• Fades@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    3 days ago

    This post is actually so stupid, they didn’t take shit from us, it’s still right there.

    Nobody uses a firewire cable anymore, USB-A/B is very outdated. On my work macbook with is a M1 Macbook Pro, I have a card reader, a usb-c and an hdmi port on one side, and a headphone jack, 2 usb-c ports and magsafe power ports.

    Even if there wasn’t, and it was just all usb-c, you can accomplish all of the same things ports. The old macbooks only had these ports on one side and the other had like one firewire or something.

    USB-C can be used to deliver audio, video, ethernet connection, etc. You didn’t lose any functionality. Worst case scenario you’d need a hub for the card readers or a usb to usb-c adapter, or ethernet to usb-c.

    My work provided me with a usb hub that includes usb-a/b slots, hdmi, ethernet and power, which takes a single usb-c port. They’re cheap and work just fine if you really need more than 4-5 ports.

    Don’t take it from me though!

    2024 16" macbook pro: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/121554

    • Charging and Expansion
    • SDXC card slot
    • HDMI port
    • 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • MagSafe 3 port
    • Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports with support for:
      • Charging
      • DisplayPort
      • Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s)
      • Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
      • USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
  • Dupree878@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    3 days ago

    Why not complain about them not having a floppy drive anymore while you’re at it? That’s as obsolete as the non USB-C ports.

  • AnimalsDream@slrpnk.netEnglish
    18·
    3 days ago

    My current phone lacks a headphone jack and I hate it. It would be okay if it was replaced with two usb c ports, but there’s only one which means I either choose between headphones or charging, or I must use an adapter. Or wireless, but I don’t want yet another fucking battery to charge.

  • frazw@lemmy.worldEnglish
    301·
    5 days ago

    This is my ~8 month old work laptop.

    Is a Dell.

    2 usb c not pictured.

    You have options.

      • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        12·
        4 days ago

        Apple brought back the mag charger.

        I wish it still had the SD reader and one A port, but it doesn’t really come up that often. Just 3D printing and only because I’m too lazy to set up a octoprint server or whatever.

        • thejml@lemm.eeEnglish
          8·
          4 days ago

          MBPs all have HDMI and SD slots… but Definitely set up the octopi with a cheap webcam. I’ve run one for years now and it’s so nice to be able to kick off and check on prints from my phone. Not to mention it doesn’t matter what computer I slice on and the files are small enough that I have gcode for almost everything I’ve printed for instant access to reprint whenever.

        • Fades@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          they do have SDXC card readers:

          2024 16" macbook pro: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/121554

          • Charging and Expansion
          • SDXC card slot
          • HDMI port
          • 3.5 mm headphone jack
          • MagSafe 3 port
          • Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports with support for:
            • Charging
            • DisplayPort
            • Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s)
            • Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
            • USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
          • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            1·
            3 days ago

            Ahh that’s nice, I bought the 2015 right after the Touch Bar pros went in sale because of the “you only need USB c now” ethos.

            I later inherited a Touch Bar MacBook Pro, and it has frequent charging problems with USB C.

            It’s gonna be time for an upgrade in a couple more years, and it’s nice to know that the new MBPs are sane again.

        • Laurel Raven@lemmy.zipEnglish
          3·
          4 days ago

          An octopi is a fun project, for mine I printed a new internal enclosure for the mainboard that has mounts for the pi, so the printer is completely integrated with it (never did finish setting up the internal power routing to power it directly off the power supply, but that’s also completely doable)

          • thejml@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            4 days ago

            I purposely don’t do the printer PS powers the octopi thing… I like to be able to drop some gcode on it for later or do updates when the printer isn’t on.

    • elucubra@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      17·
      4 days ago

      While I personally prefer this, I’m going to guess that the majority of people are generally not going to be using more than 2 or three usb ports at once. My take is that for most people, 2 Cs, an A, DP or HDMI would be optimal.

      The availability of BT and wifi peripherals make this acceptable for many.

      I still have a cutting plotter that uses RS232, but that’s connected to an oldish desktop, on the network, so a laptop never gets connected physically.

      I’m not saying that this is good, simply that this is probably acceptable for many.

