Thunderbolt 3 Ports on Right Side of 13-Inch MacBook Pro Have Reduced PCI Express Bandwidth

[dantroline]

Thankfully I'm not in the market for a new machine until probably a couple of years. Maybe the next generation for me. we have to remember Apple never was about making the fastest machines but more about the user experience and eco system because, "it just works". Question is does this still hold up today?

Yes, usability is still very good for Apple products. Extremely good actually, but the competition in Android and Microsoft is gaining. I tested out a new Dell XPS today and it was very nice indeed, but I still think OSX wins for overall productivity especially for development projects - ergonomics are still better for that OS. Hardware wise there is no real advantage anymore for Apple. Windows is just as stable now.

 

[Sedulous]

Its more flexible to have the charging port able to pass full or half width TB3, rather than simply power...especially when your computer has a battery.

Like i said, for my production computer I'm already using adapters. The current model 2016, previous model 2015 and even the late 2013 model MBP have not had firewire ports. By your argument, the current MBP should still have Firewire 400 so i don't need to use an adapter or special cable. You might really want HDMI. I might really want Firewire 400. Someone else might want Ethernet. Another person might want 4 high speed thunderbolt connections. Just put USBC and everyone can connect to whatever they need with the correct cable.

I guess from using a 12" MB for work everyday i have realised that the USBC port is way more convenient. Even with just one port i can connect to whatever i need.

No, not by my argument. I am not suggesting retention of ports not used in a decade. I am suggesting it would have been useful to retain some ports that are CURRENT major IO players. What you are suggesting by daisy chaining a bunch of things still could be done with only two USB-c ports AND still maintaining some conventional ports.

 

[Abazigal]

Wow, haha. They charge you more and more whilst taking away features. Who is buying this crap? Apple seriously need a reality check.

Wasn't it just some time ago that we were rewarding Apple for doing precisely this?

Does anyone remember the MacBook Air? Slow processor. No CD-Drive. Only 1 USB port. The MBA made a ton of sacrifices, all of which were considered essential components of a laptop, in the pursuit of thinness. As it turned out, most people could live without those features once thought to be indispensable. The sole selling point, it’s ultra-thin and light form factor, ended up being a key selling point that ultimately mattered more than all the other features it replaced.

And you know what? I love the concept behind the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it lacks magsafe. Yes, I will probably need an array of adaptors and dongles in the short run because none of my existing peripherals will likely work with it. It’s more inconvenient, it’s less accessible, and it’s a complete dream to use in the right setting.

Give me less. I will pay more.

But that's not COURAGEOUS enough.

Read:arrogant and naive

This is another classic example of Apple having the "courage" to say straight to my face, "this one feature is more important than this entire set of other features people usually consider must-haves." Consider me a sucker for controversial tradeoffs, and while most of you will say "This is madness!!!", I will say "Bring it on!!!"

 

[Sedulous]

Wasn't it just some time ago that we were rewarding Apple for doing precisely this?

Does anyone remember the MacBook Air? Slow processor. No CD-Drive. Only 1 USB port. The MBA made a ton of sacrifices, all of which were considered essential components of a laptop, in the pursuit of thinness. As it turned out, most people could live without those features once thought to be indispensable. The sole selling point, it’s ultra-thin and light form factor, ended up being a key selling point that ultimately mattered more than all the other features it replaced.

And you know what? I love the concept behind the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it lacks magsafe. Yes, I will probably need an array of adaptors and dongles in the short run because none of my existing peripherals will likely work with it. It’s more inconvenient, it’s less accessible, and it’s a complete dream to use in the right setting.

Give me less. I will pay more.


This is another classic example of Apple having the "courage" to say straight to my face, "this one feature is more important than this entire set of other features people usually consider must-haves." Consider me a sucker for controversial tradeoffs, and while most of you will say "This is madness!!!", I will say "Bring it on!!!"

And yet Apple later decided to add ports, fix the underengineered hinge that caused so many early AIR models to break, and lowered the price. THEN it became popular.

 

[Applebot1]

Wouldn't surprise if we get a spec bump come April. In terms of processor they are limited by Intel. With Apple's philosophy of light and thin it has to be a certain criteria because of thermal constraints. I assume thats the case with graphic modules as well but not sure. Still say Apple will look to leave Intel in the future.

 

[thekeyring]

Every article brings me bad news.

Every article brings news. You turn it into bad news.
[doublepost=1477902760][/doublepost]

This has nothing to do with saving pennies but rather how many lanes of PCI-Express are available on the Intel processors each computer uses. I had been wondering how they were going to pull off 4 completely equal ports, but rather certain that being Apple they would, but even they can't make something from nothing.

I think that in practice this will affect relatively few people, but it's a bummer nonetheless.

Your level headed logic has no place on this forum! These people want to hate Apple in peace.

 

[anthorumor]

Because, Simplicity!

