undefined | Better HN

0 pointsdrusepth5y ago0 comments

I didn't complain about PS/2 and VGA ports because the replacements were decidedly better.

I've yet to see anything that makes the removal of a 3.5mm jack seem comparable. You couldn't use DVI or HDMI without replacing the port, which isn't the case with Bluetooth (which you can use regardless of having a 3.5mm jack or not).

A more apt comparison in my eyes seems like wireless mice/keyboards. They don't have cords so they're significantly nicer for cable management, look better on your desk, have longer reach, and probably have other benefits (as well as their own set of tradeoffs like latency, battery, etc). You can use them now or you can use wired versions... but just imagine if a company started selling computers where you could _only_ use wireless keyboard/mice unless you bought USB dongles. Sure, you could just buy the dongles and deal with the loss of choice/convenience, but... why would you want to?

0 comments

scarface745y ago

but just imagine if a company started selling computers where you could _only_ use wireless keyboard/mice unless you bought USB dongles.

You mean like the one port MacBook that once you plugged it in for power you had to use wireless accessories, the current MacBook Air and 13” MacBook Pro that only has two ports - but once you plug in power and a monitor you don’t have any ports left?

drusepthOP5y ago

Yeah, kind of like that (except laptops have a built-in keyboard/mouse, so it's not as much of a problem as, say, a desktop where people rely on their own existing hardware would be). I'd wager most people buy those devices because the rest of the machine is so compelling, despite the lack of ports.

Anecdotally, it seems like each HN thread about new macbooks also has plenty of comments from people complaining about the lack of ports and/or wishing for more. I don't see a lot of people saying the equivalent of, "Apple's never gonna bring those ports back, get over it and get used to it."

scarface745y ago

It doesn’t look like Apple will ever bring back Ethernet ports, HDMI, dedicated power ports to free up a USB port or even USB 3 ports to laptops.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsdrusepth5y ago0 comments

I didn't complain about PS/2 and VGA ports because the replacements were decidedly better.

0 comments

scarface745y ago

but just imagine if a company started selling computers where you could _only_ use wireless keyboard/mice unless you bought USB dongles.

drusepthOP5y ago

scarface745y ago

It doesn’t look like Apple will ever bring back Ethernet ports, HDMI, dedicated power ports to free up a USB port or even USB 3 ports to laptops.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse