Thunderbolt 3/USB-C Adapters, Cables, and Hubs for New MacBook Pro

[citysnaps]

hmmm... 2mm thicker or a half dozen dongles... choices, choices, choices...

The 2015 MacBook Pro is still an excellent machine.

It the thought of using adapters, such as Monoprice's $9 slim inline USB C to USB A adapter, or a cable with USB C on one end and USB A on the other would be too much to bear on a modern machine with incredible expansion and bandwidth possibilities, I'd go with the 2015 MacBook Pro.

 

[Carlanga]

Apple 2009, "There's an App for that"

Apple 2016, "There's an Adapter for that"

Don't forget your watchbands, get your watchbands right here, tomorrow we will have more styles!

 

[MH01]

What are you doing with that combo of Mini and 1070? I'm just curious of your use case.

the only downside of the 2012 Mac mini is the GPU ....so I got a 1070 to fix that issue, it's actually my main desktop right now, amazing quiet, heaps of performance and it is even VR ready. I just love the mini, its a server unit with 2x 2TB 850 Samsung ssd.

 

[jimbobb24]

Nope. The iPhone comes with a cable and a charger that you plug into the wall. Most people don't need to connect the iPhone to their computer.

If YOU want to connect the iPhone to your new MBP, you can get the cable. But Apple doesn't seriously want you to do that.

Unless you use one of their OS updates the first day. Then they definitely want you to plug that phone into a computer.

 

[MH01]

Yep, many times. Neither runs Matlab nor ArcGIS (or rather Parallels, for that matter), to name a few of the programs I'm using.

You know, there are "Pro users" out there who still don't need tons of different devices with all possible kinds of input methods all. the. time. Strange and hard to believe, eh?

Besides, I REALLY don't wanna type long texts (such as scientific papers) on a virtual keyboard, nor on that smartcover keyboard. There's NOTHING like a real keyboard when it comes to long and intensive writing.

As soon as I posted and re-read your comment I realised it was not the right question to ask. Complete understand

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Otherwise it winds up like Windows where there is a complete alphabet soup of ports and PC notebooks shipping to this day with VGA and Ethernet ports.

The average PC motherboard I/O plate is like a computer museum. PS/2 ports? DB-9 serial ports?

 

[Jakexb]

If you're plugging something into your computer, you're already carrying something with you. The thing you're plugging into it.

Don't try to Make appl

 

[eebrown]

Correct, it says you KNOW the products, product lines and are prepared for all eventualities. Looks even better when you have them neatly and logically set up in part of the carry bag that your laptop sits in. And it sure as hell beats getting there and spending the next 20 minutes seeing if someone else in the place has the cable you need.

I have been carrying around cables of one sort or another for over 20 years.

Seems there are only 2 outcomes for Apple every time

"WHAA whaa whaaa... apple has not innovated , it the same as last year, Apple is rubbish"

or

"WHAA whaa whaaa... apple has changed things , its not the same as last year, Apple is rubbish"

Get your big boy panties on, time moves on, changes happen, you are NOT in control of those changes, that is life.

wow, change for the sake of change and screwing the customer in the process seems to be the new apple way of things.

 

[rjtyork]

Apple should supply 3 adapters of your choice, for free, upon purchase of one of their new USB-C Only laptops. If they can afford the humility of a free adapter in each iPhone 7, they can afford to do that.

For $500, this is a great idea. I wish they would. On top of that, they should engineer some way to bring MagSafe back in the form of an adapter. It just got a LOT more expensive to forget about that power cord, even once. My 2011 is still alive 20 times over because of that genius idea.

 

[Santabean2000]

No... what we are caught up in is a money grab from Apple. Since we all have laptops with the ports we find necessary, and likely a workflow built around that connectivity, changing out to a new laptop means either changing all other connective hardware or buying adapters to fit our workflow. If the necessary adapters were low cost or free, that would be less of a gripe. However, paying another $100 for adapters on top of the price of a laptop that is substantially more expensive than it ought to be is nothing less than a thumb in the eye.

Exactly. With the price of these MBPs, there should be a few dongles thrown in for 'free'.

 

[DanielDD]

Didn't know VGA + USB existed. It's expensive but now I don't need to buy two different adapters. Thank you MacRumors

 

[Cavepainter]

Well a lot of us do. I don't like carrying around a bulky computer.

Few of us ever need all those ports, particularly all at one time. I'd rather have a flexible port and carry the adapters I know I'll need when I travel with it rather than lug around a bunch of ports I'll never use or don't need that day.