      • Carnelian@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        4 days ago

        I have the same mac pictured above, and also a windows laptop with many ports.

        The mac I plug into my work center via a single usb-c connection which charges it, connects it to my external monitor, and connects it to all of my USB equipment (about 6 items ranging from m&k to music equipment). Having only the one wire is huge in terms of making it easier to break down the machine from its setup and pack it up for the road.

        The pc is connected separately to power as it can’t be powered through the usb-c, and to the monitor separately for some esoteric reason. So then I need a third cable to connect it to my equipment.

        So in my case the less-is-more approach is actually preferable

        that all being said

        I’m sure other windows laptops can be configured with a one-wire solution just fine. And I don’t mean to pretend the 2x usb-c config was a popular choice or anything. Only on like two models or something had it. The newer macbooks brought back sd card slots and hdmi and everything by popular demand.

        I looked into it and you can still run everything off of just one usb-c on those ones, so at the end of the day more options is just better for more people

        • Rinox@feddit.itEnglish
          1·
          4 days ago

          The mac I plug into my work center via a single usb-c connection which charges it, connects it to my external monitor, and connects it to all of my USB equipment

          I do this with my Dell, which also has many ports ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

        • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          1·
          4 days ago

          Was just using a new ROG something something laptop for a job. The power connector is some little rectangle thing and it almost fit in a USBc. I was surprised when it was unique. 1 wire aint happening on that.

    • reev@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      5·
      4 days ago

      Haha I have almost exactly the same one. Probably a slightly older model. Works for most stuff but mine only has 8GB RAM which is a bit of a killer…

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      You have options.

      I don’t. We have standardized on Macbook Pros at work because otherwise we’d have to use the company-issued image, which really sucks for development work (multi-day turnaround to get anything approved).

      I’m interested in replacing my current laptop (E495 Thinkpad), and it’s really hard to find anything sensible w/ an RJ-45 port, especially one w/ decent Linux support. I want something in a similar form factor (14", or 16" if the bezels are really thin), but with updated internals (nothing fancy, but the 3500U is getting a bit slow for casual gaming).

      I’ve been thinking of a Framework laptop, but the RJ-45 port is wack, only having 4 ports kind of sucks (they could have better density with those ports), and it doesn’t have the Trackpoint that I like so much about my Thinkpad. We’ll see what I end up with when I actually buy one though, but maybe I’ll have to take another look at Dell’s professional line.

      • JustARegularNerd@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        4 days ago

        anything decent with an RJ-45 port

        Not sure if the current generation still has it, but work issued us techs with ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 laptops and I’ve been happy with it as a work device. It has an RJ-45 (was considered a requirement when they procured the laptops for techs) and mine has a Ryzen 5 Pro 5675U. Only complaints I would have for it is soldered USB-C connectors (which double as the only power source for the machine) and keyboard isn’t as nice as my personal T480 although definitely still fine.

        I would caution against the 12th gen Intel i7 ThinkPads, we’ve had multiple internally have overheating issues or stuck in connected standby. My colleague wishes he never replaced his original work issue (same as mine).

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          4 days ago

          The E14 and T14 still have them as well, and that’s what I’m interested in. I used to buy T-series, but they started soldering the RAM, so I switched to E-series for my last one. I don’t know if they solder RAM on the E14 though, they probably do.

          I really miss my T440, which had a fantastic keyboard, but my E495 is still better than my Macbook Pro (hate that keyboard) and pretty much every other laptop I’ve used. Not sure how the newer Thinkpads are, but I definitely don’t want those ultra-thin keyboards so many vendors are going with.

          And yeah, I’ll probably go AMD again, I want the APU perf and don’t want a dGPU.

    • Miles O'Brien@startrek.websiteEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      My 4 month old laptop has hdmi on the back, ethernet on the left, four usb 3.whatever slots with two on each side, two USB c slots on the right side, and a microsd slot.

      I think it even has a 3.5mm headset jack but I’d have to get out of bed to check. I don’t have any peripherals that use 3.5mm anymore though so it’s just a nice little bonus.

