3 is backwards compatible with 2 so there's literally no reason whatsoever to leave USB2 ports on
you just have the wrong cord
you just have the wrong cord
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
USB-C is the Future- but why not leave 2 USB ports?
- Thread starter gadgetfreaky
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think the commentary was about Type A vs Type C ports and leaving two (as in quantity 2) of the former to complement 2 of the latter.
Yeah there's no reason to ever do that. it's backwards compatible. If you need the old I/O socket shape, you just have the wrong cords...
The main point was that many of us find it nice to not need new cords or adapters.
We are not at (or anywhere close to) Type C plug ubiquity and thus it's a long road ahead of "adapting" when all you have are C ports.
It's not the end of the world - just an irritation and possibly a large one depending upon your situation.
[doublepost=1497156543][/doublepost]I have no clue why people defend Apple on this so much.
It is not some grand master plan to move tech forward.
This simply serves their own goals and likely lowers their own costs.
If they cared about standardization and moving things forward we would have all USB-C and no lightning. In that world however, all the nickel and dime lightning licensing and accessory fees wouldn't be there.
We know that bean counter Tim wouldn't have that!
Also, as well stated above, the confusion now appears to be their own with desktops getting a nice healthy mix of old/new ports. That would be nice to have on the new pro laptops as well.
See my view point on this whole thing is, its my choice to buy the equipment. I buy the equipment knowing what will be compatible. If I don't like it I have the choice to just not buy it. For me it is what it is I either adapt or I don't.
It is not the end of the world and I refuse to let myself get worked up over a cable.
I really am trying to live by the whole "don't sweat the small stuff" mantra.
It is not the end of the world and I refuse to let myself get worked up over a cable.
I really am trying to live by the whole "don't sweat the small stuff" mantra.
@William Payne
Fair point.
I think the counter argument it's just that:
"Was it really necessary to go all in with all the ports right now?"
Not on the iMac apparently. At least on the 15" Pro some variety wouldn't have hurt for now.
Fair point.
I think the counter argument it's just that:
"Was it really necessary to go all in with all the ports right now?"
Not on the iMac apparently. At least on the 15" Pro some variety wouldn't have hurt for now.
Was it necessary? no. Did they do it anyway? yes. Can we change it? no.
From a business standpoint the user should know how all their equipment plugs in. So when they buy a computer they should know what issues they will have with compatibility. So in this case when budgeting the money to upgrade to the new laptop, cords or dongles that may be required should be included in the users budget/business upgrade plan.
Well you could say that about just about everything…
Is it ok if we talk about it?
It is a discussion forum after all.
Yeah of course it is I thought we were talking about it?
[doublepost=1497157619][/doublepost]You will have to excuse me, I have gone through a few things in my life that have just changed my mindset where certain things just really aren't important in the grand scheme of things. As long as I wake up every day it is just not the end of the world.
But I will happily discuss it.
Why are we comparing thin and light laptop I/o with big chunky desktop I/o. Apple sent the message loud and clear with the Single port (!) MacBook. They even told us this in a keynote.
If some of the people here designed the MBP wow... pretty sure we'd still have floppy disks, cd drives, serial ports and FW400 shipped fresh with every 2017 MacBook Pro. No thanks. I'm glad to live in a time when this stuff is optional if other people need it.
Because Apple doesn't look at it that way.
If they thought USB-C was literally all you need and "just adapt", they would have gone all C ports even on the iMac (which to be fair is also somewhat aimed at being sexy and thin).
It's very possible this was somewhat of a backtrack based on feedback… If you think about that LG monitor they collaborated on, that has only USB C ports which is a touch odd for a docking station type situation and now we have the iMac going in the opposite direction and offering a full array.
...
So you assert that the design considerations made for a thin and light notebook should, somehow, influence the options for a completely different product/form factor/audience and the lack thereof indicates confusion on the part of both product lines?
All right man, have a good evening.
I'm not talking about the 12 inch MacBook…
There's plenty of room for USB-A ports on 15 inch laptops.
You have a good evening as well.
To me, the fact that they added usb type-a ports on the iMac was very disappointing. I think they just caved in under pressure.
Which is a shame. Now the questions about MBP ports become more justified: seriously, Apple, if you are NOT fully invested in usb C (which I hoped you are), just why didn't you include a few of the old ones on the new MBP?
Still, like others have said, this is a really small issue, you need a few adapters or cables, people should really give it a rest already.
[doublepost=1497165427][/doublepost]
I'm not a computer engineer, but I gurss it's not all about physical dimensions of the computer. There are data lanes, internal components, no idea. Perhaps someone here could enlighten us. But I don't think it's as simple as "you have space here, just drill a hole". Port placement in smaller devices is a challenge. I'm not saying they couldn't do it, but as I said, I never saw a 15" laptop with 6 USB ports before (and adding 2 usb-a would make it 6 in total) even though there was always space for more than the standard 2-3 that most laptops come with. Maybe there's a reason beyond "there's enough room".
