My non-unibody MacBook Pro has one USB port on each side. (Personally I much prefer that layout to having them both right next to each other)
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Thanks Apple for making an non functional port layout
- Thread starter M. Malone
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My non-unibody MacBook Pro has one USB port on each side. (Personally I much prefer that layout to having them both right next to each other)
True, as do I. Steve made a pretty big deal about that when the first introduced that design with the 17" Powerbooks back in 03. Aside from the 15" and 17" Powerbooks/pre-unibody MacBook Pros all of Apple's USB equipped laptops have had basically the exact same USB port gap.
I've got one of those fat Corsair sticks but I always use an extender cable with it. The MBP isn't the only laptop I've had problems with my fat stick.
I share the same frustration, USB sticks shouldn't need to be so fat. Keep them thin so they sit within the standard footprint as per the USB specs.
The OP's problem is also not just Apple specific, quite a number of Dell laptops and other branded laptops suffer the same problem, especially where USB ports are stacked horizontally, as fat & chubby equipment will not sit properly of there is another USB device in the lower or upper port.
At anyrate, I've always looked for slim USB key's and devices to avoid this problem, plus I've got a small extension cable I can use when I need too.
There are plenty of easy, cheap/free work-arounds that this is really just a non-issue. Except for one it seems, who lacks imagination and/or petty change.
Seriously. Come on...
Seriously. Come on...
'That was quite a stupid answer. Now, try again..', I wanted to say.
Anyway, inside a TD, the mem-chips are mostly the same from all distributors. There are only such a few mem-chip factories around. What casing they wrap around it is another issue. It won't effect though how fast a drive is. This is a mem-chip/ controller thing. Just storage capacity might make it bigger in size.
As for this thread. You also could blame the TD maker for making it oversized. There are smarter solution to make a TD fit, even for tightly placed ports. And, yes. I also worked on PC laptop which had exactly the same issue. It is hard to blame Apple right out for this one. Of course they could have spaced it more but they are still sticking to official specs as long two USB sized cables can exist next to each other.
Fact - The USB ports work as functioned.
Fact - Old big-ass thumb drives won't fit in many newer laptops (especially 13") that are downsizing to save weight.
Fact - Apple products that utilize USB ports seem to fit just fine (even on 13" MacBooks).
By the way, no problems here with my USB ports, but I also don't use old, POS thumbdrives from the 1990's. Seriously, there's more important ***** people should be worried about.
I mean, where do you draw the line in USB gapping? What is the right size? Does a 2,5" HDD with a fixed USB connector need to fit? ..(j/k), but you get my point.
How about getting the manufacturers of USB accessories to make their devices more useful? My mobile provider, for example, has 5 different USB mobile data devices. One of them is USB slim, not longer than the others.. I don't get why they all can't be made that size.
Well, thanks the man who came up with this http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2006/07/usb_360degree_adapter.html. I think this is fair enough..
As title says.
I got the new MacBook. Why are the ports so tightly packed next to each other?
I have a 32GB Kingston Data Traveler 150 USB drive
And when I put it in, I can no longer use the USB next to it or the display port.
I really hope I'm missing something here, maybe I'm not seeing it, but this killed the usability of the ports. Especially when I want to transfer something from my flash drive to my hard drive.
I can force the second USB in but I worry if that would damage the ports.
any advice?
I really don't know how this is apples fault. Yeah... the ports are close together but I believe in terms of normal plugs they are within a standard distance apart.
Anyway, one of these http://www.google.com/products?clie...esult_group&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CEgQzAMwAw should fix your problem. They are like 2 bucks at frys.
I've actually got one of those and they fit just fine next to my thumb drive.
I'm not being a fanboy but honestly, it's the drive manufacturers you should be blaming.
Gut the drive and you will see how small the flash memory actually is. It's beyond me why these idiot companies always use big ass enclosures for some strange reason. Maybe it's a marketing ploy. Makes you think it's more durable than it is, or make people think it can carry more stuff than it does.
get this
this one works great. very narrow.
http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=154&LangNo=0&Func1No=1&Func2No=76
this one works great. very narrow.
http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=154&LangNo=0&Func1No=1&Func2No=76
Close your eyes, click your heels three times, and all of the money in your wallet will materialize on Steve Jobs's desk
That's how AAPL got to $45 billion in cash.
Apple doesn't make computers to fit USB drives, USB drives are made to fit computers.
LOL...Steve, I knew you were reading these posts
Only thing I can say is that I can always plug my TD in whatever pc laptop is used for a presentation. If there's no USB available to at the left side, I just pick another one on the machine. Not with Steve jobs of course....2 lousy ports crammed next to each other. One of which I need to get sound from my LED cinema display.My problem is that I absolutely detest windows yet for my job I need to be able to work in MS Office. Else I'd just sell off my mac, install linux on a Lenovo and be done with this. Frankly, I switched from pc to mac about 18 months ago and for me it's been a huge disappointment as far as the hardware is concerned (love the OS). It looks beautiful, that's true. But you overpay massively if you take into account the quality of the components and overall reliability.
this one works great. very narrow.
http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=154&LangNo=0&Func1No=1&Func2No=76
and only $100 for 8gb,
get a ocz rally 2 , there narrow , faster and cheap 16gb @ $55
LOL...Steve, I knew you were reading these posts
My problem is that I absolutely detest windows yet for my job I need to be able to work in MS Office. Else I'd just sell off my mac, install linux on a Lenovo and be done with this. Frankly, I switched from pc to mac about 18 months ago and for me it's been a huge disappointment as far as the hardware is concerned (love the OS). It looks beautiful, that's true. But you overpay massively if you take into account the quality of the components and overall reliability.
Let's not make this yet another mac vs. pc thread.
Back to the USB port thing: I believe that the reason the ports are so tight packed, is that apple has little space to go with. The unibody casing can surely take 2 more ports, but the mainboard can't. In order to get more ports on the machine, Apple would need to make mainboard bigger > bigger outer case = bigger machine. Its a size problem, not more than that.
And the reason you have more space on the PC laptops is that 90% of them are 50% bigger than MacBook Pro. So its either small and portable vs. big'n'heavy
On the sidenote, I'm not Steve
I'll check to make sure it keeps the second USB port clear, if so then I'm sold! looks like a fast performing one too.
I still think Apple should do something for the next MBP, maybe go back to the older layout, front CD, ports on the left and right.
Thanks,
The drive on the right is bent to fit in the space the one on the left is taking up. That's not a great example at all, and in fact, shows exactly part of the situation the OP has.