Shouldn't we be celebrating USB-C?

[manny88]

OK, I've only just signed up to the forum, and I'm not trying to troll everyone. I've been reading this site prior and post apple 'hello again' event, waiting in high anticipation for the new macbook pro just like everyone else.

And I went through some of the same feelings and thoughts of the negatives of the new macbook pro, including the lack of useful ports. But now I've changed my mind on the ports entirely.

I mean these ports are the latest in technology, which will secure the future of peripherals and accessories in years to come, at blazing speeds. They are also of the USB standard, which pretty much guarantees it to be the next standard to be adopted by manufacturers at large, meaning high competition and cheaper prices on all sorts of peripherals and accessories.

I specifically remember getting my late 2011 iMac without an SSD drive because Apple were charging a stupid price of £400 for one. But I was hoping the two Thunderbolt 1 ports that came with the iMac on the back, which were faster then SATA 3, would one day allow me to buy a cheap thunderbolt enclosure I could shove an SSD in, and boot my OS externally. Alas it never happened, and the reason why? Is because PC manufacturers didn't adopt Thunderbolt 1 like they did USB 3, hence there was no need to create competitively priced hard drives or accessories.

The other thing that bugged me with my late 2011 iMac, was it came with USB 2 ports instead of USB 3 (which was heavily being adopted by PC's back then). If it had come with USB 3, I could literally be using an external SSD right now to boot my OS at decent speeds for a decent price. For example, just looking on Amazon right now, a 250GB SSD drive cost around £60-70. A USB 3 to SATA 3 cable cost £8.99 (which claims to be optimized for SSD). I.e. we have a total of around £70-80 for a fast external bootable hard drive.

So here is a case where I definitely wish my iMac came with next gen port technology (USB3). Instead today, I ended up buying an external thunderbolt 250GB SSD off Amazon for £177! Yes 5 years of waiting for these prices, woopee!

So that's my first point. USB is the most adopted standard. USB-C will become the next most adopted standard. This is good for prices and compatibility of future hardware.

The second point, is it's currently the best thing you could get for ports in terms of bandwidth and size. Sure plugging in bulky ethernet and hdmi cables might be needed right now. But tell me, who wouldn't like it if all cables became as thin and as powerful as the USB-C cable?

Thirdly it makes the macbook more tidy by getting rid of bulk! People complain about having to buy and carry around so many peripherals. But I just searched on amazon for a USB-C to HDMI adapter, and I found one that gives you 1 x HDMI port for 4k video, 2 x USB 3 ports, and an SD TF card reader! That's all the missing ports that were on the macbook pro 2015 (excluding the thunderbolt ports)!

So tell me what's more tidy? Using the above USB-C adapter in the top left port of the new macbook pro, and then plugging all the peripherals into that adapter. i.e. only 1 cable plugging into your macbook pro. Or is it tidier to have multiple bulky cables connected to your macbook pro at once?

And I'm sure we'll see an adapter in the future that has all of the above, as well as an Ethernet port, and input power to charge the macbook at the same time.

Here's the adapter btw if anyones interested: www.amazon.co.uk/Benfei-Reader-Type-C-Charging-Adapter/dp/B01LYAKDDY/


So I know this post is long and boring. But I definitely think we should be celebrating the fact that Apple implemented this technology, and a technology that is guaranteed to be standardized in the future, meaning cheaper and more compatible USB-C devices (unlike thunderbolt 1 and 2 ports).

Please stop thinking you're buying an expensive laptop with a lack of useful ports. Think of it as you're buying an expensive laptop, with the best ports you could want, the top next gen technology. High bandwidth. Small. Future proof. And are able to run many legacy ports through 1 adapter.

Am I alone in my thinking, or does anyone else agree?

 

[Salaryman Ryan]

I'm too am very happy with USB-C. I think it will fulfill the promises of ports like Firewire or Thunderbolt at a much much lower cost and more. Whats not to like. I can understand the resistance though, changing to something better cost money and is annoying for many people.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

while i'm fine with USB-C, it's the lack of inspiration coming out of it that bothers me. Magsafe was by all accounts, a USEFUL thing to have, why didn't they replicate that with USB-C? as in just give us a cord with a charging indicator? A sd card slot is THINNER than usb-c, why take it out? it's deciions like this that makes me feel confused.

you piss off hte professional crowd with less power
you piss off the casual crowd because casuals aren't really big on adapters.

 

[jerryk]

Agreed. USB-C is the future. I can't wait to use one cable and a dock/monitor to drive a couple of 4K monitors, some external drives, keyboard, mouse, Ethernet, and charge the MacBook Pro.

