Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

KPOM said:
I get it, but at the same time never expected Apple to provide the adapters in the box given their history. I do think the MacBook Pro line is about $200 overpriced, but we'll see how consumers react. I doubt it will be as vociferous as we're seeing in the comment boards. That seems to be a small but vocal community creating a lot of noise. Many people aren't going to need the Thunderbolt 2 adapter. The USB-C to A adapters are relatively inexpensive and there are third party options. And adapters were already required for Ethernet and VGA (the latter of which I see all the time).

Also Sandisk makes a USB-C flash drive that has a USB-A plug on the other end. It is quite handy.
Click to expand...
I remember when the iPhone 2G first came out. Actually included a dock in the box.

It seems the new MacBook Pros no longer come with extension cables. Surely they could have squeezed in some adaptors instead?
 
dv8r said:
Don't kid yourself, there is still plenty of VGA connections out there, and we have had HDMI for more than 10 years. The "in time" bit could easily be more than five years ahead - until then it's dongle mania. So why punish people?
Click to expand...

It's not a matter of penalizing people but instead trying to push the market forward. VGA required an adapter on the 2012-2015 MacBook Pro. It still does (just a different one). HDMI is specifically built into the USB-C protocol, so we'll see lots of USB-C to HDMI adapters and cables from different suppliers. HDMI plugs (and regular DisplayPort) tend to be big and bulky, so in that respect I prefer an adapter since the mini-cable is more flexible.
 
KPOM said:
I get it, but at the same time never expected Apple to provide the adapters in the box given their history. I do think the MacBook Pro line is about $200 overpriced, but we'll see how consumers react. I doubt it will be as vociferous as we're seeing in the comment boards. That seems to be a small but vocal community creating a lot of noise. Many people aren't going to need the Thunderbolt 2 adapter. The USB-C to A adapters are relatively inexpensive and there are third party options. And adapters were already required for Ethernet and VGA (the latter of which I see all the time).

Also Sandisk makes a USB-C flash drive that has a USB-A plug on the other end. It is quite handy.
Click to expand...

But recent history with the iPhone 7 had changed things, where they provided the Lightning/3.5 jack dongle in the box when most people thought they wouldn't......
 
Eduardo Forneck said:
basic adaptors should at least come in the box
Click to expand...

I'd expect Apple to make a port hub and not rely on all these third party vendors. Keep in mind, these accessories won't be any faster if you're using adapters. Right now it's just annoying. One such port on the Mac would've been fine. Not all 4. And taking away the sd slot stinks as well.
 
Suckfest 9001 said:
And in the process angered professionals whose environments are still filled with USB-A and who (understandably) do not want to carry around dongles all day.

Things would be pretty different had Apple decided to bundle A-to-C adapters in the box. It wouldn't have completely fixed the problem here, but it would have made people a lot less bitter, since they don't have to spend hundreds more ontop of the already ridiculous prices in order to get back the I/O that they already had in the first place.
Click to expand...
Now you are mixing and matching. It isn't "hundreds more" to get back the USB-A functionality. It's $38 if you go with Apple and as little as $14 if you get 2 of the buds I got on Amazon that work just fine. Few people, even "pros" needed all the ports that were on the older models.
 
  • Like
Reactions: clwolf
Feenician said:
And when I graduated they taught me the difference between "everyone" and "every one"
Click to expand...

I just thought it was funny that you were called a third grader in one post and a high school several posts later by the same person. In another 20 minutes you'll have a doctoral degree. Maybe Suckfest 9001 will hire you to work for his professional company. Be warned, you'll need a million dongles!
 
  • Like
Reactions: clwolf and Feenician
Ankaa said:
Soooo...what about ALL the OTHER people who may have different needs?

Goosh, seriously o_O
Click to expand...
That's why the MBP always had a nice assortment of ports that covered different connectivity needs ... until now. This year's model apparently targets a different demographic (and Apple even bills the entry-level MBP as a replacement for the Air), and Apple is now driven by bean counters who like to nickle and dime their customers with an assortment of dongles instead.
 
cardfan said:
I'd expect Apple to make a port hub and not rely on all these third party vendors. Keep in mind, these accessories won't be any faster if you're using adapters. Right now it's just annoying. One such port on the Mac would've been fine. Not all 4. And taking away the sd slot stinks as well.
Click to expand...

