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Why is APPL so obsessed with banishing Ports?
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You should check your facts, the footprint of the 11" MBA is 576 square cm, the rMB has only a footprint of 551.2 square cm. It has the bigger, much better display, a bigger, in my opinion, better keyboard in a smaller footprint, and of course it is lighter and thinner.
Makes quite a bit of a difference.
To be honest, for my usual day trip travels i just take the rMB, no dongle, no power adapter, nothing else. Its battery is good enough to hold out for a full day of work and i don't need any wired connection. If i'm on the road for several days i take the power brick to charge it at night, nothing else. I did buy a thumb drive with an USB-C port on one side and an USB-A on the other, but more for the novelty factor than any other real use. It is somewhere in my home office, dunno really where. Time capsule backups run automatically once its plugged in, which it is at night when not in use, so time is usually not a factor there.
Quite honestly i was somewhat surprised how easy it is to work without any ports and wired connections, they are mostly a thing of the past apparently.
MacBook/MacBook Air
Height .35-1.31 cm/.3-1.7 cm
Width 28.05 cm/30cm
Depth 19.65 cm/19.2 cm
Weight 2.03 .92kg/2.38
Display 2304x1440 12"/1366x768 11.6"
You can pick nits all day long, but those machine's specs are essentially identical for all practical purposes. As for personal preferences, 2304x1440 is entirely too small even with Retina display on a screen that is barely .4" larger than the Air. It's my biggest complaint with my new 13" MBP.
Your subjective qualifications of "better" come with a hefty price tag -- $1299 vs. $899 for an entry level model of each, and still much less with matching configurations. Then there's the fact it comes loaded with ports which don't require hauling around a bunch of extra dongles to use. Then again the Air isn't available in gold.
As for the Time Capsule initial backup, that was to make a point, as I'm well aware complete backups aren't done routinely -- however, when working with movies and photos, moving large chunks of data back and forth from a hard drive, or even backing them up to the Time Capsule is time consuming wirelessly. It's far simpler and faster to make large changes to the internal storage of the MacBook to attach a wired device to one of the high speed built-in ports. What happens when you're working on a big project and have to run out before your Time Capsule can complete a wireless backup of several GBs of files? Then something happens to your MacBook? Much faster and safer to backup everything to a hard drive, so you know it's done, and it doesn't take longer than you have.
And I'll say this again, taking away MagSafe does a single port a great injustice, since that port can be damaged by accidentally tripping over a cable, or removing a device at an awkward angle, or simply the strain of making that physical connection everyday, for every device. When the port is damaged, there may be no way to charge it, and no way to replace the battery. Having a second port is at a minimum a redundant safety feature for this particular Mac, especially since for the first time both ports can be used to charge the device, not just I/O.
??? Are you saying the screen size too small for you, or the resolution is too high, or what? If a 13" rMBP screen is too small for you to use, what are you even doing talking about the rMB??
$1299 vs $1199 with matching configurations. Seems like you have killed your own argument there. The screen alone is more than worth the extra $100.
That's probably why the rMB comes with a 256GB SSD as standard - as for the rest, why is it suddenly an extremely unacceptable and painful burden to plug in an adapter to complete a quick backup? In fact, you could just get a small unobtrusive USB-C to multiple USB-A 3.0 adapter and keep the external drive plugged into it, slapping in the USB-C to the rMB. Super simple. Again the connectivity issue fully blown out of proportion for the sake of a rant.
Now we get to the heart of your seething hatred, the lack of MagSafe. Well, I don't see the huge deal with the lack of MagSafe itself - I've always been conscious of how and where I plugged in to power even with MagSafe, and happily have never had to have it save me. I have, however, had to replace more than one powerbrick over the years because the cord frays due to the repeated torsion from wrapping it up for travel constantly. That problem is solved with the new detachable USB-C charger cable - no more twisting force on the cable.