 

[Shockwave78]

while i'm fine with USB-C, it's the lack of inspiration coming out of it that bothers me. Magsafe was by all accounts, a USEFUL thing to have, why didn't they replicate that with USB-C? as in just give us a cord with a charging indicator? A sd card slot is THINNER than usb-c, why take it out? it's deciions like this that makes me feel confused.

you piss off hte professional crowd with less power
you piss off the casual crowd because casuals aren't really big on adapters.

- Remove a $3.00 part laptop = profit

- Same sell part as an adapter for $20-$30 MOAR PROFIT!!!

 

[Salaryman Ryan]

Agreed. Magsafe and an SD card slot would have been an instant purchase from me despite of the crazy prices.

 

[Shockwave78]

As someone who has never had a mac I don't know what you guys are experiencing. My only experience will be with USB-C on my 15".

I don't see the need for any adapters, if I need something such as an sd card slot or something else I would imagine the dock I get will have one.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

think about it this way. is there a point to having 4 USB-C ports? do you really see yourself using 4 Adapters? Would it be better to have 3 usb-c and 1 sd card? what about 2 usb-c and 1 mag safe and 1 sd card slot? what would make you happier?

 

[leman]

Agree with OP. USB-C is the best thing to have happened to computer connectivity since WiFi.

I would also have a comment or two to reply to FrozenDarkness, but these points have been discussed ad nauseum in dozens of threads already, so I don't see the point to start it all over again.

 

[Altis]

think about it this way. is there a point to having 4 USB-C ports? do you really see yourself using 4 Adapters? Would it be better to have 3 usb-c and 1 sd card? what about 2 usb-c and 1 mag safe and 1 sd card slot? what would make you happier?

2 x TB3 / USB-C
2 x USB-A 3.0
1 x SD Card
1 x MagSafe Charger

USB-C is absolutely great and the way of the future, I have no doubt.

But right now there are very few things you can buy in USB-C, and nothing you already own is likely to be USB-C already. That means that for the first who-knows-how-long, you'll have no choice but to use adapters or new cables to connect to just about anything that you do or even can own.

Usually you drop ports when they're on their way out, a while after introducing the replacement. This is the first MBP to have USB-C and everything else got axed. No transition period at all.

 

[bmustaf]

Yes. I am very happy to see the old USB ports go. I already use an Anker USB-C battery, a USB-C -> Lightning Cable (hint: it does charge iPhones faster, too), and USB-C -> Micro.

Big deal, they're $15-25 cables. Buy them and quit whining, people .

 

[RichardC300]

Looking forward to plugging in all my externals and power all at once with one port.

 

[JTToft]

But right now there are very few things you can buy in USB-C, and nothing you already own is likely to be USB-C already. That means that for the first who-knows-how-long, you'll have no choice but to use adapters or new cables to connect to just about anything that you do or even can own.

- Yeah, but if computers keep using old ports, manufacturers will never produce USB-C stuff to use with them.

We have to start somewhere.

 

[Rigby]

While I also like the flexibility and physical usability (small, reversable) of USB-C, there are some downsides as well that people will discover soon. The most important one is caused by the same flexibility that I mentioned as a plus above: The USB axiom "if it fits it works" no longer applies to USB-C. Devices carrying the same USB-C connector can have very different capabilities and may not be interoperable with other USB-C devices. For example, many people will expect that they can plug a monitor with USB-C port into any USB-C port on a computer, but that will not necessarily work because not all USB-C ports will support alternate mode video. Similarly, not all cables are able to transport all the signals that USB-C is capable of, and not all USB-C power supplies will be able to power all USB-C devices (since some voltages are optional). Stephen Foskett summarized this in a nice blog post:

http://blog.fosketts.net/2016/10/29/total-nightmare-usb-c-thunderbolt-3/

There will be a large number of accessories, adapters and cables with different capabilities, and a lot of consumer confusion as a result. Personally, I'm convinced that USB-C will rule on mobile devices, but I'm not so sure that it will replace other connectors when it comes to computer peripherals (and if it does, it will take years).

 

[Smoovejayy]

- Yeah, but if computers keep using old ports, manufacturers will never produce USB-C stuff to use with them.

We have to start somewhere.

Good ol Apple, forcing the industry one way

 

[BarracksSi]

Just saw a blog post which articulated why I'm not freaking out about USB-C:
http://appadvice.com/post/apple-is-actually-killing-the-dongle-too/725585

I'm already happy about almost transitioning away from the 30-pin connector, which is peanuts. I attended a coding school where all the classrooms had AirPlay-enabled projectors (how cool is that!?). I'm looking at the stuff I've got sitting around and thinking, dang, wouldn't it be slick if it all worked off the same connector?

This is a bit like the days when Apple kicked the peripherals industry in the pants and got them all on board with USB.

