What the Heck Is Happening at Apple?

Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by theptip on Monday October 31, 2016 @11:52AM (#12837919)

That's because magsafe is magical, and they removed all the other ports. I have heard nobody complain about the charging situation on macbooks; GP's point is specifically about cell phones.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by Osmium on Monday October 31, 2016 @01:18PM (#12838803)

> That's because magsafe is magical, and they removed all the other ports.

In fairness, there are two huge new benefits to their new approach:

* You can charge on either the left or the right side. This reduces cable strain.

* If the cable breaks, you can swap it for another (cheap) USB-C cable, without having to buy another power brick.

There's an argument against Magsafe too: laptops are lighter now, so the magnets would have to be weaker to still work reliably, and thus also have more accidental disconnections (this is irritating). I'm not completely sold on this argument, but you can buy third-party USB-C Magsafe-like adaptors if it's really important to you.

For me, who's had several frayed chargers over the years due to cable strain, I really like their new approach.

(Note: there's a legitimate argument against Apple here too... I've heard that the reason Magsafe chargers are so susceptible to fraying is because they don't use PVC, and instead use a more 'environmentally-friendly' plastic, which is much weaker. They could still use more substantial strain relief regardless, but I'd guess they have aesthetic arguments against that, which is a silly reason for something so important. I'm not sure how much truth there is to this however.)

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by grzm on Monday October 31, 2016 @01:38PM (#12839024)

"There's an argument against Magsafe too: laptops are lighter now, so the magnets would have to be weaker to still work reliably, and thus also have more accidental disconnections (this is irritating). I'm not completely sold on this argument, but you can buy third-party USB-C Magsafe-like adaptors if it's really important to you."

Yeah, that is a pretty weak argument :) The MagSafe works not by working (directly) against the strength of the magnet, but by the lever action of the connector eccentrically against the body. You can try this yourself by trying to pull the MagSafe away straight on compared to at a slight angle. Also, existing MagSafe is used with MBA, which are lighter than the new MBP. If that were really a problem, we'd already be seeing it.

I do hope that there are good third-party MagSafe replacements out there. The reviews of the Griffin BreakSafe are mixed. https://www.amazon.com/Griffin-BreakSafe-Breakaway-Chromeboo...

Or maybe Apple will come out with one in the future. I would love to know more about how Apple arrived at the decision to not provide some sort of MagSafe equivalent feature.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by stouset on Monday October 31, 2016 @01:34PM (#12838972)

Also regarding Magsafe, I'm trying to remember the last time I kicked a cable that would have otherwise sent my laptop flying and… I can't.

I think the difference now is that laptop batteries last a hell of a lot longer than they used to. So many people have a fixed charging location (e.g., a desk) and spend a lot less time in some place with a cable precariously stretched across the room to reach a couch or w/e.

Just a personal theory, maybe not true for others.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by grzm on Monday October 31, 2016 @01:42PM (#12839070)

"Also regarding Magsafe, I'm trying to remember the last time I kicked a cable that would have otherwise sent my laptop flying and… I can't."

I can't either. A this point it's more the convenience of being able to pick up and go without needing to unplug the machine, and one I'll miss when I eventually get a new machine. That said, it's human nature not to remember things that don't happen.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by YuriNiyazov on Monday October 31, 2016 @05:32PM (#12841104)

No kids or pets, clearly.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by stouset on Monday October 31, 2016 @06:50PM (#12841669)

I don't, but even then you would need to: have kids/pets and work the majority of the day around them while not at a fixed desk. If you work from a fixed desk, the cable is much more likely to be in a location where it won't be pulled. If you charge all day, and only use it intermittently from a sofa, you don't need the cable.

That's a market that exists, sure. Is it a big market? I doubt it.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by YuriNiyazov on Monday October 31, 2016 @09:34PM (#12842671)

The number of dads and moms that leave work early to pick up their kids at 3pm who then have to catch up on work in the evening in the family room (on the couch, at the dinner table) with their kids riding the dog around the aforementioned couch or dinner table is huge.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by stouset on Tuesday November 01, 2016 @02:59PM (#12849065)

You're missing the part where the laptops last essentially all day. If the laptop's been charging, they're not going to need a cable.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by snowwrestler on Monday October 31, 2016 @01:54PM (#12839207)

Apple's theory on removing MagSafe is that their laptops now provide enough working time, and charge fast enough, that it is rare that people will need to work while plugged in. This is clearly influenced by their experience with iPhone and iPad. It's also why they felt fine with silly-looking charge orientations for their mouse and pencil.

Is it wrong? We'll see. I think a lot of people work with their laptops plugged in as a matter of habit rather than necessity. That doesn't make it wrong, though.

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Re:What the Heck Is Happening at Apple? by stouset on Monday October 31, 2016 @01:30PM (#12838946)

People haven't complained about it because they grade Apple on a curve.

Apple doesn't use a shitty micro-USB plug? End of the world. Laptop manufacturers use a cornucopia of power plugs that change basically all the time? Crickets.

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