This is typical of Apple today, they bring out a new iPhone 7 with “NO” headphone jack and now the latest insult – a so called PRO laptop with “NO” USB or SD card reader.
Shocking…Apple are so far away from their users it beggars belief if they even care anymore. They bring out a new “PRO” laptop without any USB or SD card slots and expect PRO users to buy extra add ons to make it happen…its a joke; extra add ons that you could mistakenly leave in a hurry and a Christmas tree of cables all to make this laptop “NORMAL”. Casey Neistat nails it for me with his user review and his cheeky way of telling a story.
Apple, get a grip of yourselves. This MacBook Pro is a JOKE…The core users are up in arms because of your minimalistic nonsense and to expect PRO users to buy add ons to get at least a simple USB is downright irresponsible.
I absolutely agree with you and Casey, Apple has lost the plot as far as producing a product for professional users is concerned!
They seem utterly clueless, why don;t they ask pros what we want and simply provide it?!
I do think people are undervaluing the importance of FOUR Thunderbolt 3 Ports. Seriously that isn’t major important for video?
Consider the importance of external SSD Raid on TB3 as we shift to 4K.
For the growing live streaming market, it will be possible to put Four video cameras on a single TB3 port for live switching once someone comes out with the box.
I suspect magsafe had to go for the multipurpose TB3 port.
I’ll miss the SD card slot though. Most smaller professional (and consumer) cameras use SD cards. Perhaps Apple feels that’s going to change sooner than later but I doubt it. The cards just keep increasing in capacity and speed.
Again though. FOUR TB3 ports. Why do the complainers keep missing that, especially “professionals.”
I’m actually considering building a Hackintosh for next computer. Especially since the iMac I was eyeing is now £400 more expensive for exactly the same machine! Not a chance APPLE!
But it has four USB ports, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports – this is easily the most powerful and expandable laptop Apple have ever released. TB3 finally enables eGPU which will be game changing at the desktop where GPU performance has become critical for video applications. So it doesn’t have the legacy USB-A ports, that’s a “today” problem, this laptop is more like a “tomorrow” solution.
When Apple are behind the pack, everyone complains. When Apple are leading edge, everyone complains. It’s just disappointing how childish so many editors apparently are 🙁
HDW : Where are the 4 USB ports ???…it only has TB3 ports and one headphone socket, I am assuming you are talking about the Apple adapter ? Whats childish about not wanting a load of adapters hanging off your laptop just to give you USB and SD card reader.
OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock. Initially $279
https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock/
5 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
S/PDIF
Firewire 800
Ethernet
Audio In/out
Mini Display port
SD Card Reader
2 TB3 ports (one to computer and one pass through my guess)
Expected Feb 2017
So one box gives you good port coverage all using a single TB3 port. Better than a gaggle of adaptors. I’m sure they’ll be competing docks.
BTW I think Justin is mostly right with his assessment.
Apple marketing thinks we want a smaller laptop. (You know when they’ve run out of ideas – when minaturization becomes a marketing ploy) In the rush to produce the smallest 15″ laptop, they eliminated enough to render their product less optimal. Smaller is not necessarily better. I wish the 17″ model was still available.
Apple’s competitors seem to manage to keep an SD card slot USB3 as well as thunderbolt3. Why not Apple?
Apple’s poor design decisions were rumoured many months ago – and that’s why I bought the 2015 model which for me is a far more useful machine because Thunderbolt 2 is compatible with all those firewire drives I’ve accumulated over the last 10 years. Thunderbolt 2 is certainly fast enough for 4K – USB3 is fast enough. Infact Thunderbolt 3 is so fast that it outperforms the SSD it serves. Maybe it’s the future – but maybe we need a bridge to the future. This is something Dell, Asus and others understand.
If this was Dell or Acer, nobody would bat an eyelid. It works, it’s a great laptop and the new Touchbar makes like so much easier. I’m a pro video guy, who also does digital stills. One camera uses SD, the other uses CF – I have an external card reader plugged into mine (why would anyone in a pro system rely on an internal card reader that if it went wrong you cannot change??)
It’s fast, simple and easy to use, easy to change as technology changes, the MacBook is equally fast and great to use. Apple keep going like you are! My bag has got lighter, and I never used the internal SD reader on my old MacBook, because at the time I was on CF for both cameras! Win, win for me.
Ok, I wish they would update the Mac Pro, and as for iPhone headphones, for the love of god get over it people. I totally agree, the 3.5mm was out of date – as long as I can plug headphones in I’m happy … Oh and guess what they provide lighting headphones AND a 3.5mm jack adapter for those dinosaurs who won’t move forward. What is the big deal?