep?

Every day is worse than the day before if you're a MacBook Pro user right now.

 

[jonnyb098]

and once again...

Is that why they've had more orders for these macbooks than ANY OTHER that came before?
[doublepost=1478267307][/doublepost]

So what's next? No FaceTime camera? No automatic display brightness? No adjustable keyboard brightness? The Bluetooth chip is limited to three feet? You can only plug it into "special" Apple-approved external displays? It only works with newer, unreleased USB-C accessories? You can only use 3 of the 4 ports at a time or it explodes? If you try to disable iCloud Drive file sync it murders you in your sleep?

Every day is worse than the day before if you're a MacBook Pro user right now.

So whats next, more trolls complaining about a machine they weren't going to buy anyway? YEP!

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Please cite your source. Also - who is this "we" - do you work for Apple?

The source would be Apple data.

 

[JunkiesNeedle]

Yes. And I won't throw away my $3000 Harman-Kardon amplifier or put clumsy dongles/converters next to it only because Phil decided what I don't need and saved $2 price-wise and 1 gram weight-wise.

How much more stupid can it be to completely arbitrarily remove functionality from a product? More and more prone to leave the Apple platform... Well done Phil!

Maybe we should get Phil to put a CD drive back in.
Ye know, god forbid someone remove functionality (especially functionality that <5% of users require).

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Actual pro photographers/graphic designers/video editors etc. are probably each a niche group, but add them all together and it should be a big enough market to sell a pro laptop to. Not anymore.

And what percentage of pro photographers do you believe use SD?

 

[newdeal]

...So what does this thing exactly do, when compared to 12" MacBook?

It has one more port...

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

That's counter intuitive. The more you remove, the more you limit the appeal. If the MBP had 2 or 3 more different ports that's 2 or 3 less arguments against the product. Apple's rationale is probably influenced by how much they can remove to facilitate their "thinner" mandate while affecting the least amount of customers. Unfortunately for those edge case users, they're going to be the most affected.

As others have said, the VAST majority of pros that have a need for digital optical audio do so through a I/O box other than the current headphone jack. TOSlink has been pretty much abandoned by the industry. There isn't a big need for it, even within the very niche area of digital audio editors.

 

[jonnyb098]

Steve Jobs Describing the Apple Of Today :

So the people that can make a company more successful are sales and marketing people(Tim Cook & Ivy). And they end up running the companies. And the product people get driven out of decision making forums. And the companies forget what it means to make great products.


They have no conception of the craftsmanship(Oh Tim Cook & J.Ivy) that is required to take a good idea and turn it in to a good product.

You do know that Jony Ive is the head of Design right?? Responsible for the designs of the iconic iMacs, iPods, iPhones and iPads.

Jony Ive (not marketing)........ world renowned Industrial Designer has no concept of craftsmanship??? Wow......I guess people really are that ignorant.

Also Tim Cook is the CEO.....in case you forgot. If you're gonna bash people at least name the right ones.

 

[MI MacGuy]

This product has to be one of the worst launches I've seen from Apple in a long time. They're alienating their pro user base with all of these half-answers and lack of clarity when it comes to what was really removed and the altered functionality of the IO ports that the MBP does ship with.

I genuinely don't get it. Killing off old ports is one thing but doing it without clarification and a general understanding of what your audience uses your product for in the first place is another.

 

[sofila]

I'm confused. Here I have a professional recognizable by name and surname and his statements

This is bordering on the comical.

To those who think no one uses this : Here is what Eric Persing of Spectrasonics , one of the leading developpers of pro virtual instruments in the audio world, and not exactly prone to tantrums, posted on his FB :
"APPLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST IT. I am absolutely FURIOUS about this news! This is literally a feature that our entire team at Spectrasonics utilizes EVERY DAY, dozens of times a day! The removal of optical out is INSANE! In our world of audio, this is a feature that made MacBook Pros truly a mobile/professional audio machine! Native core audio with simple digital audio output is one of the essential reasons that these laptops have always been the best for audio and music. NOW THEY'VE TAKEN IT AWAY SO THEY SAVE A PENNY!
I hate you apple! (Never thought I'd every say that)"

and here a group of anonymous internet posters downplaying this option removal

I'm with Apple on this one. I wonder how many people used this feature on the previous gen. Just because it's there doesn't mean it's useful. If you call yourself a "pro" you're probably using something else for your digital I/O needs.

I bet most of the people moaning about it have never even used optical audio and have little clue about what it does.

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?

So how many of you genius actually use optical out in your 3.5 mm jack..

People are just pathetic - whine and complain - and then go out and buy the machine - FFS!!

*SIGH*

Professionnals use EXTERNAL GEAR - not the Mac's outs. Professionals don't give a crap if the headphone jack is just analog or a combo.

These comments are just sad. When you have zero clue what "professionals" do, don't comment on a pro machine. The funny thing is that only people not interested in the new Macbook Pro are commenting and whining. The PROS do NOT CARE about this feature.

This is what I was thinking. Optical is not exactly at peak popularity right now. I had no idea this was even possible in my existing MBP. My theater room doesn't use it at all now. HDMI everything.

I'm not a audio "pro" though so what do I know.

Heck of a lot of complaints from people with ZERO USE for this ability anyways.

So many of you love to cry just to cry.

Who can i trust? But wait, in here I see a couple of Apple's sycophants, well-known through MacRumors for constantly bashing whatever opinion may not follow Apple's scripture. Guess what? I'll believe to the first one

Edit: P.S. The only fact that Phil Schiller took the time and effort to publicly address any complaint about this machine should be a clear indicator the something went bad