With all due respect, Apple does make other laptops that are thinner and lighter for people that find those traits paramount. Perhaps one of those would be better suited to your needs.

I'm not sure what the difference is whether you "lug around a bunch of ports" or lug around a bunch of adapters. Only difference is you have to pay extra because adaptability isn't a built-in feature out of the box anymore- and its possible for you to forget something at home that will leave you SOL.

 

[ssgbryan]

Now that some PCs offer TB3 we will see more TB3 accessories such as external hard drives, which are great for fast backups. We might also finally see some decent external monitors with GPUs to satisfy those who want gaming while at their desktops.

Third times a charm, eh?

 

[Digital Skunk]

I think the problem many (especially professionals in various fields) have with the dongles is that we already have a drawer full of them for various other devices. Let's not forget that we have iPads that need AV adapters, card readers, and charge cables.

If you purchased a Macbook then you have a LOT of adapters that are ONLY USB C and can be used with the new MBP but aren't Thunderbolt 3. Also, while you can charge the nMBP off of the power adapter it's not recommended. If you bought a hub for Thunderbolt 1 devices you just finished replacing it with Thunderbolt 2 hubs, and now those hubs are going to be a headache since you have to get a dongle to connect it to your nMBP.

Lastly, as others have said, you have a few devices here and there that won't directly connect to your nMBP unless you get a dongle, and some of them won't connect at all (new Earpods).

Now, all that to say that I am not bothered by it at all. I've become numb to the fact that as an Apple user, I will need at least four or five dongles in my bag when I go on conferences and need to present, but not everyone shares that sentiment.

 

[SgtPepper12]

Oh come on guys, stop the whining.

How many actually have REAL-life experience? How many of you already use the retina Macbook? How many have used the Macbook Air of the first (or later) generation?

How often did you REALLY need adapters?

In almost 9 years of owning Macbook Airs, I've NEVER needed the ethernet adapter. I've used HDMI maybe once or twice. I needed an VGA adapter to connect my Macbook to projectors once in a while. I can't remember the last time I actually plugged in a USB thumbdrive. I use dropbox like almost always. I do use external drives quite frequently, but not really on the go, so a dock sitting on my desk or a teeny-tiny adapter will just be fine. I don't own cameras with SD, so I've been using external card readers since forever.

For me, nothing much will change. I look forward to just buying either a small dock or a bunch of USB-C to USB-A cables for my external drives.

Seriously, you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

I actually use my rMBP for work every day. I use the following ports, every day.

1. MagSafe (to charge, obv)
2. Thunderbolt for ethernet adapter so I can print at work and get my 100 MBit up/down (which I need)
3. Thunderbolt to plug-in my first monitor
4. USB to plug-in my keyboard
5. Headphone jack for, well, headphones so I don't annoy my coworkers.
6. HDMI for my second monitor

They are plugged in all the time. The only free ports are one USB port (which I need for the occasional USB stick) and the SD card reader (which I also often need to transfer data to a 3d printer).

My point is, people really DO need all those silly ports and if I wanted to have the same setup with the new rMBPs, things would turn pretty ugly. It's nice that you everything turns out nicely for you, but some of us really work with those devices and the massive downgrade is unacceptable for us.

 

[LotusLord]

I get the complaints to some extent however... The only adapter I can think of that they should have included is a C to A adapter. Why should they include a C to lightning cable? Not everyone has an iOS device. We knew there wouldn't be an ethernet port on it regardless, but there should be a C/TB ethernet adapter (I don't see one from Apple but there might be one). Including one C to A adapter would have solved most issues. On my giant, heavy HP Z Book, I use a Logitech USB dongle for my mouse and keyboard. I rarely ever actually bring those pieces of equipment with me anywhere so I could plug that dongle into my docking station at my desk. I almost never use any of the ports on the thing even when I am mobile, and when I do it's primarily to charge other devices. I suspect this laptop will push PC manufacturers to move to more USB C ports and fewer A ports more quickly. Outside of the need for adapters currently, almost everything about C is an improvement over A.

 

[jimbobb24]

The 2015 MacBook Pro is still an excellent machine.

It the thought of using adapters, such as Monoprice's $9 slim inline USB C to USB A adapter, or a cable with USB C on one end and USB A on the other would be too much to bear on a modern machine with incredible expansion and bandwidth possibilities, I'd go with the 2015 MacBook Pro.

I decided to buy one. I got a refurb. Just made more sense for my life. I will pick up the all new 2018 model next. I can live with an older model that fits my budget and minimal dongle life better.

