Why Apple couldn't (shouldn't) include USB-A

[aoaaron]

usb-c is already here if you havent noticed, apple just jumped with it like others have done and will do. apples influence? masses dont use apple devices.. it is negligible.

but thank god apple is using standard usbc - like others do - and you have many options of devices which are able to work with your apple device.

Maybe on high end devices but for a huge proportion of the population of computing systems.. just simply no. USB-C is new tech apple are trying to push.

I'm a doctor at a hospital. All our PCs in work still have USB-A ports. I don't think we have any frontline computing systems with even one USB-C port. My PS4 still has a USB port. My Gaming rig still has USB-A ports on the front...

I can understand trying to remove outdated underused tech, I'm a fan of it. But USB-C simply isn't anywhere near the standard for most people and trying to remove it this early is nothing more than a bad-call. Of course you can get a dongle to workaround the issue but the associated philosophy of apple and MacBooks aren't about work arounds. Its meant to just work.

Apple did this with thunderbolt. They tried to push it and some people adopted. However I know many many many people who stuck with their SD cards and USB devices because they're cheap, plentiful and convenient. The apple eco system is already fairly narrow... but to narrow it down to even USB devices I can or can't use just doesn't appeal to me.



Like I've said, I think the OS is still beautiful and awesome. I'm hoping for an update to the iMac and/or mac mini and I'll stay in the apple ecosystem for a bit longer but the days where I spend £2000+ on a apple laptop is over.



I have zero issue with USB-C and I doubt others do too. I have issues with dropping SD card slot, HDMI port and USB-A.. along with getting rid of a superior charging solution. That isn't even touching on the awful non premium feeling keyboard of the butterfly switches. If I wanted a gimped up laptop with compromises, I'd buy a macbook air or macbook. Really don't expect this from what I feel the macbook pro line was under Steve Jobs.


In 5-10 years time, people will look back and possibly the SD card slot and USB-A will be obsolete... but thats a long time away.

 

[aevan]

So much wrong here.

I know trying to make sense and defend apple given their track record over the past decade or two feels like a reflex but what they've done with the new MBP is illustrate how of out touch they are with the professional market.

Quite the oposite, really - I haven't seen a single professional making a living from their Macs havig a huge issue over this. The only ones having problems are so called "power-users", people refusing to buy a few new cables or adapters.

 

[0388279]

Masocism Tango.

With absolutely no apologies to Tom Leher.

Donald Barar

 

[protoxx]

Said with absolutely no apologies to Tom Leher.

Donald Barar

We are the Apple army
Everyone of us computes
We all hate Ports, Windows and Usability
Unlike the rest or you squares
There innocuous computers, Yeah
But we regard them with scorn
The folks who use them have no social conscience
They don't even care if Steve wrote code

If you feel dissatisfaction
Twitter your frustrations away
Some people may prefer action
But give me a Facebook post any old day

The keyboard don't have to be usable
And if it don't mater if you remove a row of keys from the keyboard
It looks more hipster if it ain't good ergonomics
And it don't even gotta boot
Excuse me ding

Remember the war against Microsoft
that's the kind where each of us belongs
Though they may of made all the money
We had all the cool dongles

So join in the Apple army
iPhones are the weapons we bring
To the fight against Ports, Windows and Usability
Ready....Aim....Post

Not that's with apologies to Tom Leher.

 

[cmaier]

That's just it:

Under Steve Jobs, Apple was willing to try new things, even if it falls flat on his face.

Under Tim Cook, Apple has becomes risk averse and focuses entirely on profit.

Apple just dropped MagSafe and all legacy ports and replaced them with a port that isn't yet ubiquitous in the industry. Seems pretty risky to me.

 

[protoxx]

Apple just dropped MagSafe and all legacy ports and replaced them with a port that isn't yet ubiquitous in the industry. Seems pretty risky to me.

I suspect we are finding out that Steve was actually stabilizing influence keeping rein on Jony from going to far.

 

[bruinsrme]

The form factor has a lot to do with the ports provided.
Thin was more important than legacy

 

[protoxx]

The form factor has a lot to do with the ports provided.
Thin was more important than legacy

Thin was more important than usability.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Rafterman]

Macs hold an about 8 percent share in the world operating system market.

Hardly influential. I personally prefer MacOS, but I don't delude myself into thinking the Mac line of computer is lighting the world on fire.

 

[cmaier]

Macs hold an about 8 percent share in the world operating system market.

Hardly influential. I personally prefer MacOS, but I don't delude myself into thinking the Mac line of computer is lighting the world on fire.

Macs are on of the best selling lines of computer. And Mac users tend to spend more money than users of windows machines. So peripheral makers certainly take those factors into account.

 

[aevan]

Macs hold an about 8 percent share in the world operating system market.

Hardly influential. I personally prefer MacOS, but I don't delude myself into thinking the Mac line of computer is lighting the world on fire.

