• AnimalsDream@slrpnk.netEnglish
    191·
    2 days ago

    My current phone lacks a headphone jack and I hate it. It would be okay if it was replaced with two usb c ports, but there’s only one which means I either choose between headphones or charging, or I must use an adapter. Or wireless, but I don’t want yet another fucking battery to charge.

  • Fades@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2815·
    2 days ago

    This post is actually so stupid, they didn’t take shit from us, it’s still right there.

    Nobody uses a firewire cable anymore, USB-A/B is very outdated. On my work macbook with is a M1 Macbook Pro, I have a card reader, a usb-c and an hdmi port on one side, and a headphone jack, 2 usb-c ports and magsafe power ports.

    Even if there wasn’t, and it was just all usb-c, you can accomplish all of the same things ports. The old macbooks only had these ports on one side and the other had like one firewire or something.

    USB-C can be used to deliver audio, video, ethernet connection, etc. You didn’t lose any functionality. Worst case scenario you’d need a hub for the card readers or a usb to usb-c adapter, or ethernet to usb-c.

    My work provided me with a usb hub that includes usb-a/b slots, hdmi, ethernet and power, which takes a single usb-c port. They’re cheap and work just fine if you really need more than 4-5 ports.

    Don’t take it from me though!

    2024 16" macbook pro: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/121554

    • Charging and Expansion
    • SDXC card slot
    • HDMI port
    • 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • MagSafe 3 port
    • Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports with support for:
      • Charging
      • DisplayPort
      • Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s)
      • Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
      • USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
  • NastyNative@mander.xyzEnglish
    112·
    2 days ago

    Laptops from the 2010s represented a peak in design and performance, but since then, it feels like we’ve seen consistent downsizing and downgrades. Take the latest Intel CPUs, for instance—it’s as if the marketing pitch is, ‘It may not be very powerful, but at least it’s energy-efficient.’ It’s almost as though manufacturers are catering to a market they perceive as indifferent, and we, as consumers, continue to accept diminishing returns while paying increasingly higher prices. This trend reflects a broader issue in life today: settling for less while being charged more.

    This picture captures the essence of that realization, and it is truly heart-wrenching.

  • SleafordMod@feddit.ukEnglish
    723·
    3 days ago

    And there’s the soldered RAM and storage, and glued-in or screwed-in battery…

  • Eugene V. Debs' Ghost@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    147·
    2 days ago

    Fades is either drinking Apple flavor Kool-Aid or has been fully brainwashed by apple into thinking everything is okay because a company said “you don’t care, you’re stuck here with us.”

    It’s really sad how people will bootlick for any company once they bought enough products.

  • RoyBattyButCoward@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    355·
    3 days ago

    I miss having a thousand different cables to keep track of /s

    really, all we need is the companies to start packing those laptops with thunderbolt3 or equivalent USB-C (USB 4). I love the old ports, but they were unnecessary. I’d rather the industry finally takes on the open thunderbolt standard and we’re all good to go. With 10 thunderbolt ports you have 10 HDMI, or 10 USB, or 10 Ethernet, or 10 headphone jacks, or 10 RJ45 or whatever you need + PCIe tunneling.

  • frazw@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3167·
    3 days ago

    This is my ~8 month old work laptop.

    Is a Dell.

    2 usb c not pictured.

    You have options.

      • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        132·
        3 days ago

        Apple brought back the mag charger.

        I wish it still had the SD reader and one A port, but it doesn’t really come up that often. Just 3D printing and only because I’m too lazy to set up a octoprint server or whatever.

        • Fades@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          they do have SDXC card readers:

          2024 16" macbook pro: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/121554

          • Charging and Expansion
          • SDXC card slot
          • HDMI port
          • 3.5 mm headphone jack
          • MagSafe 3 port
          • Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports with support for:
            • Charging
            • DisplayPort
            • Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s)
            • Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
            • USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
          • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            1·
            2 days ago

            Ahh that’s nice, I bought the 2015 right after the Touch Bar pros went in sale because of the “you only need USB c now” ethos.

            I later inherited a Touch Bar MacBook Pro, and it has frequent charging problems with USB C.

            It’s gonna be time for an upgrade in a couple more years, and it’s nice to know that the new MBPs are sane again.

