Why no ethernet?

[KPOM]

Vaio Z still manages ethernet & many other notebooks slimmer than the Retina Pro's manage ethernet, some with clever engineering.

Yes, but often times that "clever engineering" results in a flimsy port or a hump in the design. Apple is clearly pushing Thunderbolt, and I'm also seeing USB 3.0 Ethernet adapters finally start to come out. Ethernet is one of those ports like VGA that should eventually fall by the wayside but won't because most PC manufacturers are too wary of dropping legacy technology.

 

[AirThis]

Why no ethernet port? The reason for that is very simple: the adaptor is small and extremely easy to lose. I'll bet Apple makes a fortune on those things.

 

[Steve121178]

Yes, but often times that "clever engineering" results in a flimsy port or a hump in the design. Apple is clearly pushing Thunderbolt, and I'm also seeing USB 3.0 Ethernet adapters finally start to come out. Ethernet is one of those ports like VGA that should eventually fall by the wayside but won't because most PC manufacturers are too wary of dropping legacy technology.

For many businesses Ethernet ports are a requirement, particularly in secure environments.

Certainly in the business world, Ethernet ports will remain a major requirement for at least another decade.

 

[shellbryson]

For many businesses Ethernet ports are a requirement, particularly in secure environments.

Certainly in the business world, Ethernet ports will remain a major requirement for at least another decade.

Maybe. I work in a secure office & we use wifi *shrug*

 

[Beanoir]

Apple forgot the "pro" in the retina series.

I don't think Ethernet really makes anything more "pro" to be honest.

Get an adapter if it bothers you, I did when I got my air and still haven't needed to use it 2 years later.

 

[KPOM]

For many businesses Ethernet ports are a requirement, particularly in secure environments.

Certainly in the business world, Ethernet ports will remain a major requirement for at least another decade.

For that reason, I expect Apple to keep selling adapters. However, the fact remains that Ethernet is a clunky design that is becoming less and less relevant. Also, as more and more computing gets done using mobile devices, we'll see more reliance on wireless. I can't see Microsoft adding an Ethernet port to the Surface or even Surface Pro, which they market as a possible notebook replacement.

 

[phantasmagoria]

I still find Ethernet pretty much essential - at work when I travel and need to connect to a client's network and at home for the increased file transfer speeds copying files to and from my server. OK the latter is a bonus rather than an essential, but still something I'd rather not be without. And I still come across the occasional hotel that can't provide internet access via wifi and only provides a wired connection.

When I first got my rMBP I was frustrated at the absence of the Ethernet port, but now I have an adapter permanently fixed to the cable in my home office and a spare I carry around for use when working away on site. Yes, the additional cost to buy adapters is annoying. but in the great scheme of things I've forgotten about that now and prefer the thinner design of the rMBP which wouldn't have been practical with an Ethernet port. I got used to it and I love my rMBP, so I've personally forgiven Apple for that omission now! If there hadn't been a means to connect via Ethernet then I would have had to review my options; but there is and it works fine, so it's been no big deal to me.

 

[terraphantm]

You mean the flip down port a la first generation MacBook Air?

Apple could've easily fit an ethernet port if they didn't make the taper so aggressive. All that does is limit the space they have internally and give an illusion of a thinner laptop

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Certainly in the business world, Ethernet ports will remain a major requirement for at least another decade.

I don't know about a whole decade. Eventually secure forms of wifi will be accepted

 

[mac jones]

I have tested the TB to ethernet adapter often. I notice no Gigabit slowdown. I tested the bandwidth using Passmark, and real world performance on a heavily taxed bandwidth system.

 

[MrKing]

I don't think Ethernet really makes anything more "pro" to be honest.

Depends in what kind of profession you are in. In the photo graphic editing and video editing area I am never be satisfied with only wifi, it just doesn't have enough speed I need to move files around servers. It is the mentality of Apple that doesn't gear their machines towards what professionals need in their line of work that bothers me.

Get an adapter if it bothers you

Of course I will if I needed to. don't need to, I bought the non retina model. But this is the point why is something essential not already in a near 3000 euro laptop? Ok let's say they wanted to make it thinner and the ethernet is not part of that plan. But that's not it, it's all about selling accessoires to make you pay "again". They could have thrown that adapter in for free, but chose not to do so.

They could have followed the standards instead of creating their own ports and plugs, but they chose not to do so .. because they want you to spend even more money.