1. Apple is the single most profitable PC manufacturer in the world, earns more than top 5 PC manufacturers combined (and that's just counting Mac profits, of course)
2. Apple is influental. Other companies follow the trends they set. Even Microsoft. Everything Dell and HP and Lenovo did in the past few years is directly or indirectly influenced by Apple designs.
3. On the outside and in the short term, some companies may ridicule Apple's decision to throw out ports, but be sure their design teams are taking a good look at the new MacBook Pros and not laughing. Who thinks Apple didn't just single-handedly push the USB-C adoption 5 to 10 years earlier, is severly biased against Apple.
4. You can argue that Apple is taking some ideas from Microsoft too - that may be. But far less than people think, because what Apple does is sometimes adapt to the needs of the market. Apple is not some divine force, they are influenced and shaped by the changes in the market too. But instead of just adapting to the flow, like everyone else, they also change it (sometimes even going directly against the current - like they did with the ports) with a level of stubborness they had since Steve Jobs. Some people call that arrogance, some courage. Either way, it is strength.
5. Love them or hate them, MacBook Pros are going to sell a lot, more than any other pro laptop on the market. When the anger and hate subsides, Dell is going to come out with their own replica, a thinner laptop for power-users that only has USB-C ports. At the same time, Apple will be designing a wireless only laptop and the cycle will continue. In the words of Battestar Galactica: all of this has happened before, and it will all happen again.

 

[aoaaron]

Quite the oposite, really - I haven't seen a single professional making a living from their Macs havig a huge issue over this. The only ones having problems are so called "power-users", people refusing to buy a few new cables or adapters.

Yes because there are workarounds. No one is saying the changes make MacBooks impossible to work with, just much more unattractive.

Compromises in keyboard quality, dongles etc. Its just not intuitive and simple like what I associate with a macbook pro.

 

[Goratrix]

When the anger and hate subsides, Dell is going to come out with their own replica, a thinner laptop for power-users that only has USB-C ports.

That makes zero sense. Dell already has laptops in the same spec category and same build as the Macbook "Pro" (XPS 13 and XPS 15), and futhermore, they also have a true Pro line of laptops, way more powerful than anything Apple can offer to actual power users (the Precision mobile workstations).

 

[Rigby]

The form factor has a lot to do with the ports provided.
Thin was more important than legacy

The new MBP has a height of about 15mm. A USB-A port has a height of about 5mm. They could have easily designed the case to fit the port if they had wanted to. This is not an ultraportable.

 

[bruinsrme]

The new MBP has a height of about 15mm. A USB-A port has a height of about 5mm. They could have easily designed the case to fit the port if they had wanted to. This is not an ultraportable.

That's the thing, they didn't want to.

 

[0388279]

We are the Apple army
Everyone of us computes
We all hate Ports, Windows and Usability
Unlike the rest or you squares
There innocuous computers, Yeah
But we regard them with scorn
The folks who use them have no social conscience
They don't even care if Steve wrote code

Not that's with apologies to Tom Leher.

Hi Protoxx,

Cleverly done rework of Tom Lehrer"s "Folk Song Army". Would love to hear on Tom's "86 string guitar".

Cheers,

Donald Barar

 

[Rigby]

That's the thing, they didn't want to.

Let me rephrase: They could have easily integrated a type A port without changing the overall form factor.

 

[maratus]

I've already been doing that for awhile now since I don't have an HDMI, VGA, or Ethernet port for my Air and I've needed these dongles in various situations.

Neither did we, except for the HDMI. I still need VGA, Ethernet, FW800 and DVI dongles.

Almost all my USB-A devices aren't exactly USB-A. They are mostly micro-USB 3.0 or micro-USB 2.0 or USB-B with appropriate USB-A cables (which I have a **** ton). I only have 1 microSDXC reader with explicit USB-A connector. So I need to replace all the cable and also buy an adapter....
I'm going to miss the SD card slot too

I'm afraid that certain Windows manufactures will decide to copy Apple and get rid of USB-A (on devices like thin tablets)

 

[Domen151]

I don't think that in a year or two USB-A ports will be forgotten, perhaps in 4-5 years but not sooner. Apple still sells laptops with USB-A and other manufacturers will continue releasing new ones with it - probably alongside USB-C ports.

 

[protoxx]

Hi Protoxx,

Cleverly done rework of Tom Lehrer"s "Folk Song Army". Would love to hear on Tom's "86 string guitar".

