“Tech journalists who lined up at Apple’s special event to get their hands on Apple Watch walked away stunned by Apple’s all-new MacBook. It is widely being hailed – or harped on – as Apple’s new one-port wonder,” Mark Reschke writes for T-GAAP. “The fact it has only one physical data port is apparently quite jarring to many tech journalists.”
“Those stunned by Apple’s move may also drive a Honda Prelude, think sushi is all the rage, and are still trading Pokeymon cards,” Reschke writes. “The verdict is in: This is not a computer for those still living in the ’90s.”
“Ports are no longer physical things, they are mostly wireless technologies,” Reschke writes. “4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, deploying Airdrop, Handoff, iCloud and Airplay are all ports and types of communications that flow within them. A port and it’s data is not about the physical, it’s about every type of connection technology available, and Apple’s new MacBook comes equipped with state-of-the-art ports aplomb.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
AnandTech hands on Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook: ‘By far the most portable Mac Apple has ever created’ – March 12, 2015
Apple’s revolutionary new 12-inch MacBook heralds world without wires and cables – March 11, 2015
PC Mag hands on Apple’s all-new 12-Inch MacBook: ‘You’ll want to carry it with you everywhere’ – March 10, 2015
Hands-on with Apple’s One-port wonder, the amazing MacBook with 12-inch Retina display – March 9, 2015
Apple unveils all-new MacBook, the thinnest and lightest Mac ever made – March 9, 2015
I like sushi.
Took my wife out for sushi on Monday!
Bought my son Pokemon cards, once.
Fuck you. Don’t post auto-play videos.Have some respect.
Sorry, ports RULE. I don’t rely on having bluetooth, cloud, wifi etc available. I won’t buy a one port computer. I love apple, but had single port computers.
And when was that? What models?
Does anyone else find AirDrop to be extremely flaky?
SHHHHHH. Wireless is rock solid.
Also, at least one of the wireless techs he’s mentioned exceeds 5Gbps, right? Right?
Apple BLEW it on this one! I won’t store sh*t on the cloud! I don’t trust Apple Inc. or ANYONE else with security on the cloud. One port is completely stupid and is only outdone by Apple Inc. selling a $79.00 adapter to use ANOTHER port if you happen to be charging at the time you need to use the port for a USB, display, etc. Asinine move Apple!
You can make your own cloud.
Do you trust yourself?
So it is not a computer for everyone.
Big whoop. Get over it.
True. I think some people are just disappointed that they aren’t getting the computer they wanted. For me it would be a MacBook Air with Retina. This sort of looks like that, but without enough I/O and with a dinky screen. And it’s underpowered, apparently.
Come on, it will not make the MacBook weigh anymore or ruin it’s looks if Apple put at least one on each side.
Just give us three USB-C ports. I don’t see the big deal.
At least two. That way we can charge and have a port open at the same time.
You can do that now with one of the adapters that Apple has released. The more typical MacBook owner probably won’t notice a need to do that for most of their usage.
Which is why there are other Mac laptops available for sale.
It’s splittable though. When you need three USB ports, you can in theory just plug 3 USB ports into the one USB port. That shouldn’t be a deal breaker, in my view.
Clearly this is prioritizing mostly wireless and single physical connection use – which is increasingly common. But it’s not excluding multi-device use. This is just requiring a hub or daisy chain in those situations. That actually makes multi-device use easier in certain situations: when every peripheral device is set up at a desk, you’ll only need to plug in one cable to dock or connect the Macbook into everything there.
I think you are right but 2 ports isn’t asking too much surely and would have prevented putting off a whole lot of people. If it is proved true in a year or people have come to terms with your advice by then lose it at that point, for sometimes perception is as important as fact. And as yet airdrop won’t work on my 3 year old iPad and won’t work between my computer with mountain lion and the one on Yosemite so there are still complications with the concept of non physical ports which will be far less no doubt even in a year.
Hubs don’t multiply bandwidth. USB 3.1Gen1 is a marketing gimmick for USB 3.0 — you’ve got 5Gbps on that port–theoretical–period.