I joked about this for a while but I now I really wonder when Apple will drop the usb standard and create the same thing with a different plug and a fancy name to sell you more of their awesome stuff. 😉

 

[terraphantm]

I have tested the TB to ethernet adapter often. I notice no Gigabit slowdown. I tested the bandwidth using Passmark, and real world performance on a heavily taxed bandwidth system.

As it should be. The TB to ethernet adapter is just as good as having a PCIe ethernet adapter - there should be no perceivable difference.

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Of course I will if I needed to. don't need to, I bought the non retina model. But this is the point why is something essential not already in a near 3000 euro laptop? Ok let's say they wanted to make it thinner and the ethernet is not part of that plan. But that's not it, it's all about selling accessoires to make you pay "again". They could have thrown that adapter in for free, but chose not to do so.

They could have followed the standards instead of creating their own ports and plugs, but they chose not to do so .. because they want you to spend even more money.

I do agree that they should've thrown in the TB->ethernet adapter in the box... but they didn't. $30 isn't enough of a big deal for me to opt for an otherwise inferior laptop.

I do wonder though - why can't Apple create a miniaturized version of the connector and license it for free? They did it for displayport, and now minidisplayport is the more common connector. Sure we'd still have people complaining, but in time it would be come a widely enough accepted standard that it'd be a non-issue.

 

[Beanoir]

Depends in what kind of profession you are in. In the photo graphic editing and video editing area I am never be satisfied with only wifi, it just doesn't have enough speed I need to move files around servers. It is the mentality of Apple that doesn't gear their machines towards what professionals need in their line of work that bothers me.




Of course I will if I needed to. don't need to, I bought the non retina model. But this is the point why is something essential not already in a near 3000 euro laptop? Ok let's say they wanted to make it thinner and the ethernet is not part of that plan. But that's not it, it's all about selling accessoires to make you pay "again". They could have thrown that adapter in for free, but chose not to do so.

They could have followed the standards instead of creating their own ports and plugs, but they chose not to do so .. because they want you to spend even more money.

I joked about this for a while but I now I really wonder when Apple will drop the usb standard and create the same thing with a different plug and a fancy name to sell you more of their awesome stuff. 😉

I buy all those points I really do, and I'm sure there are some that require ethernet, but it is an ageing network product that will at some point be superseded by wireless technology that will be quicker eventually.

Apple won't have gotten rid of the ethernet ports unless their target audience justified it and their marketing is pretty spot on, unfortunately there remain some that will miss it, but not enough people to justify keeping it in there.

 

[OatmealRocks]

Why did they get rid of the ethernet on the rmbp 13? So it can be thinner or so we spend extra $ for the adapter? This may be another option that makes me want to go for the rmbp 15.....

You can't even complain right.

 

[Mrbobb]

So people over at the home theater forum often have problem with the Apple TV. I know what their prob is, is their WIFI. But THEY don't know that. So often they are told temporarily bypass their WIFI and plug in the cable(s) and BAM! now they know what to look for. No built-in ethernet, another 24 hr b4r the guy can drive 20 miles to his Apple store to get an adapter.

Ethernet obsolete? Really want to check out the cool Google's data centers, 90% of those cables are ethernet.

Yeah - yeah get adapter move on. Moving on.

 

[MrKing]

Apple won't have gotten rid of the ethernet ports unless their target audience justified it and their marketing is pretty spot on, unfortunately there remain some that will miss it, but not enough people to justify keeping it in there.

You are right. Their target audience are no longer the professionals. I understand that all too well, nowadays even my uncle Bob who works as a truck driver buys a 15"MBP.

 

[mrsir2009]

So people over at the home theater forum often have problem with the Apple TV. I know what their prob is, is their WIFI. But THEY don't know that. So often they are told temporarily bypass their WIFI and plug in the cable(s) and BAM! now they know what to look for. No built-in ethernet, another 24 hr b4r the guy can drive 20 miles to his Apple store to get an adapter.

Ethernet obsolete? Really want to check out the cool Google's data centers, 90% of those cables are ethernet.

Yeah - yeah get adapter move on. Moving on.

Data centres aren't really comparable to personal computers.

 

[Beanoir]

You are right. Their target audience are no longer the professionals. I understand that all too well, nowadays even my uncle Bob who works as a truck driver buys a 15"MBP.

Exactly, gone are the days of Macs being aimed at design professionals, they are now targeting for the mass market, in fact they have been for some time. Nothing wrong in that, its just that those design professional types feel a bit hard done by...but I know Apple's shareholders wont' 😉