Yup, I have 1TB SSD on my 2014 13" but still enjoy my 128GB JetDrive as a dumping ground.
 
sir1963nz said:
Hope you have a spare computer in case that breaks and a spare car incase that breaks, oh and a spare house too.

Stop the histrionic "as seen on tv" crap
Click to expand...
Lol... No need to go to that extreme. If the computer breaks I'd call it a day and go to early happy hour. If the dock breaks I'd be pissed as I could have done some work if not for that little thing!

I get it that you like Apple and their products but don't pretend that the dock is godsent and some of us are such cavemen for not buying in!
 
MrGimper said:
But recent history with the iPhone 7 had changed things, where they provided the Lightning/3.5 jack dongle in the box when most people thought they wouldn't......
Click to expand...
That's one adapter for a single port. I'm surprised they did, since they are also selling the adapter at little markup.
 
Shanley said:
I just thought it was funny that you were called a third grader in one post and a high school several posts later by the same person. In another 20 minutes you'll have a doctoral degree. Maybe Suckfest 9001 will hire you to work for his professional company. Be warned, you'll need a million dongles!
Click to expand...

Ah, my bad. Misunderstood you and had tuned out his insults by that point. I think we're in for a bout of "holding breath until he turns blue" before this thread is out.
 
KPOM said:
Now you are mixing and matching. It isn't "hundreds more" to get back the USB-A functionality. It's $38 if you go with Apple and as little as $14 if you get 2 of the buds I got on Amazon that work just fine. Few people, even "pros" needed all the ports that were on the older models.
Click to expand...
No, if you read carefully, I said "to get back the I/O that they already had in the first place."

I know, for most people, a few USB-A adaptors would be enough. But this is a "Pro" laptop, is it not?
 
swester said:
At this point, Apple should open up a line of sub-branded retail shops that just sell the dongles. They could make them in different colors, with special U2 editions!
Click to expand...

I think Apple should start an Apple Express Store, a vending machine with all these dongles. They should be installed at every airport terminal and 3-star or above hotel around the world and eventually expand to every convenience store. They should offer Apple Loyalty Points commensurate with the amount of money that one spends on the dongles.

Third party dongles should be detected by the laptop and cause the laptop to lock up to protect itself from any potential damage; the Apple Store will unlock it for a $50 fee.
 
Shanley said:
I just thought it was funny that you were called a third grader in one post and a high school several posts later by the same person. In another 20 minutes you'll have a doctoral degree. Maybe Suckfest 9001 will hire you to work for his professional company. Be warned, you'll need a million dongles!
Click to expand...
It's really sad that these forums have members like this who jump in and poke fun at others in the middle of a discussion. You're not impressing anyone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HappyMacGuy
Altis said:
Nothing says "Pro" like showing up to a job with a handful of adapters and dongles.
Click to expand...

So true, it's cool that Apple can "simplify" their design but you have to carry a bag full of adapters to do anything.

And people will still be using USB thumb drives for the next 5 years, especially clients over 40 years old
 
  • Like
Reactions: Altis
wozmatic said:
So true, it's cool that Apple can "simplify" their design but you have to carry a bag full of adapters to do anything.

And people will still be using USB thumb drives for the next 5 years, especially clients over 40 years old
Click to expand...
Exactly. I keep picturing scenarios like a friend wanting to share files with you when you're out and about, but too bad because they don't have a USB-C flash drive (which aren't even close to mainstream) and you don't happen to have the right adaptor.
 
sir1963nz said:
Its going in a direction you dont like.
And instead of charging ALL users for ports they will never use, they charge the few people who need them, and because USB-C is a standard, you a free to buy them from anyone who makes them, this is NOT apple propriety, and given that Apple charges more than other places they are unlikely to see a dime from the majority of cable sales.
Click to expand...

Since when did USB-C become a standard? Microsoft doesn't have a single USB-C port for their new Surface line. And a lot of laptops that do have USB-C ports only support speeds up to 5 Gbps or something. Not even across Apple's own lineup has it become a standard...

EDIT: Oops, I misinterpreted your use of the word "standard". Yes, USB-C is a standard. Just not the way I thought you meant. Apologies.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back