You will feel two devices, and any more than that will cripple it.
That is a lot of bandwidth. More than enough to max out the transfer speeds of the Macbook’s SSD and all other consumer level computer peripherals that would typically be connected to it. And the next iteration (USB 3.1Gen2) is set to double the speed to 10Gbps.
It might not be enough bandwidth to maximize speed of multiple SSD data transfers and HD video streams – but it’s very close, and all the Pro level Macs made for doing that type of work do not have a single USB 3 port limitation.
While I agree that the computer isn’t for everyone, the mouth-breathing article doesn’t help make that case, unless you call burning down a forest to smoke out a squirrel effective.
I started eating sushi in the 2000s, but once having started, I will never stop. However, I failed to learn that sushi was something you ate because it was hip — I thought you ate things because you liked how they taste.
It amazes me the quality of writing that passes for publishable in tech journalism.
I often use my MB for presentations – handheld slide advancing usb unit and projector out. Will we be able to use an external multi-plug port to accommodate these situations?
Welcome to the club, be prepared to be attacked for not having tattooed somewhere.
Apple makes great stuff, but Apple also jumps the shark on stuff like this.
I love the look of the new Macbook, love the touchpad. 1 port? now I don’t like it. I’d have to carry multiple adapters to accomplish what I do now on my MBP.
I kinda look at it as a 12″ iPad with a built in keyboard, but without Touch and running OS X instead.
Now if this were a 12″ iPad with a keyboard… Sold.
for the record, sushi is disgusting, never catch me in a Prelude, and WTF is a Pokeymon card?
I’m not stunned, but it doesn’t do anything for me.
Give me that keyboard and touchpad on a new MBP though..
“Those stunned by Apple’s move may also drive a Honda Prelude, think sushi is all the rage, and are still trading Pokeymon cards,”
Yes, Apple already has an HDMI video adapter for it. There’s also a second USB-C port on the adapter, which could be used to charge it at the same time or plug in another device.
Read what you posted.
Hdmi port, and a USB port on the adapter. So you can use EITHER the USB port or charge it… Can’t do all 3.
What if you need the hdmi port, 2usb ports and need to charge? Or just 1 USB port hdmi port and charge..
Add a hub… Solves the USB port shortage, but can’t charge.
1 port may work for some, not all.
Sorry, Ace, you’re wrong.
The adapters have HDMI (or VGA) output, USB-C and USB-A.
So you can charge the laptop, drive video, and enjoy USB I/O all at the same time. There are links to the adapters found near the bottom of the MacBook tech specs page.
Which has been out since the product announcement earlier this week.
Time to move your goalposts a bit?
Have not even bothered to LOOK at the adapters.
1 port, not interested in the new Macbook. Staying with MBP.
I was responding to the comment above saying either power OR USB.
Doesn’t everyone use their iPhone and Apple Remote? Did you know that Apple TV handles presentations very well too. No USB or display ports.
I use Apple TV for my presentations too. Easy to hook up and it allows me to do presentations with my phone. They can also be done using the host’s computer using my iCloud account.
The days of carrying the computer and doing all the screen formatting to match the OH projector are over. Good Riddance!
Yes, you can. Apple’s announced adapters to permit, for example:
– HDMI out, USB-A and USB-C at the same time; letting you charge the MacBook, send video to the projector, and plug in the USB controller all at once. (The other multi-port adapter replaces HDMI with VGA output.)
Sorry to disappoint Backlash; I’m all out of lack-of-tatoo attacks today. Check back next week.
It eliminates the need for IT doofuses which is primary reason they get into a foaming rage at anything Apple.
To which I say progress – bring it on.
Well, for those that wanted an iPad with a bigger screen, a keyboard, more memory, USB, and runs OSX then those people got what they wanted. Who says Apple doesn’t listen? Even Mac apps that look like iOS apps! And comes in three colors!
The Mac finally morphed.
