Apple 's new MacBook could be more Important to the future of laptops than it seems.
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe how small, light and thin the new MacBook is. It comes as no surprise because this is Apple we’re talking about. It’s not a particularly powerful laptop but here’s the kicker: There is only one expansion port (not counting the 3.5mm headphone port) and it doubles up as the charging connector as well! This means many new things; good and bad. But first let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to see how Apple have changed the scope of the technology industry.
Remember when we used floppy disks and then all of a sudden they disappeared? Yeah, that was thanks to Apple. Remember when DVD drives became a not so distant memory? Apple. Remember when ultrabooks became a thing? Banana. Remember that time England lost to Bangladesh by 15 runs? Glorious.
The point is: Apple make thingy things cool. They’re incredibly good at setting new technological standards and without them we’d be living in a very different world.
Remember when we used floppy disks and then all of a sudden they disappeared? Yeah, that was thanks to Apple. Remember when DVD drives became a not so distant memory? Apple. Remember when ultrabooks became a thing? Banana. Remember that time England lost to Bangladesh by 15 runs? Glorious.
The point is: Apple make thingy things cool. They’re incredibly good at setting new technological standards and without them we’d be living in a very different world.
The Good: USB-C
For a long time laptop manufactures have been using proprietary chargers and connectors on their laptops which makes this area unnecessarily expensive. Wouldn’t it just be easier for all laptops to use the same standard chargers like we do with mobile phones (excluding the iPhone)? Well that’s where USB-C swoops in and saves us all from the entanglement of infinite cables.
"USB-C swoops in and saves us all from the entanglement of infinite cables"
One port to rule them all
This new standard is capable of replacing all the ports that you would typically find on a laptop such as the mini display port, VGA, HDMI, USB and so on. Like your typical Micro USB compatible phone it can transfer data through the same port that is used to deliver power to charge the devices battery.
The bad
Notably, this multi-functionality is inconvenient if you’re trying to simultaneously transfer data to an external device and charge your laptop. Would it be too much to ask for two USB-C ports Apple?
While it’s all good and well to be prepped with the port(s) of the future, you’ll still need a laptop that is compatible with the current mish-mash of proprietary cable standards. This means that you’ll have to invest in an adaptor to meets your current needs which leads us to this “solution”…
While it’s all good and well to be prepped with the port(s) of the future, you’ll still need a laptop that is compatible with the current mish-mash of proprietary cable standards. This means that you’ll have to invest in an adaptor to meets your current needs which leads us to this “solution”…
The Ugly
Yes, you read that right. $79 is the asking price for an adaptor that keeps your MacBook compatible with the (temporarily) backward standards of today. Put into perspective, this adaptor alone costs more than the Apple TV device (recently reduced to $69). This is an extra cost you do not want to be worrying about after splashing (a minimum of) $1299 on your new MacBook. There’s also a hidden cost to this new hero port and that’s the adaptor making your ultra slim, compact and tidy new laptop to look like its dangly bits are hanging out its side. | Apple want to sell you this for $79 |
Here's to the future
Because of Apples powerful influence on the technology industry it shouldn’t be too long before USB-C catches on and delivered to the masses for us all to reap the benefits. That’s when we’ll finally be liberated from carrying an army of cables and adaptors while being able to use the same compatible cables to charge our smartphones, laptops and whichever new device comes our way.
Oh and I forgot to mention; USB-C is flip-side and end-to-end reversible so no more trying to jam those cables in the wrong way, flipping them over, only to find that it was the right way round to begin with. AKA the Schrödinger's USB conundrum.
Please tell me your thoughts on USB-C, the new MacBook, Apple's pricing strategy and anything else in the comments below.
For more content follow @JamilJafri and @MBuyersGuide on Twitter
Oh and I forgot to mention; USB-C is flip-side and end-to-end reversible so no more trying to jam those cables in the wrong way, flipping them over, only to find that it was the right way round to begin with. AKA the Schrödinger's USB conundrum.
Please tell me your thoughts on USB-C, the new MacBook, Apple's pricing strategy and anything else in the comments below.
For more content follow @JamilJafri and @MBuyersGuide on Twitter