        • thejml@lemm.eeEnglish
          8·
          3 days ago

          MBPs all have HDMI and SD slots… but Definitely set up the octopi with a cheap webcam. I’ve run one for years now and it’s so nice to be able to kick off and check on prints from my phone. Not to mention it doesn’t matter what computer I slice on and the files are small enough that I have gcode for almost everything I’ve printed for instant access to reprint whenever.

        • Laurel Raven@lemmy.zipEnglish
          3·
          3 days ago

          An octopi is a fun project, for mine I printed a new internal enclosure for the mainboard that has mounts for the pi, so the printer is completely integrated with it (never did finish setting up the internal power routing to power it directly off the power supply, but that’s also completely doable)

          • thejml@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            3 days ago

            I purposely don’t do the printer PS powers the octopi thing… I like to be able to drop some gcode on it for later or do updates when the printer isn’t on.

      • idunnololz@lemmy.worldEnglish
        104·
        3 days ago

        I was recently convinced that the M1 MBP is one of the cheapest and most cost effective laptops on the market right now. I know it sounds crazy but it appears to be true. You can get a m1 mbp refurbished (sometimes with warranty) for anywhere between $400 - $700. Making it a budget laptop. It also destroys anything in that price range in terms of performance and what you are getting.

        • socphoenix@midwest.socialEnglish
          71·
          3 days ago

          We bought ours when it first came out after several terrible windows laptops. It still runs like new and there’s hasn’t been any need to consider upgrading (m1 air in our case). The biggest complaint is once or twice a year I need a usb c to an adapter for an old device or something.

          • idunnololz@lemmy.worldEnglish
            7·
            3 days ago

            I’m not in the Apple ecosystem but I have a 16" 32GB M1 MBP. It was given to me when I started my job as my work machine and the thing is a beast especially comparing it to all the terrible laptops Apple came out with prior (removal of mag safe, addition of touch bar, the keyboard issues). I still use that laptop for work today and it honestly doesn’t even feel like it’s aged a day. Everything is still extremely fast and I use my work laptop 8 hours a day for extremely demanding tasks (I’m a dev so things like running dozens of docker containers, compilation, Android emulators, multiple IDEs, etc).

        • golli@lemm.eeEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          Honestly agreed. For the majority of users that just do light office work and browsing it is a great piece of technology. Although i would say it is less about performance (because those people would be fine with even less) and more about build quality, battery life, fanless design and good screen.

          The one issue i have with it is the 256gb non-removable storage. More actually than the 8gb RAM, which tbh for many people is enough for casual use.

          I am still waiting for anyone not named apple to release a similarly priced fanless laptop with good build quality. With lunar lake it should finally be possible imo.

          • idunnololz@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            3 days ago

            If you spend a little more (like $700) you can get 16gb ram and 512gb. For performance I think “light office work” is selling it short. It’s more than capable of handling heavy office work IMO.

            • golli@lemm.eeEnglish
              2·
              2 days ago

              Yeah, I guess it depends on what kind of work. I thought that for demanding office stuff the 8gb RAM might end up mattering after all.

              But your $700 with warranty are an amazing deal that make this irrelevant. That really only leaves the single external monitor (without using workarounds) as downside.

              Where I am in Europe however I don’t think I could find the better specced models anywhere close to that price

    • elucubra@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      20·
      3 days ago

      While I personally prefer this, I’m going to guess that the majority of people are generally not going to be using more than 2 or three usb ports at once. My take is that for most people, 2 Cs, an A, DP or HDMI would be optimal.

      The availability of BT and wifi peripherals make this acceptable for many.

      I still have a cutting plotter that uses RS232, but that’s connected to an oldish desktop, on the network, so a laptop never gets connected physically.

      I’m not saying that this is good, simply that this is probably acceptable for many.

      • Carnelian@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        3 days ago

        I have the same mac pictured above, and also a windows laptop with many ports.

        The mac I plug into my work center via a single usb-c connection which charges it, connects it to my external monitor, and connects it to all of my USB equipment (about 6 items ranging from m&k to music equipment). Having only the one wire is huge in terms of making it easier to break down the machine from its setup and pack it up for the road.

        The pc is connected separately to power as it can’t be powered through the usb-c, and to the monitor separately for some esoteric reason. So then I need a third cable to connect it to my equipment.

