It's not gone, it's present in all most selling Mac laptops, my latest rMBP has it, I think they only removed it from new MacBook because it's too lightweight and the magnet need to be super weak in order to get itself ejected once it's pulled without pulling the laptop itself, and usb type c was probably used to eliminate excessive separate chargin port to make this particular laptop lighter and smaller which is its main purpose.
As others have already pointed out, no, MagSafe is not gone.
Dell's chargers, as do many other PC chargers over the last 10 years, routinely break the charging port on the computer if they get yanked on too much, which is of course far more expensive to replace than a new charger.
You're bitching a lot about my evidence being anecdotal because it's only based on hundreds of chargers, and you're right, but your evidence appears to be based on, um, a single Dell charger that you think is awesome. That seems pretty weak.
Lastly, I do agree with you about the new USB-C charger for the MacBook. I think it's stupid and a step backwards and I wish they had retained MagSafe on that model.
I'm curious to how much hardware support goes into this, since most Apple machines are designed to not be support friendly (eg. non-replaceable and/or difficult to replace normal wear-n-tear components).
> routinely break the charging port on the computer if they get yanked on too much
Yes, most laptops have this issue, although it's not nearly as common with modern laptops as it used to be. However, I contest that's a design fault in the laptop, not the charger.
> which is of course far more expensive to replace than a new charger
Not always true.[1][2] DC jacks can often be bought for less than $5 online, and then it's just labor to solder it into place. A search online turns out quite a few services for $75 inclusive of the DC jack cost (your local repair shop probably does it even cheaper now, since no shipping involved, etc). Apple's cheapest adapter with magsafe cable on it is $79. A Thinkpad charger will only run you $59.99.[3]
> You're bitching a lot about my evidence being anecdotal because it's only based on hundreds of chargers, and you're right, but your evidence appears to be based on, um, a single Dell charger that you think is awesome. That seems pretty weak.
It's difficult to comment on this without resorting to some sort of "fanboy" argument.
> I think it's stupid and a step backwards and I wish they had retained MagSafe on that model.
I think we both agree on this. Worse off, if that single port breaks, you now cannot charge your laptop, nor use any peripherals (and a peripheral is more likely to break that USB port than the charger in my experience - such as a USB thumb drive hanging out and someone smacks it on accident). Even worse off, that port isn't easily repairable, so it's back to apple (who will replace the entire motherboard as their "fix", or if it's out of warranty, it's time to buy a new laptop).
[1] http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC461LL/A/apple-60w-magsaf...
[2] http://repairmydcjack.com/
[3] http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo...
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Retina+Macbook+2015+Teardown...
That's an oranges-to-apples comparison. :)
It's not fair to compare 3rd party repair services to a new Apple product. There are also 3rd party repair services for Apple chargers. For example, I know these guys will repair them: http://madmacsoforegon.com/Mad_Macs_of_Oregon/Welcome.html
>
> It's not fair to compare 3rd party repair services to a new Apple product.
You have to remember that Alupis was replying to the following comment (which he quoted in his comment):
> [the charging port on a computer is] of course far more expensive to replace than a new charger...
Context is everything, friend. :)
This is an unsubstantiated claim not backed by any evidence. In fact, your original post speaks against your very claim - you advocate people be ginger with their chargers or risk breaking them.
> This design already does the best job in the industry at handling hard yanks——that's what MagSafe is for
You mean to say "that's what MagSafe was for". Magsafe is gone now... (although I would generally agree that type of connector is good).
> it does fine with ordinary, expected use and abuse of the cable
Clearly not the case, as evidenced by this thread here.
> And it does great with being thrown into a bag or dropped.
I can't speak to either way except with anecdotal evidence of having to replace far more macbook chargers than any other type.
> What it doesn't do, because that's impossible, is to magically become able to be yanked on 500 times and coiled as tightly as possible around itself, without ever wearing out
Somehow my Thinkpad's charger hasn't worn out, and I'm guilty of every laptop charger sin there is. The same holds true for my previous Dell laptop. These types of chargers are usually made from hard plastic, with a plastic cable. They don't fray the same way macbook rubber-y chargers do. In fact, Dell's chargers are designed specifically to be tightly wound around the charger and come with a nice rubber strap to hold it tight.
> Your implied accusation that "design aesthetics" have taken precedence over functionality and durability is unfounded
Perhaps, but it does seem so given all the anecdotal evidence in this thread. It looks pretty, but wore out far quicker than most should.
> The fact is that Apple's charger works a lot better and is a lot more durable than the competition.
This is another unsubstantiated claim, and/or is supported only by your proposition people treat their chargers with tenderness (which isn't going to happen).
Plain and simple - these things need to be designed to take a lot of abuse. If Apple can do that, great... but it seems they took a giant leap backwards with the new USB-C charger which will cause the infamous "broken DC jack" problem all over again.