Last edited:
My viewpoint on the iMac pro having both ports is...... who cares? If you have invested in usb-c due to the MacBook pro then just use those ports.
Exactly even the upcoming iMac Pro has USB A & SD Card slot, yet the portable Mac's are being stripped of these and more highly relevant ports. For those of us on the go it's just adding more to deal with, nor are USB C dongles 100% reliable; locking up and refusing to connect. Thankfully Apple looks to be "waking up" to it's professional communities needs. Professionals look for hardware with the most flexibility & usability, not constraints.
Very much agree going USB C serves Apple supply chain & manufacturing very neatly; less components, reduced production costs. Apple cares solely about one thing $$$$ anyone thinking different good luck.
Common sense dictates that for the next 1-2 iterations the MBP should have carried over the exiting ports adding USB C/TB-3 to strengthen the mix until USB C far more wide spread. Personally I am not willing to pay a premium price for hardware that now inconveniences me and potentially disrupts my workflow, nor are many others. I have had more issue with my 2015 rMB in the last 25 months with wired connectivity than I have with the other 20 years plus of the Mac. Cables & adapter are one thing, dongles with logic onboard just another layer of complexity and the potential for failure to connect.
From my experience in the engineering & business realms there is near zero impudence to implement USB C. Major multinational companies are simply not going move all to USB C in quicktime as for the majority of their users they have absolutely zero requirement.
Q-6
so true, from mental perspective. Agree 1000%
[doublepost=1497172909][/doublepost]i think if apple stood with usb-A, the transaction will took a lot longer
I think the reason here is they already have the result they wanted with the MBP in that accessory makers have to make usb c or thunderbolt 3 devices or lose out on that market and it's working by the amount of docks and accessories that are coming out. Sure they could have doubled down with the desktops but they are already getting those accessories due to the MBP so I'm not sure that doubling down on desktops would have changed things all that much. So the benefit is much lower and if they continue with only having one kind of port on the desktop I think the blow back would have been much worse since there is no space constraint. So I don't think the benefit was there in a significant way but the cost in backlash would have been significantly higher. Apple would have probably made the stand on the basis of driving adoption of usb c thunderbolt 3 but since they are already getting that with effect with the MBP so I don't think the urgency is there on the desktops.
Yeah Apple has included ports purely for compatibility in the past, so this sudden transition was unnecessary and alienating.
I don't think there should be 2 USB-A ports, just 1. And keep the SD card slot. Then most people wouldn't have an issue I think, and it would be an almost obvious choice to go with the newer models vs the old design.
Implementing a USB-C port would, however, cause design issues and stuff that Jony Ive wouldn't be happy with - He definitely played a role in the USB-C only MacBooks.
Honestly, the current setup with a USB-A port and SD card slot would be ideal. They could even say "this is the last MacBook Pro design with USB-A" to warn people ahead of time.
Or maybe to get people adjusted, they could have transitioned over on the other designs - replacing HDMI, Thunderbolt, and a USB-A port to Thunderbolt 3. If they did that with the 2015, it would have given people almost 2 years to adjust.
I don't think there should be 2 USB-A ports, just 1. And keep the SD card slot. Then most people wouldn't have an issue I think, and it would be an almost obvious choice to go with the newer models vs the old design.
Implementing a USB-C port would, however, cause design issues and stuff that Jony Ive wouldn't be happy with - He definitely played a role in the USB-C only MacBooks.
Honestly, the current setup with a USB-A port and SD card slot would be ideal. They could even say "this is the last MacBook Pro design with USB-A" to warn people ahead of time.
Or maybe to get people adjusted, they could have transitioned over on the other designs - replacing HDMI, Thunderbolt, and a USB-A port to Thunderbolt 3. If they did that with the 2015, it would have given people almost 2 years to adjust.
This is why USB-C is the best connector. I do not need HDMI. Why would I need that port on my laptop? If you need it, you can get it by USB-C. I need two DisplayPorts. I can get that through USB-C. If you do not need two big boy DisplayPorts, you do not need to have those "useless" ports. I do not need USB-A. If you do, you can get that through USB-C. USB-C can be converted to anything you need.
[doublepost=1497186617][/doublepost]
We are already in a bad situation USB wise. I do not know why people think this is different. The past few times I have purchased a printer, it did not come with a USB cable. Guess what the printers use? USB-B.
We have USB 2.0 Type B, USB 3.0 Type B, USB 2.0 Micro-B, USB 3.0 Micro-B, USB-A, Mini USB-A, Mini USB-B, Micro-A.