I can't say you don't have a point with concerns about port wear though, because you do. Only time will tell, however, and that's another reason to get Apple Care
. You better get used to it too. TB3 over USB-C is coming in 2016 making MagSafe more than likely dropped in the MBP's as well with the next redesign in favour of more flexibility (charge from either side of the machine, reversible, etc.) and, you know it, thinness.Can't imagine the foaming mouth vitriol we're going to hear from you then!
The MacBook comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for $1299. To get that on a MacBook Air, you spend $1199. Granted, most of us will need the extra ports at least some of the time, so you can add $79 to the price of the MacBook. That said, I find that I don't need the extra port all that often, so I get the benefit of the smaller footprint and lighter weight. The MacBook Air also has a significantly inferior TFT display to the MacBook's IPS display. The 16:10 ratio also accommodates emulation of 1440x900.
I get it. Lots of people would have preferred that Apple produce a device like the Dell XPS 13. But that device is 2.8lbs to get the QHD screen, and is $1299 in that configuration with a 128GB SSD, and $1899 with a 512GB SSD.
Indeed, equally as much as the "computer user luddite" for me. That poster in this thread still carrying around a DVD player, and actually believes he needs it on ocassion? That guy needs to let it go.
Basically you have it backwards. You aren't bothered by sheep-like followers. You make that twisted-around idea work for you to make yourself feel good about your position. In fact, what it boils down to is that you are bothered by early adopters. Thing is, if it wasn't for them, you wouldn't have the great mainstream stuff you aren't willing to move on from now.
Apple is a hardcore example of an early adopter's dream company. They have both historically and contemporarily introduced new technologies and standards ahead of the mainstream market, literally leading the way for an entire industry, pushing the envelope, and are equally unshy about not adopting or dropping something like a bad habit with no looking back if they feel it isn't good enough anymore, or not good enough yet. It has been that way since the beginning. If you can't recognise how fundamentally different Apple's philosophy is and has been than that of virtually all other computer electronics manufacturers, even now when lots of them are now trying to emulate this philosophy because Apple has now made it "cool," then there is a problem.
Early adopters aren't "following," they are "embracing." Huge difference. I would say for you, you should hurry up and buy a 2015 rMBP now so you can have the final version of the previous generation of device design, and be able to comfortably wait a few years before you follow the early adopters into the future after the new next generation tech has established itself.
Meanwhile we early adopter types will continue to enjoy living on the edge of tomorrow, happily dealing with the pros and cons of that choice, taking the world forward for the rest of you.
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Then maybe you should open your mind a little more, and broaden your horizons...
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According to your words the unconditional acceptance of limited functions (or lack of them) because of the form over function compromise is called "early adopting".
P.S.: We are living in a wireless world/age, nevertheless there are still professions and procedures where and when sensitive data are still stored and passed on portable media.
P.S.: We are living in a wireless world/age, nevertheless there are still professions and procedures where and when sensitive data are still stored and passed on portable media.
I have no barriers transferring data, so what`s stopping you? As it`s clearly a concern for you.
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Well your the one who`s worked up about it, Apple make`s product I don't care for, I simply pass on them, as they bring no value to me. I look at my hardware choices carefully as they need to work for me in the real world.
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I am reminded of the time flash was blocked on iOS. Because flash wasn't available, there was a very strong incentive for developers to create native apps for iOS. Sure, users were inconvenienced in the short run because they couldn't access flash content on their browsers. But in the long run, we are much better off in the form of native apps optimised for touch and direct input.
I believe it's the same thing here. You want to move towards a wireless world, you have to be prepared to push for it, because people sure as hell aren't going to voluntarily change their user habits. No ports means that users have to be creative and find ways of working around this, and in the process, adopt technologies that Apple wants them to adopt.
Apple is just in the enviable position of having a user base that is generally more open to adopting stuff that Apple introduces.
Ok - but I have the same number of adapters now as I did before, and actually have more available wired connections at any one time than I did before. Its not limited function at all, this is where you go wrong. It is a new connector standard that can do more than those that came before it. We don't even have to discuss the "wireless" world aspect at all.
