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

[BorderingOn]

Okay, this. Did he personally tell you this? People are going all over the place repeating "Jobs would never do this or that". You do not and never will know what Jobs would have really wanted in future Apple products. He's gone, get over it already.

It's incredible that Jobs was such a visionary that there's no wan Apple can survive without him yet every other forum commenter believes he/she knows exactly what he would / would not do!

 

[dukebound85]

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.

Stopped reading right here as this is false time and time again.

Thunderbolt, firewire, appletalk, lightning, are just a few "standards" apple tried to mass market and never caught on. Incredibly influential whatever

 

[cmaier]

Stopped reading right here as this is false time and time again.

Thunderbolt, firewire, appletalk, lightning, are just a few "standards" apple tried to mass market and never caught on. Incredibly influential whatever

Actually this PROVES his point (putting aside lightning, which apple never tried to make a standard and, in fact, refuses to license, and appletalk which is a pretty dated reference and one that predates the point at which apple was actually successful and influential)

If the ONLY ports on macs were thunderbolt, you can bet that would have made a dent.

 

[dukebound85]

Actually this PROVES his point (putting aside lightning, which apple never tried to make a standard and, in fact, refuses to license, and appletalk which is a pretty dated reference and one that predates the point at which apple was actually successful and influential)

If the ONLY ports on macs were thunderbolt, you can bet that would have made a dent.

Explain how this proves his point when the past efforts never caught on like apple hoped?

 

[cmaier]

Explain how this proves his point when the past efforts never caught on like apple hoped?

I just did. He is saying that in order for the effort to work Apple needs to include ONLY USB-C ports. Each of the things you list were situations where apple ALSO supported other ports.

 

[protoxx]

Actually this PROVES his point (putting aside lightning, which apple never tried to make a standard and, in fact, refuses to license, and appletalk which is a pretty dated reference and one that predates the point at which apple was actually successful and influential)

If the ONLY ports on macs were thunderbolt, you can bet that would have made a dent.

That is a laughable assesment.

Apple was quite influential in the days of apple talk. Ever hear of MS Windows? Interesting point was that at one point apple talk was the most widely used network, sort of. Most installations and nodes by wide margin because every mac w/ a printer used appletalk to communicate to printer.

If apple only included thunderbolt ports the only dent would of been in apple sales.

 

[aevan]

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).

I meant USB-C only laptops. Just as MacBook Air defined what an ultrabook is supposed to look like and was heavily criticized at the time.

Apple doesn't offer all categories of products and never has. I don't know what are "actual power users" - that's a very relative term.

Either way, Apple influenced Dell, not the other way around. Just as Microsoft is doing today with the Surface Studio. Surprise, surprise - Dell announced a touch-desktop with a pen and something almost identical to the Surface Dial.

In other words - Dell is taking a very good look at the new MacBook Pros and paying attention very closely. And they are not reading forums or listening to angry bloggers, they are looking at sales. And taking notes. This is their (somewhat succesful) business model. Trust me.

 

[dukebound85]

I just did. He is saying that in order for the effort to work Apple needs to include ONLY USB-C ports. Each of the things you list were situations where apple ALSO supported other ports.

I recall the first few iPod gens being firewire only at first.

 

[protoxx]

I recall the first few iPod gens being firewire only at first.

Also iTunes was also on Mac operating systems. That limited sales. Wasn't until they added a windows version that true mass sales began. Also interesting fact: for a while ipods came with both Firewire and USB cables.
[doublepost=1478466684][/doublepost]You should also follow the money looking for motivation. The industry standards iee1394 aka Firewire, usb X.x, Thunderbolt X.x, etc. still have to be licensed and have a royalty associated. The standards organization acts to amalgamate the patents from all the participating companies and then redistributes moneys back to individual patent holders. IIRC in the case of Firewire it was $0.25 per port. Since Apple has been heavily involved and pushed for the adoption of the usb-c port and the usb 3.1 standard I suspect there is also a revenue stream back to Apple associated with that. Meaning when you buy that competing windows laptop with usb-c port(s) Apple gets a cut.

 

[bruinsrme]

Thin was more important than usability.

Fixed that for you.

Completely disagree. USB 3 and below will be dead to Apple this time next year.

Logistically it's a brilliant move. Reduce the skis, cost and so on. Get rid of the old and shape the future today.

I'm priced out of this round. My 2015 15" MBP will be fine for the next year or 2.

USB to Apple is legacy.

 

[Rafterman]

Completely disagree. USB 3 and below will be dead to Apple this time next year.

Logistically it's a brilliant move. Reduce the skis, cost and so on. Get rid of the old and shape the future today.

I'm priced out of this round. My 2015 15" MBP will be fine for the next year or 2.

USB to Apple is legacy.

Laptops a tools that need to work easily with the accessories of today.

 

[bruinsrme]

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

I have to concede as I lack the design knowledge of the laptops.
[doublepost=1478480013][/doublepost]

Laptops a tools that need to work easily with the accessories of today.

They are tools.

applw is selling a new tool box.

 

[0388279]

Not that's with apologies to Tom Leher.

How about this for the first verse of the Leher's Hunting Song:

I always will remember twas a year ago November
I went to shop for a laptop on a morning bright and clear
I went and bought the maximum my bank account would allow
Two MacBooK Pros, Seven Surfaces, and a VIAO

 

[H2SO4]

I don't think Phil is a bad communicator. I just think he's not technically as sound as Steve Jobs was and I also think he is not as prepared when he speaks. TBQH for the purposes of the Apple Events I think Tim is better behind the scenes and probably should limit his time on stage to opening and closing the events if not maybe choosing to let someone else who's a more engaging speaker MC the Apple Events.

They need to be less disingenuous.

 

[alex0002]

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.

The industry still does see USB-A as an option in most cases.
You just add dongles.

Or perhaps the vendor supplies two different cables.

We might get a few new wireless mouse transceivers in USB-C format, but since the new base model 13 inch macbook pro (should really be called the 13 inch macbook) has only 2 USB-C ports (one port used for charging), not many people will use that one available port for a mouse.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Laptops a tools that need to work easily with the accessories of today.

There are options for that.