        So in my case the less-is-more approach is actually preferable

        that all being said

        I’m sure other windows laptops can be configured with a one-wire solution just fine. And I don’t mean to pretend the 2x usb-c config was a popular choice or anything. Only on like two models or something had it. The newer macbooks brought back sd card slots and hdmi and everything by popular demand.

        I looked into it and you can still run everything off of just one usb-c on those ones, so at the end of the day more options is just better for more people

        • Rinox@feddit.itEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          The mac I plug into my work center via a single usb-c connection which charges it, connects it to my external monitor, and connects it to all of my USB equipment

          I do this with my Dell, which also has many ports ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

        • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          Was just using a new ROG something something laptop for a job. The power connector is some little rectangle thing and it almost fit in a USBc. I was surprised when it was unique. 1 wire aint happening on that.

    • reev@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7·
      3 days ago

      Haha I have almost exactly the same one. Probably a slightly older model. Works for most stuff but mine only has 8GB RAM which is a bit of a killer…

    • Miles O'Brien@startrek.websiteEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      My 4 month old laptop has hdmi on the back, ethernet on the left, four usb 3.whatever slots with two on each side, two USB c slots on the right side, and a microsd slot.

      I think it even has a 3.5mm headset jack but I’d have to get out of bed to check. I don’t have any peripherals that use 3.5mm anymore though so it’s just a nice little bonus.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      11·
      3 days ago

      You have options.

      I don’t. We have standardized on Macbook Pros at work because otherwise we’d have to use the company-issued image, which really sucks for development work (multi-day turnaround to get anything approved).

      I’m interested in replacing my current laptop (E495 Thinkpad), and it’s really hard to find anything sensible w/ an RJ-45 port, especially one w/ decent Linux support. I want something in a similar form factor (14", or 16" if the bezels are really thin), but with updated internals (nothing fancy, but the 3500U is getting a bit slow for casual gaming).

      I’ve been thinking of a Framework laptop, but the RJ-45 port is wack, only having 4 ports kind of sucks (they could have better density with those ports), and it doesn’t have the Trackpoint that I like so much about my Thinkpad. We’ll see what I end up with when I actually buy one though, but maybe I’ll have to take another look at Dell’s professional line.

      • JustARegularNerd@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        anything decent with an RJ-45 port

        Not sure if the current generation still has it, but work issued us techs with ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 laptops and I’ve been happy with it as a work device. It has an RJ-45 (was considered a requirement when they procured the laptops for techs) and mine has a Ryzen 5 Pro 5675U. Only complaints I would have for it is soldered USB-C connectors (which double as the only power source for the machine) and keyboard isn’t as nice as my personal T480 although definitely still fine.

        I would caution against the 12th gen Intel i7 ThinkPads, we’ve had multiple internally have overheating issues or stuck in connected standby. My colleague wishes he never replaced his original work issue (same as mine).

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          The E14 and T14 still have them as well, and that’s what I’m interested in. I used to buy T-series, but they started soldering the RAM, so I switched to E-series for my last one. I don’t know if they solder RAM on the E14 though, they probably do.

          I really miss my T440, which had a fantastic keyboard, but my E495 is still better than my Macbook Pro (hate that keyboard) and pretty much every other laptop I’ve used. Not sure how the newer Thinkpads are, but I definitely don’t want those ultra-thin keyboards so many vendors are going with.

          And yeah, I’ll probably go AMD again, I want the APU perf and don’t want a dGPU.

    • Homescool@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1114·
      3 days ago

      Look at all those ports I’ll never need

      We should have had USBC 20 years ago.

          • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
            71·
            3 days ago

            You should probably look in a mirror, Mr. Prisoner.

            You’re the one asking to be constrained.

          • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
            41·
            3 days ago

            Your other comments are less nonsensical, so I’ll only focus on this one.

            • Prisoners don’t say this
            • More options is freedom, literally the exact opposite of being imprisoned
            • Recognizing reality is conditioning…?
            • You can’t just say the opposite of something factual is true, that’s what MAGAts do
            • Oh
            • Homescool@lemmy.worldEnglish
              22·
              3 days ago

              My point was that defending the pissing contest over standards that gave us consumers six ports instead of one to do all the same tasks really misses the mark, imo.