We have 2 MBPs at home and the only thing that the ports are typically used for is to charge and the occasional backup / charging of iPhones or iPads.
So in reality ports are often replaced by wireless tech. If you are traveling and need an ethernet hookup or connect to a projector then the dongles will be important.
As for having to connect to hard drives, external monitors etc having a combo port set up that has a USB-C connection would be ideal. I would hope Apple build something like that instead of expecting a third party to supply that.
Well, people finally have the big-screen iPad they’ve been wanting — and — BONUS! — it comes with a keyboard already attached, cool!
One thing I haven’t heard talked about much is that Apple has moved to an industry standard port. this means much cheaper 3rd party adaptors/ports/cables. Google just announce a new Pixel with USB-C and a bunch of cheaper adaptor/cables. I don’t think this is going to be nearly as painful as folks think.
Apple has been after this holy grail of one port construction for years. Having one port reduces – or possibly eliminates – phenomena such as metal fatigue, connector damage, electrical failures due to static discharge, and so on. It does transfer the connectivity load or responsibility to internal wireless technology, which is by definition slower than a direct file transfer; so upgrading one’s wireless network to accommodate faster speeds may have to be part of the budget when purchasing this laptop.
On my iMac I have a lightning cable to charge my iPhone but that could easily be replaced by just charging it from the wall, and I use an old Trackball Explorer which I love, but on my Macbook Air I never connect anything. The only loss is the magsafe, but I think it has been mentioned that the weight of the new Macbook is such that it would still get yanked off a surface.
Once again, a stupid decision by apple. Less and less of a computer company by the minute. They should just sell phones, pads and watches and shitcan computers.
Well, for those that wanted an iPad/iPhone with a bigger screen, a keyboard, more memory, and runs OSX then those people got what they wanted. Who says Apple does not listen? Even mac apps that look like iOS apps! And comes in three colors!
The Mac finally morphed.
sorry for the duplicate post
It is a nice progression, Apple will need to put more focus on data security, Uptime of their cloud services, ease and security of transfer over wireless platform like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and with devices other than Apple products, and apple has had problems with all of them and Wi-Fi issues on their products keep cropping up. If anything, Apple has created a set of goals which they will find it hard to keep with their recent software track record. A Good looking device is worth s^&t if it cannot provide the required security and privacy. A good progression nevertheless
I don’t know if this is being considered by the detractors who are complaining about the single port, but there is still the MacBook Pro for those (like myself) who need multiple USB ports for things that still use wired connections, such as MIDI music production.
I’m just now hearing about the MacBook, so I don’t even know if I could do music production with it – I didn’t feel like the MacBook Air was enough, and since it looks like the new MacBook is even scaled down from that, I suspect the answer is no. But I’d have to watch the presentation to be sure.
But fear not, the MBP still exists. 🙂
All right, I just looked, and it looks like the MacBook is capped out at 512GB of internal storage, while the new MBP can go up to 1TB (my 2011 MBP is at 750), so my next Mac will be an MBP, thank you. 😉
So nobody in 2015 wants to charge their laptop AND use a thumbdrive or back up their computer? Nobody in 2015 wants a screen bigger than 12″? Nobody in 2015 has a camera without wireless capability? Nobody in 2015 charges their phone from their computer? I’d feel a little differently about this if they’d offer a bigger screen option and included a free usb3 to usbc adapter.
Apple is definitely moving in a different direction, This type of device does not support musicians and photographers, or IT professionals. This is very interesting. Im excited to see the turn out. Should be interesting.
For me it is critical. I use every Mac for a minimum of ten years. I am grateful that my 2005 powerbook has 10 ports, counting audio and power, because some of them still work. If I had had to bet on it using one firewire port for everything, it would now be completely useless. However i use it as a writing station all the time. I wish I could still target boot it, but no firewire. (I wish I could target boot my 2013 MacBook Air). Stuff breaks over time; more ports, more longevity. I don’t buy into obsolescence. Macs are marvelous well made tools. I don’t plan on buying a new shovel every year because of a redesigned handle.