 

[Bliddo]

Then get the USB-C to Lightning cable.

Because shelling out ~4000$ was not enough to get started.

 

[gnasher729]

Folks, please sign the petition to replace Tim Cook before he completely destroys Apple:

You can buy some shares and go to the shareholder meeting.
[doublepost=1477904349][/doublepost]

PORTS:
There is an argument to be had for HDMI, USB and SD slots, but that would have impacted other things inside the computer and the amount of USB-C slots.

Logic tells me that if you need an HDMI slot, you have a monitor. Which you are _not_ carrying around all the time. So you can do with something that stays with the monitor. And I have seen some nice hub that provides HDMI, three USB, Ethernet, and two card readers. Plus power through, so you plug it into a charger, and it charges the MacBook.

 

[dantroline]

You can buy some shares and go to the shareholder meeting.
[doublepost=1477904349][/doublepost]
Logic tells me that if you need an HDMI slot, you have a monitor. Which you are _not_ carrying around all the time. So you can do with something that stays with the monitor. And I have seen some nice hub that provides HDMI, three USB, Ethernet, and two card readers. Plus power through, so you plug it into a charger, and it charges the MacBook.

If you walk into a boardroom or a lecture theatre etc with a MBP under your arm you can rest it on the lectern/table and plug the HDMI cable in and you are good to go. But with the new MBP you can't afford to forget your dongle. It's a regression.

To put it another way, if Apple is all worked up about smooth lines and nice appearances, then they can cover ports, or make them optional for the non-power user who just wants a premium product. For the very premium price it would make sense that such customisation would be allowable. However it's not about that, it's about money - increasing the profit margin on the laptop and making more money on the side for dongles. MBP's used to have a very high quality audio input jack, but that went. The new design philosophy is degrading the product and forcing users to upgrade perfectly functional accessories year after year.

 

[FreshBoy]

The whining about the whiners is also 5 stars!
In both cases it does nothing to change the subpar "crap" release from Apple.

The whiners about the whining are also just whiners. Haha

 

[lysingur]

because I'm not an elitist who thinks it's all about me

 

[honglong1976]

reduced bandwidth? reduced to what? 1% less bandwidth, 20% less? 50% less?

 

[Jim Lahey]

High end means NO compromises.

All design is a compromise. If you can design something without compromising, much less an incredibly complex electronic device that needs to appeal to as large an audience as possible, then you are a God, because no one else, since time began, has ever managed it.

 

[Hanzu Lao]

All design is a compromise. If you can design something without compromising, much less an incredibly complex electronic device that needs to appeal to as large an audience as possible, then you are a God, because no one else, since time began, has ever managed it.

in this case no. They compromised on weight and thinness when they didnt have to and then whined about how they can do this or that.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Ok.

 

[lysingur]

But there is no way to get to a future where everything is either USB-C or TB3 without you buying these cables at some point.

For those of you who think the time of USB-C has come, just note three very simple things:

1. MacBook Pro isn't iMac. They'll never achieve the original iMac's popularity, nor its sales numbers. So the argument that MBP 2016 or even Apple's entire laptop lineup is a vehicle to usher in that future fails. Miserably.
2. The advantage of USB-C over TB2 and USB 3 isn't as great as USB 1, 2 and 3 over Serial, Parallel, PS/2, ADB, Game Port and SCSI, especially to casual and prosumer users. So going all USB-C with the entire laptop lineup is progress for the sake of progress, rather for improving user experience.
3. The more likely candidate to quicken a USB-C future is Apple's best-selling product: the iPhone. Sadly and paradoxically, the iPhone wants nothing to do with USB-C (and MacBook with Lightning). So given that this is the case, what's preventing Apple putting at the very least one USB 3 and one TB2 port on MacBook Pro 2016? Poor decision-making and arrogance.

If Apple wants an all USB-C future, they should've the courage to go all USB-C with their most popular devices. There is really no point arguing back and forth about the price of docks, dongles, adapters or hubs. Of course people can afford to buy dongles, but that's not the point. The point is that Apple takes away something most users rely on and find extremely useful without offering something better or even a compelling roadmap in return (they don't even have their own adapters fully MBP 2016-ready).

How long is the transition to USB-C going to take piggy-backing solely on Apple's laptops and desktops? Much longer than the transition to USB 1 and 2. The adoption of USB 1 and 2 happened rather quickly because even an average user can see the clear advantage of USB 1 and 2 over the aforementioned ports, most of which are flaky and bulky, not the case with USB-C. So you're likely stuck with those USB-C dongles for at least 2 to 3 years or even longer. If you can't see why so many people are incensed, you're probably "an elitist who thinks it's all about me".