This is exactly what I am talking about - it is not my unconditional acceptance of something that is worse than before - it is your complete lack of willingness to even take 5 minutes to step back and see this one port for what it is. My early adoption here is of a more advanced technology that especially in this case has no drawbacks whatsoever, except I had to drop $85 on a couple of new adapters and cables. 1 USB-C > 1 USB-A + 1 RJ45 + 1 HDMI + 1 SDXC + 1 mDP + 1 charging port because it is one port that can do all of that, even more than one of them simultaneously.
Store your sensitive research data on external physical media - its not like the rMB won't accept it.
If your big gripe then is that you have to buy an adapter for your SD card, or buy a new USB-C thumb drive to replace your old USB 2.0 piece of kit in order to maintain your tried and true workflow you've not changed in 10 years, well then that is just dumb, sorry. You're not going to hear any different from those who enjoy and embrace trying new and improved technologies.
Well. Seems like no one can please simple-minded old farts stuck in the past.
Just to make clear for you how much sense it makes to use wireless options over wired ones I have my workflow/usage habits as an example.
I have Bluetooth speakers. This means I can play audio from any of my devices from anywhere in my flat. No wires required.
All my photos sync automatically to all my devices. No wires needed.
I have 1TB of space in DropBox which I use to store all my files and share files with others. And I can acces all my files anytime, anywhere on any device. No extrrnal hard drive or USB thumb drive needed.
Ocassionally I use AirDrop to share files between my Apple devices.
My next purchase will be wireless headphones for conviniency.
See? I hate wires. And I manage wonderfully without wires. You can too.
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I just don't understand why Apple keeps that headphone jack. It is supposed to be "wireless world", right?
Same am pretty much there, equally due to the nature of my work I keep, all primary working data on the drive (512) as there are times and situations where connectivity can be inconsistent, therefore it`s planned for.
My current project spans across 3 continents, over 150 primary contractors with everyone contributing wirelessly, all data is backed up on multiple centralised servers. If anything there is a drive to eradicate the need for flash/thumb drives as they are deemed to be less secure and potential for a "loss of control" of sensitive data.
So the limitations that people suggest is solely due to their own limitation and understanding of current technology.
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We face two main problems here:
1. You can't see the forest for the trees. You don't seem to acknowledge that a company determines for you when and what you need as well as how to change your workflow while making you pay a high price and forcing you to buy dongles if you want to function in the existing environment.
2. You are unable of having a discussion without useless personal remarks. Enjoy yourself and your own world. Have fun.
If you can manage without wires it does not mean that the world can do without them. (See post #60 P.S. for reference).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_celebrity_photo_hack
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As a direct response to these two points:
- Newsflash: Every single company determines for you what you want and when you need it, and how your workflow will be shaped using that equipment. Then you as the client or consumer get to vote with your wallet. Quite the concept, actually, eh? Just because Apple often leads the way by doing things a bit different or a bit earlier than other companies doesn't change that fact. Did anyone force me to spend my company's money on the rMB? Nope, that was an active choice. I'll state this again for your benefit - my worklow has actually changed 0% from the previous 4 years, nor has the number of dongles increased at all - 2 adapters were replaced with 2 adapters. We don't even need to talk about the wireless aspect, even though, yes, I do use it extensively.
- You are unable to provide even an anecdotal example to support your assertion that the one USB-C port would require you to change your workflow significantly as compared to an equivalent MBA, which the rMB will be replacing. rMBP examples don't count - if you need/want an rMBP for your work any criticism of the rMB is irrelevant to the discussion. This simply because the rMB isn't meant to be an rMBP alternative. Different tools for different uses.
Not quite so easy with point to point encryption, once data is removed from a system, if it`s not encrypted it`s physically vulnerable, such drives can and do propagate Malware.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_flash_drive_security
If you can't, or are unwilling to "cut the cord" so be it, equally not the drama you portray. With the advent of USB C even heavy users of peripherals, can benefit from a simple, single connection to a hub, previously this was the realm of business class portables with proprietary docking stations & associated connections.
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What happens if you watch a lot of Netflix DVDs? Streaming libraries are tiny by comparison and pirating is a whole other conversation.