  • Eugene V. Debs' Ghost@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    13·
    3 days ago

    Fades is either drinking Apple flavor Kool-Aid or has been fully brainwashed by apple into thinking everything is okay because a company said “you don’t care, you’re stuck here with us.”

    It’s really sad how people will bootlick for any company once they bought enough products.

  • Psythik@lemmy.worldEnglish
    86·
    4 days ago

    I’m no Apple fanboy (never owned a product of theirs and never will) but to be fair, those two USB-C ports can do everything the old, removed ports can do and more. The real crime here is not putting enough of them on the laptop.

    Edit: The only port I’ll lament the removal of is the headphone jack. USB-C headphones are rare, adapters get lost, and bluetooth headphones compress the audio and have input lag. Everything else can go, though, and won’t be missed. (Okay fine ethernet can stay too.)

  • dinckel@lemmy.worldEnglish
    124·
    4 days ago

    I dont know why this is controversial. I’m way more happy with 4x USB-C, than 5 unique ports, that will likely never be used on a regular basis, even when they were relevant

  • HeartyOfGlass@lemm.eeEnglish
    156·
    4 days ago

    Fuck firewire. Glad it’s dead. USB C is the best thing to happen to peripherals since the mouse.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
      99·
      4 days ago

      USB C is the best thing to happen to peripherals since the mouse.

      I would agree with you if there were a simple way to tell what the USB-C cable I have in my hand can be used for without knowing beforehand. Otherwise, for example, I don’t know whether the USB-C cable will charge my device or not. There should have been a simple way to label them for usage that was baked into the standard. As it is, the concept is terrific, but the execution can be extremely frustrating.

        • NobodyElse@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          38·
          4 days ago

          I’m pretty sure the phrase “kneecapped by crap executions” is in the USB working groups’s charter. It’s like one of their core guiding principles.

          • db2@lemmy.worldEnglish
            21·
            4 days ago

            If anyone disagrees with this, the original USB spec was for a reversible connector and the only reason we didn’t get to have that the whole time was because they wanted to increase profit margins.

            • Excrubulent@slrpnk.netEnglish
              21·
              4 days ago

              USB has always been reversible. In fact you have to reverse it at least 3 times before it’ll FUCKING PLUG IN.

            • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.worldEnglish
              6·
              4 days ago

              That’s the reason Apple released the Lightning connector. They pushed for several features for USB around 2010, including a reversible connector, but the USB-IF refused. Apple wanted USB-C, but couldn’t wait for the USB-IF to come to an agreement so they could replace the dated 20-pin connector.

      • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
        16·
        4 days ago

        Burn all the USBC cables with fire except PD. The top PD cable does everything the lower cable does.

        • Janovich@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          4 days ago

          IDK I’ve had PD cables that looked good for a while but turns out their data rate was basically USB2. It seems no matter what rule of thumb I try there are always weird caveats.

          No, I’m not bitter, why would you ask that?

          • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.worldEnglish
            8·
            4 days ago

            Correct. The other commenter is giving bad advice.

            Both power delivery and bandwidth are backwards compatible, but they are independent specifications on USB-C cables. You can even get PD capable USB-C cables that don’t transmit data at all.

            Also, that’s not true for Thunderbolt cables. Each of the 5 versions have specific data and power delivery minimum and maximum specifications.

            • GamingChairModel@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              4 days ago

              You can even get PD capable USB-C cables that don’t transmit data at all.

              I don’t think this is right. The PD standard requires the negotiation of which side is the source and which is the sink, and the voltage/amperage, over those data links. So it has to at least support the bare minimum data transmission in order for PD to work.

              • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                4 days ago

                Technically, yes, data must transmit to negotiate, but it doesn’t require high throughput. So you’ll get USB 2.0 transfer speeds (480 Mb/s) with most “charging only” USB-C cables. That’s only really useful for a keyboard or mouse these days.

                • GamingChairModel@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  2·
                  4 days ago

                  This limitation comes up sometimes when people try to build out a zero-trust cable where they can get a charge but not necessarily transfer data to or from an untrusted device on the other side.

          • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
            5·
            4 days ago

            You forgot thunderbolt and usb4 exists now

            You can buy a single cable that does 40GB and USB4 and charges at 240w.

          • kalleboo@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            4 days ago

            True but pretty much the only devices that need those are high-end SSDs and laptop docks and in both cases you just leave the cable with the device rather than pulling it out of your generic cables drawer.

      • ilinamorato@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        4 days ago

        Buying a basic, no-frills USB-C cable from a reputable tech manufacturer all but guarantees that it’ll work for essentially any purpose. Of course the shoddy pack-in cables included with a cheap device purchase won’t work well.

        I replaced every USB-C-to-C or -A-to-C cable and brick in my house and carry bag with a very low cost Anker cable (except the ones that came with my Google products, those are fine), and now anything charges on any cable.

        You wouldn’t say that a razor sucked just because the cheap replacement blades you bought at the dollar store nicked your face, or that a pan was too confusing because the dog food you cooked in it didn’t taste good. So too it is not the fault of USB-C that poorly manufactured charging bricks and cables exist. The standard still works; in fact, it works so well that unethical companies are flooding the market with crap.

      • TORFdot0@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        4 days ago

        Do not all USB C cables have the capability to do Power Delivery? I thought it was up to the port you plugged it in to support it?

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          4 days ago

          Nope. My daughter is notorious for mixing up cables when they come out of the brick. Some charge her tablet, some are for data transfer, some charge other devices but not her tablet. It’s super confusing. I had to start labeling them for her.

          • TORFdot0@lemmy.worldEnglish
            4·
            4 days ago

            Come to think of it, all the USB C cables I have are from phone and device chargers so I just took it for granted. Good to know. Thanks for sharing some knowledge with me

            • InputZero@lemmy.worldEnglish
              8·
              4 days ago

              USB-c cables can vary drastically. Power delivery alone ranges from less than 1 amp at 5 volts to over 5 amps at 20 volts. That’s 5 watts of power on the low end to 100 watts of power on the high end and sometimes more. When a cable meant to run at 5 watts has over 100 watts of power run through, the wires get really hot and could catch fire. The charger typically needs to talk to a very small chip in the high power cables for the cables to say, yes I can handle the power. Really cheap chargers might just push that power out regardless. So while the USB-c form factor is the one plug to rule them all, the actual execution is a fucking mess.

        • kalleboo@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 days ago

          The really janky ones you get with like USB gadgets like fans only have the 2 power lines hooked up and not the lines needed to communicate PD support, those will work exactly the same as the same janky USB A-microUSB cables they used to come with, supplying 5V/2A. You throw those away the second you get them and replace them with the decent quality cables you bought in bulk from AmazonBasics or something.

      • Krzd@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        4 days ago

        Yeah, I totally get that there is a need for cheap power only cables, but why are there what feels like 30 different data “standards”. Just gimme power-only, data, and fast-data. And yeah, in 2 years there’ll be a faster data protocol, so what, that’s then fast-data24, fast-data26, etc. and manufacturers have to use a specific pictogram to label them according to the highest standard they fulfill.

      • zarenki@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        4 days ago

        There should have been a simple way to label them for usage that was baked into the standard.

        There is. USB IF provides an assortment of logos and guidelines for ports and cables to clearly mark data speed (like “10Gbps”), power output (like “100W” or “5A”), whether the port is used for charging (battery icon), etc. But most manufacturers choose not to actually use them for ports.

        Cables I’ve seen usually are a bit better about labeling. I have some from Anker and ugreen that say "SS”, “10Gbps”, or “100W”. If they don’t label the power it’s probably 3A and if they don’t label the data speed it’s usually USB 2.0, though I have seen a couple cables that support 3.0 and don’t label it.

    • jerkface@lemmy.caEnglish
      16·
      4 days ago

      I hated when mice became the primary interface to computers, and I still do.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      4 days ago

      Nah, USB-A was the best since it replaced serial ports (esp PS/2, which was much harder to plug in) and outlived/outclassed FireWire. USB-C is the best thing since HDM (screw you VGA amd DVI), which was the best since USB-A.