 

[AdonisSMU]

I'm glad Apple got rid of the useless clutter. It hurt my eyes. More importantly I didn't use any of it. I do use USBC right now

 

[Altis]

- Yeah, but if computers keep using old ports, manufacturers will never produce USB-C stuff to use with them.

We have to start somewhere.

That's not even remotely true.

There's always been transition periods to newer technology. You "have to start" by simply adding the ports to the new computers (2 perhaps) and reduce the older ports... then the manufacturers start making products for those ports as more people adopt and move over.

Ditching all the other ports while they're still in full use and in most cases have no replacement isn't helpful. For example, I don't think there's much available in USB-C for audio interfaces, so most vloggers/youtubers/voiceover people can't connect their audio kit to their new computer (or even their brand new iPhone 7).

It's a bit like showing up to a party before the host gets home from work.

Ethernet, DVD drives, Firewire, etc were all very well replaced and adopted before they were dropped from hardware entirely. They didn't drop Ethernet when only 5% of people and 1% of public spaces had wifi.

 

[Dunbar]

I have a 12" Macbook and lack of Magsafe isn't a big deal in practice. The MB charges up fast and has great battery life so it's not plugged in most of the time. With my aging 2011 MBA I pretty much had to leave it plugged in all of the time due to the poor battery life. I should add that for battery longevity it's not good practice to leave your computer plugged in and charged to 100% all of the time. Another benefit is USB-C is the ability to buy one travel charger with enough ports to charge your Macbook, iPhone and other devices.

 

[AdonisSMU]

while i'm fine with USB-C, it's the lack of inspiration coming out of it that bothers me. Magsafe was by all accounts, a USEFUL thing to have, why didn't they replicate that with USB-C? as in just give us a cord with a charging indicator? A sd card slot is THINNER than usb-c, why take it out? it's deciions like this that makes me feel confused.

you piss off hte professional crowd with less power
you piss off the casual crowd because casuals aren't really big on adapters.

MagSafe while a good idea had some significant drawbacks in that the cords damaged really easily and we also know that MagSafe has trouble staying connected when you use your laptop on your lap or anywhere other than a desktop. The goal is to make machines more portable not less portable. One standard for all input and output. Imagine a situation where you don't have to look for an HDMI adapter or a USB-A adapter or a SD Card reader. You can do all of the things the other ports do with a single USB-C port. That is a long term win tbqh.

 

[CodeSpyder]

I am fine with USB-C. Hopefully, that's the way ahead for the next few years. We are at the start of it. People will complain about anything. Disney could create a resort where Mickey Mouse tucked people in at night and someone would complain about the rat problem.

 

[therealseebs]

Back in the day, I used to use Psion PDAs. And they were pretty good. But they had connectivity problems. But that's okay! They were going to solve it with Bluetooth, which would resolve everything nicely.

They died because it wasn't usable enough with enough things in time to save them.

I am not going to celebrate getting ports that work with literally nothing I own, requiring me to get All New Things. I'm currently on the monitor part of this; so far as I can tell, I have to buy either a dongle or a new monitor or something at this point. It is not possible to connect the new laptop to the existing monitor. And okay, it's a four year old monitor, I can live, but... Boy, I would not have minded having a working displayport connector available.

 

[poorcody]

I for one think USB-C/Thunderbolt ports was the way to go. The versatility of having four ports that can be used for almost any purpose and in any combination is amazingly flexible. The fact Thunderbolt 3 has such amazing bandwidth takes the shackles off any external device limitations.

I don't take the USB backward compatibility for granted either -- that is very nice, and not something one always gets with newer connection-types (e.g. Firewire, the original Thunderbolt). Having to use a new cable or dongle is a very small price to pay in that regard. I get all the good of the new without having to replace my existing devices. I think Apple did the right thing.

I'm not all that upset about losing MagSafe either, since the battery life pretty much allows one to use the laptop most of the day without plugging it. And you still have a similar option with Griffin and likely other future devices. Also being able to plug in either the right or left helps avoid tangling up your power cord or draping it over a trafficked space in the first place.

 

[Ries]

Stop defending this Apple ******** move. USB-C is not something that is exclusive with other ports. You want to use a USB-C dock, guess what, you can do that even with a USB-A connector on the Laptop. You can have magsafe and still be able to charge from USB-C too. I prefer not to lug a bag of dongles around, so did Apple once too, they would have ridiculed PC for having a single type port that required a host of dongles with "Just plugs into the Mac".

 

[motime]

Why do you people keep talking about the future as if it is here already? USB will not take off for another couple of years, and that is plenty of time to wait and upgrade when it starts becoming mainstream. As of right now almost all devices are still on the old standard, heck lots of people even have devices on USB 2.0 lying around.

When it becomes troublesome to not have a USB C port for my main USB devices then I will consider switching, for now it is the other way around, and for quite some time.