So we are ALREADY in this situation where if I need to buy a cable for my printer, or an old phone, or pretty much anything, I need to get it from one of those connectors to either USB-A or USB-C.
Just get a very very very ($2) cheap adapter to convert USB-C to USB-A and be done with it. It will not bring your $1,500+ laptop to over $2,000 due to adapters. $2 is all you need to spend. You do not need to buy Apple branded adapters and cables anymore. That is the great thing about USB-C. I got 10 cables from Monoprice for the price of one Apple adapter.
Um...were you around when people HATED Apple for changing the 30 pin to lightning? ALL those accessories that people bought were useless once Apple released Lightning. USB-C was not available at the time Lightning was introduced.
I do not understand why people fail to understand WHY Apple might not want to change from Lightning to USB-C. It will be another massive outcry that all your accessories and your dozens of lightning cables are suddenly useless.
Maybe because these systems have enough power in them to support MUCH MORE ports. It is not shocking at all that a desktop has more ports than a laptop. Why are you guys so surprised by this? My motherboard I got in 2015 at $250 came with a PS/2 connector! It has 14 USB ports. Obviously a laptop cannot have 14 ports. So yes, a desktop can support more ports, I do not know why it is so shocking that they kept USB-A in them. There are new motherboards that still come with USB 2.0.
Thunderbolt 3 is USB-C. What did you expect Apple to do, keep Thunderbolt 2 in the 2017 iMacs?
Last edited:
https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapte...&qid=1497187685&sr=1-8&keywords=usb-c+adapter
I don't know why people who have accessories with USB-A cables don't just buy a couple of those and leave them attached to their device/cable. It can effectively convert USB-A cables and devices into USB-C ones. I can imagine there being a few scenarios where that may not work, but for most it should. Anyway, good riddance. When compared to the high powered, high throughput, and superior functionality of USB-C, it becomes quite obvious that it's a relic of the 90's that should have been replaced years ago. Apple was on the right track when they came out with Lightning, not sure what took USB-IF so long. Now where did I put that fax machine?
I don't know why people who have accessories with USB-A cables don't just buy a couple of those and leave them attached to their device/cable. It can effectively convert USB-A cables and devices into USB-C ones. I can imagine there being a few scenarios where that may not work, but for most it should. Anyway, good riddance. When compared to the high powered, high throughput, and superior functionality of USB-C, it becomes quite obvious that it's a relic of the 90's that should have been replaced years ago. Apple was on the right track when they came out with Lightning, not sure what took USB-IF so long. Now where did I put that fax machine?
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Still its the other side of the cable that connects to the computer, so it makes no difference if the phone is lightning or usbc..................
It's easy managed if you control the environment, however if you are not able it's very far from foolproof as even with Apple's own adaptors and dongles connectivity is not guaranteed. This for me is not acceptable, being very much a retrograde step, as I never incurred such issues prior to Apple's implementation of USB C. Given I work globally as a consultant, not simply going from A to B you may be able to grasp the magnitude of the situation, it's hardly professional to not be able to accomplish your task due to your own hardware not being able to connect.
Adaptors & Dongles are now an aspect of computing on the go, equally one does want to look to keep the number to a minimum, not the inverse where for literally every connection one or the other will be required. I am far from being against USB C, more Apple's rather poor implementation, which is mostly self-serving.
Had Apple simple updated the chassis and offered two USB C/TB-3 in place of TB-2 I seriously doubt few would be unhappy given the significant bandwidth offered by TB-3, nor would this have alienated a good number of professional users. To date I have not met anyone willing to consider one outside of this forum, between the ports, keyboard, Touch Bar & battery capacity. Some have tried with all returned; majority are engineers & designers now either holding on to current hardware and or looking to switch platforms.
Ultimately as my systems are a significant aspect of revenue, I am always going to look for the best compromise in a notebook and or a specific high value feature. Apple was once the default provider, this longer applies. People should also consider those where it simply "doesn't work" nor does Apple offer any realistic alternatives.
I can see how the 2016 MBP can work for some, equally others seem to find it impossible that others are now impinged by what is basically a design to WOW the public, and reduce Apple's production costs...
Q-6
[doublepost=1497190754][/doublepost]
Very simple answer - Apple will loose significant licensing revenue by switching IOS devices to USB C Outcry
Apple could careless unless it observes a negative trend in sales. Apple is about tying devices together forcing the purchase of additional peripherals that they produce for cents on the dollar. as Apple is solely about $$$$ these days.I firmly believe Apple's "new found" enthusiasm with the Mac is driven by the hostility of the tech press and the loss of professional users, which Apple desperately needs for the "kudos" and "halo" effect to maintain the RDF with the average users...
Q-6