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A comment on Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up. Parent comment

Re:Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up by thomastjeffery on Sunday March 05, 2017 @03:15PM (#13798290)
Apple owns the patent on magsafe. That was the one feature I actually liked on my MacBook pro. I have seen to many chargers wear out, or wear out their ports. Magsafe also made it easier to connect the charger.

Think how nice it would be to have the same functionality with USB ports....

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Re:Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up by friendzis on Monday March 06, 2017 @02:31AM (#13801234)
Currently at work we use (mostly T 4xx/5xx series) Lenovo laptops with rectangular power connectors [1]. I have mine for ~2 years, was used ~year prior. I connect/disconnect charger multiple times a day and both ports are sturdy as new. Others state similar feelings.

[1]: http://shop.lenovo.com/ISS_Static/options/US/images/17912239...

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Re:Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up by achamayou on Sunday March 05, 2017 @04:00PM (#13798596)
FWIW, some appliance connectors have used magnets for well over a decade in Japan and elsewhere in Asia (it usually looks like https://www.liandung.com.tw/Japan-m/LT-515.html). I owned an electric kettle with one of those.

I don't understand how Apple could patent this and prevent anyone else from implementing it. In any event, there do seem to be 3rd party implementations for USB-C if you're keen on the feature: https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/04/griffin-breaksafe-magne....

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Re:Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up by madeofpalk on Sunday March 05, 2017 @04:15PM (#13798704)
Apple patented MagSafe and how it works, specifically. This doesn't preclude other magnetic breakaway cables if they don't work exactly the same way as MagSafe.
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