 

[LordQ]

I understand that we can connect the Mac to a Display vía Apple TV wirelessly, or we can get our documents everywhere with iCloud. I understand and embrace the wireless future, but damn, a dongle to just charge/sync your iPhone with your Mac for $25 is ridiculous.

 

[Digital Dude]

Are you referring to potato cam?

Potato cam? Sorry, I didn't get the memo so I have no idea what that means. I was referring to the FaceTime cam on the MacBook computer. Poor resolution and very grainy!

 

[KiraDouji]

The iPhone to MBP connection is literally the only thing bothering me about the so-called donglepocolypse.

I know that iMac vs PC picture was meant to be tongue and cheek but let's be real here: my PC STILL looks like that... and it's part of the reason I'm perfectly find using a laptop that occasionally requires adapters. I mean, I've done the same thing for years with VGA/DVI/HDMI needs... and since 2011 with my MBA for ethernet (including setting up networks parttime!)

This really isn't such a terrible thing. 90% of the time, I'm only using the laptop anyway.

 

[needsomecoffee]

Look folks... Timmy, Jony, Eddie, Angie... they all have already banked f*** you money. Jony barely works. Timmy has his political agenda, Eddie hangs with Drake, Taylor, et. al. Angie stays a mystery. Love reading all the comments about how you all think the MBP design should care about consumers' current needs.That ship has sailed on the seas of a vastly immense sea of cash and option values. When you have f*** you money, the value to shareholders for making consumers happy takes a distant seat to the thrill of adopting the poseur's take on "we can lead the industry". What the f*** do they care about getting fired should the board ever actually care. Be thankful that the MBP is a hella good engineering design, and that it likely will retain its second-market sales value. Myself, I appraised the current MBP lineup, and bought the 2012 - the last truly expandable MBP. Since I am developer not a video fanatic, it is way more machine than I need (once I put 16 gig of RAM and a Samsung SSD in it). I asked the guy I bought it from to look for another pristine 2012. Eventually I will get a new MBP, but am happy Apple's quality of engineering makes the 2012 such a good option. Remember: F*** YOU money runs Apple now, so be careful and pick your opportunities to take advantage of their still-great parts/assembly engineering.

 

[macrushfan]

I have always been a hardcore Apple fan, but I am loosing faith. Too greedy.

 

[sir1963nz]

wow, change for the sake of change and screwing the customer in the process seems to be the new apple way of things.

Guess you are too young to remember SCSI cables, or the variations for serial cables, parallel port cables. They were far more expensive, far bulkier , slower, etc.

If you can't cope with technology changing, get out of the game.

 

[Ankaa]

I actually use my rMBP for work every day. I use the following ports, every day.

1. MagSafe (to charge, obv)
2. Thunderbolt for ethernet adapter so I can print at work and get my 100 MBit up/down (which I need)
3. Thunderbolt to plug-in my first monitor
4. USB to plug-in my keyboard
5. Headphone jack for, well, headphones so I don't annoy my coworkers.
6. HDMI for my second monitor

Maybe you should consider getting an iMac for work? I understand about the monitor...I do not understand abou the keyboard. So you're telling me you use an external keyboard but no external mouse/trackpad? Seems odd.

I have to use wired headphones at work and I HATE it. I get entangled in the cords all. the. time. I love wireless headphones.

I do print wirelessly.

Yes, I do miss magsafe. A lot. But that's really the only thing I'm a little sad about and I'm considering getting one of those magnetic adapters that are already out there (Griffin has one) and will probably pop up more pretty soon.

My point is, people really DO need all those silly ports and if I wanted to have the same setup with the new rMBPs, things would turn pretty ugly

But, WHY? I do get and understand that people do need the ports, but I still fail to see the BIG issue. You obviously need all those things at work. So what's the problem with having ONE dock set up at your workplace all the time and once you arrive at work plug in that dock? Easy-peasy.

So in the past you had a defined number of ports for each type. Now you get four ports that can be EVERYTHING you need them to be in the number you need them. Maybe some people need 2 HDMI instead of one, but never need USB A? You know what I mean?

 

[Digital Dude]

Probably because of
a) product development cycles.
b) power restraints
c) Chipsets available
d) Priorities, other new technologies were considered more important
e) User base (how many had a computer with USB-C ?)

All of the above was available for laptops/computers because of the their bigger power/size/support (from intel etc).

I am sure that the iPhone 7 was well over 80-90% of the way through its development by the time USB-C was ratified in 2014

Besides, next year Lightning is gone as well, provided we upgrade our phones that quickly.