  • ccunning@lemmy.worldEnglish
    198·
    5 days ago

    I dunno - I’m pretty sure I’d choose the modern MacBook Pro’s ports over any of these other options.

    • pixely@lemmy.worldEnglish
      144·
      5 days ago

      We’re mindlessly bashing Apple here, we don’t need your sensible reasoning!

      • aimizo@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        4 days ago

        From my personal experience Apple products aren’t as great as the fanboys claim but are far far better than they haters say they are.

    • Creat@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      25·
      4 days ago

      If you got that kind of money to spend on a laptop, sure. I really don’t.

      Edit: to be clear, I know this is a stack of Mac’s in OPs picture, but the development that the entry models have basically no ports at all is a more recent development. Having to pick the pro just to be able to connect your stuff without dongles or hubs is a bit insane considering the price (and price difference).

      • 418_im_a_teapot@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        It really depends on what you use your laptop for. My 2013 MBP lasted 9 years and was how I got my work done. That comes out to 76¢ per day, and I make a fair bit more than that per hour.

        But if you’re looking for a personal computer to surf the internet, yes, that could be cost prohibitive. But then it also matters less what device you buy.

        As for ports, I’ve never needed a dongle on the 2013 model. I did need one for a USB A drive on the newest model, but this little thing has solved that problem easily. I didn’t even have to buy that since my monitor has USB A ports – I was just too lazy to reach around the back to use it every time. I’m not sure I understand all the complaints about the occasional need for a dongle.

    • DJDarren@thelemmy.clubEnglish
      14·
      4 days ago

      I have an M2 Air, and all mine is missing from that is the SDXC slot, third TB4 and HDMI, and honestly, it’s fine. A third TB4/USB would be nice for when I’m doing my radio show and have to plug in my controller and mic while also charing my phone, but I already have a hub so it doesn’t bother me.

      That said, the limited ports on my M1 mini are quite problematic. Two TB3/USB and two USB3, but one of them is lost to a DisplayPort cable for my second monitor. So I have a desktop computer that functionally has three USB sockets, which ain’t great. But again, I have a hub, so it’s not a huge problem.

      • QuarterSwede@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        21 hours ago

        It’s really not. I have one on my work laptop and have never plugged an Ethernet jack into it. That stays permanently in my dock and gets transferred to the laptop via USB-C. All other non-desk work is done via … WiFi. Shock! Literally can’t tell the difference when making money.

      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        4·
        4 days ago

        Exactly! What are you going to do if your router dies (or you mess something up fiddling w/ things)? I may only need it once/year or so, but when I do, it’s really important and I most likely can’t find the dongle.

        An RJ-45 port could totally fit on there if they used one of those flip-down things that Dell has on their professional line.

    • Free_Thoughts@feddit.ukEnglish
      5·
      4 days ago

      Yeah, props to Apple for bringing back the card reader and HDMI. When I bought my early 2015 MBP I specifically went with the older model because these ports were removed on the newer one which also came with the shitty butterfly keyboard as well which they’ve also since discontinued.

  • RoyBattyButCoward@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    33·
    4 days ago

    I miss having a thousand different cables to keep track of /s

    really, all we need is the companies to start packing those laptops with thunderbolt3 or equivalent USB-C (USB 4). I love the old ports, but they were unnecessary. I’d rather the industry finally takes on the open thunderbolt standard and we’re all good to go. With 10 thunderbolt ports you have 10 HDMI, or 10 USB, or 10 Ethernet, or 10 headphone jacks, or 10 RJ45 or whatever you need + PCIe tunneling.

  • NastyNative@mander.xyzEnglish
    11·
    3 days ago

    Laptops from the 2010s represented a peak in design and performance, but since then, it feels like we’ve seen consistent downsizing and downgrades. Take the latest Intel CPUs, for instance—it’s as if the marketing pitch is, ‘It may not be very powerful, but at least it’s energy-efficient.’ It’s almost as though manufacturers are catering to a market they perceive as indifferent, and we, as consumers, continue to accept diminishing returns while paying increasingly higher prices. This trend reflects a broader issue in life today: settling for less while being charged more.

    This picture captures the essence of that realization, and it is truly heart-wrenching.