          • Morganza@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
            1·
            3 days ago

            Not really, i don’t use usb-c for everything cause for me it gives no advantage. Like my LAN cable still works, my aux port is up-to my satisfaction, my DP port is straightforward.

            Why should i go to USB-C if everything works? I’m not Anti Type-c but I’m also not Pro type-c, if that makes sense. I’ll use it if I’m missing on some new tech.

  • Psythik@lemmy.worldEnglish
    886·
    3 days ago

    I’m no Apple fanboy (never owned a product of theirs and never will) but to be fair, those two USB-C ports can do everything the old, removed ports can do and more. The real crime here is not putting enough of them on the laptop.

    Edit: The only port I’ll lament the removal of is the headphone jack. USB-C headphones are rare, adapters get lost, and bluetooth headphones compress the audio and have input lag. Everything else can go, though, and won’t be missed. (Okay fine ethernet can stay too.)

  • dinckel@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1268·
    3 days ago

    I dont know why this is controversial. I’m way more happy with 4x USB-C, than 5 unique ports, that will likely never be used on a regular basis, even when they were relevant

  • HeartyOfGlass@lemm.eeEnglish
    1666·
    3 days ago

    Fuck firewire. Glad it’s dead. USB C is the best thing to happen to peripherals since the mouse.

  • technotony@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    16·
    2 days ago

    The desktop equivalent is “What happened to all my PCIe expansion slots?!”

    (Note: processor PCIe lane count has gone up, used to be like 16 from CPU, 4 from chipset, since a GPU didn’t need an x1x6 in terms of bandwidth - see SLI/crossfire. These days, it’s just that many lanes go to M.2, with each using up to 4 lanes - vs having 6 SATA driven off the chooser)

  • ccunning@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20615·
    3 days ago

    I dunno - I’m pretty sure I’d choose the modern MacBook Pro’s ports over any of these other options.

    • pixely@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14930·
      3 days ago

      We’re mindlessly bashing Apple here, we don’t need your sensible reasoning!

      • aimizo@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        3 days ago

        From my personal experience Apple products aren’t as great as the fanboys claim but are far far better than they haters say they are.

      • MonkderVierte@lemmy.mlEnglish
        21·
        3 days ago

        Where do you see Apple bashing? Most comments are about the general state of notebook ports.

      • And009@reddthat.comEnglish
        1422·
        3 days ago

        Continue bashing, they use apple maths and only have ports on expensive models.

    • Creat@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      255·
      3 days ago

      If you got that kind of money to spend on a laptop, sure. I really don’t.

      Edit: to be clear, I know this is a stack of Mac’s in OPs picture, but the development that the entry models have basically no ports at all is a more recent development. Having to pick the pro just to be able to connect your stuff without dongles or hubs is a bit insane considering the price (and price difference).

      • 418_im_a_teapot@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        It really depends on what you use your laptop for. My 2013 MBP lasted 9 years and was how I got my work done. That comes out to 76¢ per day, and I make a fair bit more than that per hour.

        But if you’re looking for a personal computer to surf the internet, yes, that could be cost prohibitive. But then it also matters less what device you buy.

        As for ports, I’ve never needed a dongle on the 2013 model. I did need one for a USB A drive on the newest model, but this little thing has solved that problem easily. I didn’t even have to buy that since my monitor has USB A ports – I was just too lazy to reach around the back to use it every time. I’m not sure I understand all the complaints about the occasional need for a dongle.

    • DJDarren@thelemmy.clubEnglish
      141·
      3 days ago

      I have an M2 Air, and all mine is missing from that is the SDXC slot, third TB4 and HDMI, and honestly, it’s fine. A third TB4/USB would be nice for when I’m doing my radio show and have to plug in my controller and mic while also charing my phone, but I already have a hub so it doesn’t bother me.

      That said, the limited ports on my M1 mini are quite problematic. Two TB3/USB and two USB3, but one of them is lost to a DisplayPort cable for my second monitor. So I have a desktop computer that functionally has three USB sockets, which ain’t great. But again, I have a hub, so it’s not a huge problem.

    • Ilovethebomb@lemm.eeEnglish
      81·
      3 days ago

      Power, HDMI, a few USBs, and headphones, all you’ll ever likely need.

