Can you use the included USB-C to MagSafe cord on any other USB-C charger? (Obviously not expecting it to charge at 140W.)
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Next MacBook Air to Feature Off-White Bezels and Keyboard, M2 Chip, USB-C Ports Only, MagSafe, and iMac-Like Colors
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Well, I'm not doing anything at the moment! I'm trying to decide which way to jump.
I won't need an external monitor when away from home. But might need to attach external storage, time machine, memory stick(s), scanner, camera, phone. (Bluetooth covers an external keyboard and/or mouse if needed.)
(Currently using an M1 Mac Mini and a Microsoft Surface. I want to get away from the Surface as it keeps losing the keyboard, decides it has been rotated for no reason, and gets ridiculously hot for no obvious reason. Hence, considering what might be available early next year.)
MagSafe is really just a new Lightning. Apple is shunning simplicity and standardisation in favour of proprietary cables with high profit margins!
The "tripping over power cord" scenario may have been realistic for laptops circa 2000, when we pretty much had to leave them plugged in constantly, no matter where they were used. But batteries are so good now days that it's rare to have to plug in when you're sitting on a sofa or other unusual location that could leave the cord exposed. MagSafe is a solution looking for a problem!
Shunning simplicity and standardization? The rest of the industry constantly does that when they invent new plugs. In the time that Apple has maintained the single Lightning plug style the electronics industry un-standardized around several usb plug styles like mini-usb, micro-usb, usb3-micro, and usb-c. Lightning was also reversible when none of the other usb plug styles were until C. Moving to USBC now is good, but it’s simply inaccurate to say that Lightning was bad or unnecessary.
Meanwhile my dogs are regularly pulling the power cord out of both my old MBP and newer USB-C work laptop. Our Weims are pretty good at avoiding the cord, but the Bull Terrier who stays with us a lot has an uncanny ability to yank cords. USB-C ports are not durable enough for this kind of abuse while my MagSafe port maintains the same secure connection as it did seven years ago. Besides, connecting MagSafe is a cinch because it snaps into place while USBC requires looking at the side of the computer or scraping the plug against the side of the computer until you find the port.
TLDR People who dont value MagSafe have never had dogs.
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That's dog owners sorted. How about genuinely cat-proof keyboards for those with the other common variety of fur ball?
Include a pet chip detector, so it can tell when a cat is near and lock itself?
Close your MacBook. ?
Since they’re no longer Intel heating pads, the cats won’t sleep on them.
Seems pretty simple to me. Still a USB-C on the other end. Yes it works with other chargers, provided they support the USB-C power protocols.
"Tripping over the power cord" is still a problem. A lot depends on how and where you use the computer. You're right about lounging on the sofa, surfing the web, doing email. Yeah, don't need to plug in and the batteries last hours. In professional environments it's a different story. Even with the amazing battery life on these new systems, I'm still doing things that can drain a battery pretty quickly. Much better than the 2019 MBP where some graphics tasks could take it from fully charged 10% in minutes. We're using laptops on carts, folding tables, in vehicles with other equipment... To have one less cord to worry about snagging and causing damage is a good thing. Just having to plug in while in an airport terminal is already less nerve wracking having the MagSafe.
All of this right here. Apple always gets criticized about standards when they're usually at the forefront of setting them. And even when they do have something that differs from most of the industry, they stick with it for a good amount of time were it becomes ubiquitous. Lightning is an excellent example of this, has been in use for over 9 years now. It only exists because the USB Consortium couldn't get off their lazy butts to approve the new compact standard.
I have big dogs... And cats who like to pull cords as well as sit on keyboards. One of my cats pulled keys off a keyboard once when they were much younger. That's somewhat of a whole different issue. MagSafe was great on the older MBPs when my kids were younger.
The cat concerned mostly just walks across it. Only occasionally plonks herself down on it. Just enough of a problem to confuse the system by keypresses and always a concern that she could cause some damage.
What, no Thunderbolt 3/4? When using a Mac, having the ports only be USB-C can be kind of a hassle compared to the Thunderbolt versions. (With my M1 MacBook Air, despite having only two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, they can be VERY versatile, with numerous hub/adapter/dock expansion possibilities.)
As for MagSafe, I don't run my M1 MacBook Air on AC power all the time (usually when I do, it's hooked up to a dock or something as part of my desktop setup). But I AM considering getting one of those magnetic third-party USB-C things I can use to charge my MacBook Air when on the go, working very much like MagSafe...
As for MagSafe, I don't run my M1 MacBook Air on AC power all the time (usually when I do, it's hooked up to a dock or something as part of my desktop setup). But I AM considering getting one of those magnetic third-party USB-C things I can use to charge my MacBook Air when on the go, working very much like MagSafe...
20pin USB C Magnetic Adapter, Space Grey,USB 3.1 Adapter Compatible with MacBook Pro 2019 and Before, MacBook Air 2020, Dell XPS and More Type C Devices (20PIN)
20pin USB C Magnetic Adapter, Space Grey,USB 3.1 Adapter Compatible with MacBook Pro 2019 and Before, MacBook Air 2020, Dell XPS and More Type C Devices (20PIN)
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It’s safe to assume that it will have full-featured USB-C ports, including Thunderbolt 3/4, as do all Apple Silicon Macs.
(“USB-C” technically refers to the physical connector system/design, not the various services which can run over it such as USB 3.1, USB-PD, and Thunderbolt 3/4)