Cheers,

Donald Barar

Apple,
Give me Apple and nothing but,
A tiny keyboard I can't type on,
If it's butterfly and un...use.........able,
I've never quibbled if it was from Apple,
I would pre-order, where others merely shop,

As the Genius remarked the day he upsold my aunt Hortence,
To be Apple it must be ut...terly without redeeming social importance,

For...the graphic pictures I adore,
Indecent selfies galore,
I like them more if they're Apple Core,

Bring on the obscene prices, dongles, displays, headphones, cables, Air Port routers, tattoos anything,
More!, More!, I'm still not satisfied,
Stories of dongles used by fanboys,
Firewire, lightning and usb-c,
Make me smile,

Notebooks that pander to my taste for esthetics,
Give me a pleasure sublime,
Lets face it I love cables,

All Macbooks can be OverpricedBooks though recent Macbooks are more expensive,
For filth I'm glad to say is in the mind of the fanboy,

When correctly viewed,
Pricing is lewd,
I can tell you things about Steve Jobs,
And the Woz of Cupertino...theres a dirty old man

I thrill to any book about Steve Jobs,
And I suppose I alway will,
If it is swill and really,
Fan....boy,

Who needs a hobby,
Like girls or sports,
I've got a hobby re-reading the help pages,

But now there trying to give us more ports,
Unless, unless we take a stand and hand in hand,
We fight for tyranny of the ports,

In other words,
Apple, I love it,
Ahh, the adventures of a fanboy,
Oh, I'm a market they can't glut,
I don't know what compares with Apple,
Hipster, Hipster, Hooray,
Lets her it for Cupertino,
Don't let them give us more ports

 

[Ethosik]

I agree. We still get new windows laptops at work that have VGA out.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Apple is incredibly influential. By adding USB-C ports, Apple will have the industry supporting USB-C en masse. BUT, if Apple had included even a single USB-A port, the industry would have seen that USB-A was still an option -- and stuck with it.

MacBook Pro's only use USB-C -- guess we need USB-C supported hardware. USB-C is probably a bit more expensive to support; and, therefore, wouldn't be anyone's first option.

If Apple had even a single USB-A port, everyone would have continued with business as usual. Also, the rabble on MR would have just bitched that there was only one USB-A port.

There's been Thunderbolt connections for YEARS -- but, next to the TB2 connection was a USB3.0 port. Hardly anyone supported the TB2. TB2 is MUCH better than USB3, way faster, works over 100's of feet (optically), etc.. But, no one supported it -- and why bother? There's a USB port millimeters away.

This time, Apple wanted to be SURE that they could put the nail into USB-A. They just simply removed it. Like the Floppy before it, and the CD/DVD too, the old USB port is dead.

Apple's done us a huge favor. They've helped move the goal posts to where they should be. Yeah, it's painful right now, but in a year or two, USB-A will be a distant memory. Thank goodness.

Or they could have kept the USB-A style port and made it as fast as USB-C and made it backwards compatible. In fact they did that before when USB 2.0 and 3.0 where introduced as they are both backwards compatible. What a concept. Saves everyone a headache.

 

[Ethosik]

Thin was more important than usability.

Fixed that for you.

These aren't single use ports. They offer charging, video out, and data. They are MORE usable. They DO offer USB A with an adapter. How is usability sacrificed when these ports do MORE?
[doublepost=1478460445][/doublepost]

Or they could have kept the USB-A style port and made it as fast as USB-C and made it backwards compatible. In fact they did that before when USB 2.0 and 3.0 where introduced as they are both backwards compatible. What a concept. Saves everyone a headache.

I don't think USB A can support the newest USB version

 

[cmaier]

These aren't single use ports. They offer charging, video out, and data. They are MORE usable. They DO offer USB A with an adapter. How is usability sacrificed when these ports do MORE?
[doublepost=1478460445][/doublepost]

I don't think USB A can support the newest USB version

Certainly not the TB3 stuff.

 

[idunn]

If Apple had even a single USB-A port, everyone would have continued with business as usual. Also, the rabble on MR would have just bitched that there was only one USB-A port.

Yes, I would have, and rightly so. As a 'professional' laptop, they should have retained all the necessary legacy ports, then as a welcome advancement added USB-C to the mix.

I understand your proposition, and perhaps you are correct. But even if so, Apple at minimum is putting its customers through a lot of trouble and expense for this supposed advancement, should it materialize in the near term.

My crystal ball says otherwise. That this wholesale switch to only USB-C is a needless complication. All the more as the greater market will not be swayed by Apple's decision in this. As some example witness the advent of the rMB with but a single USB-C port in March 2015, with as well Apple's prompting in suggesting this was the future of their laptops. Today what are one's option with USB-C other than largely a bunch of oft incompatible dongles?

I'd also suggest that USB-C isn't all that great a connection. In example in part, it has none of the polish, flair, ease or utility of MagSafe. If one is going to be subjected to one common port then at least it should be a pleasure to use, let alone function seamlessly.

So, no, Apple should have retained USB-A because I like it; I use it all the time and need it. Simple as that, and because I am likely not alone in such sentiment.

There are times when the past need be abruptly left behind. This was not one. There is a lot to be said for smooth transitions.