 

[FreshBoy]

For those of you who think the time of USB-C has come, just note three very simple things:

1. MacBook Pro isn't iMac. They'll never achieve the original iMac's popularity, nor its sales numbers. So the argument that MBP 2016 or even Apple's entire laptop lineup is a vehicle to usher in that future fails. Miserably.
2. The advantage of USB-C over TB2 and USB 3 isn't as great as USB 1, 2 and 3 over Serial, Parallel, PS/2, ADB, Game Port and SCSI, especially to casual and prosumer users. So going all USB-C with the entire laptop lineup is progress for the sake of progress, rather for improving user experience.
3. The more likely candidate to quicken a USB-C future is Apple's best-selling product: the iPhone. Sadly and paradoxically, the iPhone wants nothing to do with USB-C (and MacBook with Lightning). So given that this is the case, what's preventing Apple putting at the very least one USB 3 and one TB2 port on MacBook Pro 2016? Poor decision-making and arrogance.

If Apple wants an all USB-C future, they should've the courage to go all USB-C with their most popular devices. There is really no point arguing back and forth about the price of docks, dongles, adapters or hubs. Of course people can afford to buy dongles, but that's not the point. The point is that Apple takes away something most users rely on and find extremely useful without offering something better or even a compelling roadmap in return (they don't even have their own adapters fully MBP 2016-ready).

How long is the transition to USB-C going to take piggy-backing solely on Apple's laptops and desktops? Much longer than the transition to USB 1 and 2. The adoption of USB 1 and 2 happened rather quickly because even an average user can see the clear advantage of USB 1 and 2 over the aforementioned ports, most of which are flaky and bulky, not the case with USB-C. So you're likely stuck with those USB-C dongles for at least 2 to 3 years or even longer. If you can't see why so many people are incensed, you're probably "an elitist who thinks it's all about me".

I agree about the iPhone needing to embrace USB C but I've a feeling Apple is using its flagship portable to begin the process of changing over. They tested the water in 2015 with the intro of the one port does all retina MacBook and the feedback most have been positive enough for them to go all in with the MacBook Pro. It's a nuisance having to need an adapter for the old ports but the point of TB3/UsbC being the same port is to standardise it across the industry. It's just up to Apple to get their head out of their arse and change the lightning port to USB C or to ship new chargers with USB C to lightning with the iPhone 8.

 

[Judas1]

I'm assuming those upgrading to this MacBook pro is upgrading from an older MacBook pro and that they have peripherals that they use and does not want to upgrade too. So moving from one Mac to another Mac, they would still need new dongles. That is ridiculous. Id understand it if you move from PC to Mac you'd need dongles, but staying within the same ecosystem also requires it? This is not what's meant by future proofing. This is just them shoving their own proprietary tech down your throats.

 

[sofila]

The whiners about the whining are also just whiners. Haha

I'd say whiners squared

 

[Abazigal]

I'm assuming those upgrading to this MacBook pro is upgrading from an older MacBook pro and that they have peripherals that they use and does not want to upgrade too. So moving from one Mac to another Mac, they would still need new dongles. That is ridiculous. Id understand it if you move from PC to Mac you'd need dongles, but staying within the same ecosystem also requires it? This is not what's meant by future proofing. This is just them shoving their own proprietary tech down your throats.

USB-C adaptors are hardly proprietary, given that they work on both Apple and Windows computers. Just as mini display wasn't.

If you are using any of the newer Windows laptops, you will likely need a HDMI-to-VGA or mini-display adaptor if you want to project your laptop.

This argument just borders on ludicrousness.

 

[joueboy]

Our complaints would really mean nothing if this MacBooks would still sell like a hotcakes. But if we stop buying one then we're sending message to Apple.

 

[FreshBoy]

Our complaints would really mean nothing if this MacBooks would still sell like a hotcakes. But if we stop buying one then we're sending message to Apple.

I can't just stop working and need a new laptop. I'm not buying another dell or windows based laptop. I'm going back to the Mac and may as well get their latest offering. I just had a look at surface book specs and they're not all that and I've no need for a touch screen. Both machines are overpriced and I think the MacBook Pro is easier on the eye.

 

[Hanzu Lao]

I'd say whiners squared

I'd say apologists ^3.

 

[lowkey]

I'm assuming those upgrading to this MacBook pro is upgrading from an older MacBook pro and that they have peripherals that they use and does not want to upgrade too. So moving from one Mac to another Mac, they would still need new dongles. That is ridiculous. Id understand it if you move from PC to Mac you'd need dongles, but staying within the same ecosystem also requires it? This is not what's meant by future proofing. This is just them shoving their own proprietary tech down your throats.

That is normal. My MBP 2 iterations ago had FireWire 400 that I used to connect to my Metric Halo audio interface. Then I upgraded to a new MBP that had FireWire 800 port. So I had to buy a new FireWire 400 to FireWire 800 cable. Then I upgraded to a late 2013 rMBP that had no FireWire ports. I had to buy a FireWire 800 to Thunderbolt connector.
When I upgrade computers again I'll need a new cable or another adapter.

You think they should still have Firewire400 just so I don't need a new cable? LOL