      There’s no doubt a dongle for anything else.

      • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        3 days ago

        Yes, and it’s better to be downgrading USB-C ports with adapters than to be stuck adapting a USB-A port to USB-C or ethernet.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
        24·
        3 days ago

        Cause I live toting a do gle around and risk breaking the laptop because of it.

        I did enough of that in the 90’s, TYVM

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
        25·
        3 days ago

        Cause I live toting a do gle around and risk breaking the laptop because of it.

        I did enough of that in the 90’s, TYVM

      • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
        36·
        3 days ago

        Unless you want a desk setup. I have 2 monitors, kb, mouse, external dac, usb extension for thumbdrives, ethernet, usb soundcard for my mic and a kvm. That’s dp, hdmi, 6 usb-a, ethernet and I still sometimes plug-in 1-3 devices to charge them.

        • edric@lemm.eeEnglish
          17·
          3 days ago

          With that many connections, using a dock or a monitor with thunderbolt seems more practical than having a ton of stuff plugged into your laptop.

          • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
            18·
            3 days ago

            It’s not about it being practical. It’s about if it’s actually doable or not and how well it would work. Having the native ports will always be better that using a hub/dock.

            • bamboo@lemm.eeEnglish
              4·
              3 days ago

              Strongly disagree. I use a laptop with a thunderbolt dock. Being able to plug in a single cable to provide power, connect my monitor, all of my input devices, Ethernet, and anything else in a single cable is awesome. If I had to plug 10 things in manually it would be quite cumbersome. I disconnect the laptop daily as I bring it between work and home, as well as use it, well, as a portable laptop.

              • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
                15·
                3 days ago

                Kudos to you.

                What you could do now is step out of your bubble and consider that other people have different use cases and might need or prefer to have more native ports.

                You literally lose nothing by having more connectivity options.

            • Ilovethebomb@lemm.eeEnglish
              1·
              3 days ago

              Yeah, because plugging in one thing is way harder than plugging in six.

              This is a classic use case for a laptop dock.

              • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
                23·
                3 days ago

                That’s a very lazy, short-sighted and first world problem way of looking at this issue.

                Why would having the option of using either a hub or plugging things on separately be worse than only being able to use a hub?

        • misk@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          131·
          3 days ago

          It sounds like you need a desktop computer or a docking station.

          • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
            35·
            3 days ago

            Like I already said to another user: No. There are more than a few use cases that require a mobile set up for demos for example but that you’d also want to use in a desk setting. For example, architects or sw dev.

            Why are you making an effort to justify getting shafted by corporations?

            • edric@lemm.eeEnglish
              51·
              3 days ago

              We aren’t justifying getting shafted by corporations. What I and the other person are saying is that at some point as your connections and cables multiply, you need to consolidate and streamline your setup for it to be more practical and actually mobile. I’m all for having all the basic necessity ports on my laptop, but when your desk ends up as a mess of cables and pulling out and putting back your laptop becomes bothersome with having to attach/re-attach everything every time, having a dock makes it much simpler. Subjecting yourself to setting up all those cables on both ends instead of just one end is the opposite of having a mobile workstation for quick setup and cleanup.

              • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
                23·
                3 days ago

                You’re still missing the forest for the trees.

                There’s no real reason why you’d have to choose having a few ports + a hub or tons of ports + the option of using a hub.

                If you prefer to “consolidate” your devices to a single poinf of failure on an external device then by all means, go ahead. I just think that it’s pretty crappy that options are being artificially limited and users of all people are making excuses for it.

            • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.worldEnglish
              51·
              3 days ago

              In this situation a hub is still better. You can pack all the stuff away plugged into the hub for easier set up. If your plugging that all into your laptop, you’ll need to plug it all back in again when you move.

              • potustheplant@feddit.nlEnglish
                15·
                3 days ago

                Which might be an issue for you but it’s not for me. Also, I prefer the flexibility to have all of the ports I might need, natively.

    • Free_Thoughts@feddit.ukEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      Yeah, props to Apple for bringing back the card reader and HDMI. When I bought my early 2015 MBP I specifically went with the older model because these ports were removed on the newer one which also came with the shitty butterfly keyboard as well which they’ve also since discontinued.