Macbook Pro: 2 USB ports...

[[)roi(]]

How much do you hate only having 2 usb ports on your Macbook Pro?

I mean how often do you go, "damn, I wish there were more. Oh how I wish there were MORE!"

To be frank I'd rather get rid of the USB, FireWire and SDXC (probably even ethernet) ports in favor of a thinner / lighter laptop; 1 fully fledged thunderbolt port with a bus expander should more than suffice (I.e. could easily drive external USB, firewire, ethernet, displays, etc.)

I love the Air concept -- the only thing stopping me from getting one is the screen size limitations (max 13" and very low Res) -- minimum I'd want is 15", couple that now with the 27" iMac resolution and you'd have a real winner in my books.

Btw if you want more USB ports, here's one possible solution http://www.sonnettech.com/product/4portusb2express34.html

 

[phiber]

To be frank I'd rather get rid of the USB ports in favor of a thinner / lighter laptop; 1 fully fledged thunderbolt port with a bus expander would more than suffice (I.e. could easily drive external USB, displays, etc.)

I love the Air concept -- the only thing stopping me from getting one is the screen size limitations (max 13" and very low Res) -- minimum I'd want is 15", couple that now with the 27" iMac resolution and you'd have a real winner in my books.

Bigger is not always better

The air is probably the best product in the apple range at the moment. Love my little 11", can take it anywhere. Travels as well as an iPad, cos lets face it anyone moving around with an iPad a lot has it wrapped in some extra protection, that doubles as a stand, where the air can just go as it is.

Also the 11" is good enough for some light dev and pretty much everything else i need. Even do some light photoshopping.

Best of all, one USB port on each side, i think apple will adopt this and put a 3rd port onto the new macbooks. The USB 3 port will be on the other side imo.

 

[[)roi(]]

Bigger is not always better

The air is probably the best product in the apple range at the moment. Love my little 11", can take it anywhere. Travels as well as an iPad, cos lets face it anyone moving around with an iPad a lot has it wrapped in some extra protection, that doubles as a stand, where the air can just go as it is.

Also the 11" is good enough for some light dev and pretty much everything else i need. Even do some light photoshopping.

Best of all, one USB port on each side, i think apple will adopt this and put a 3rd port onto the new macbooks. The USB 3 port will be on the other side imo.

I agree re the Air being the way forward; where I beg to differ is:
1. Keeping dedicated USB ports, as was the case with Ethernet, two sole thunderbolt port with adapters should more than suffice.
2. Size -- yes the portability of the 11" is great, but the screen res sucks -- can't see how you cope with dev and photoshop -- I struggle sometimes on my 27" iMac, hence my comment on the 15" with improved res. btw just like many more advanced users cannot get away with just an IPad, I similarly believe the 11" is too small and underpowered to fit the single computer model... Don't get me wrong I have many times been on the cusp of buying one...even though I have a Mbp, IMac and iPad

 

[koffiejunkie]

Also the 11" is good enough for some light dev and pretty much everything else i need. Even do some light photoshopping.

and...

I similarly believe the 11" is too small and underpowered to fit the single computer model... Don't get me wrong I have many times been on the cusp of buying one...even though I have a Mbp, IMac and iPad

Say what now? The 1.6GHz i5 is twice as powerful as the 2.4GHz C2D in my 15" MBP. And my MBP is certainly up to the task of "single computer model" - it's no slouch.

Best of all, one USB port on each side, i think apple will adopt this and put a 3rd port onto the new macbooks. The USB 3 port will be on the other side imo.

The 15" has had only two USB ports since the dawn of time. The 17" has always been the only model graced with three. I don't see this changing any time soon. Also, the older MBPs had one port on each side. More recently, they've been placing both on the same side, because the optical drive is now on the side, instead of in the front. I think this is a better arrangement, although I agree that more space between them would be welcome.

For my money they can get rid of the optical drive and offer the option of using all that space for extra battery, or a 2nd hard drive/ssd and battery in the remaining space.

 

[[)roi(]]

and...



Say what now? The 1.6GHz i5 is twice as powerful as the 2.4GHz C2D in my 15" MBP. And my MBP is certainly up to the task of "single computer model" - it's no slouch.

A mate of mine has one, sorry but it's quite slow vs Mbp, e.g. during compiles quite visibly so (e.g. dual core != quad core)

For some applications I'm sure it's quite adequate, but a powerhouse it is not.

The 15" has had only two USB ports since the dawn of time. The 17" has always been the only model graced with three. I don't see this changing any time soon. Also, the older MBPs had one port on each side. More recently, they've been placing both on the same side, because the optical drive is now on the side, instead of in the front. I think this is a better arrangement, although I agree that more space between them would be welcome.

For my money they can get rid of the optical drive and offer the option of using all that space for extra battery, or a 2nd hard drive/ssd and battery in the remaining space.

Much was said along the same vane when Apple removed the 3/4" disk drive, and implemented FW & USB, similar comments when they removed the CD and the Ethernet port on the 1st Air... They're old antiquated tech, and can be more than adequately supported by an external thunderbolt cable... If not 2012 then 2013... But it's on it's way...

 

[koffiejunkie]

A mate of mine has one, sorry but it's quite slow vs Mbp, e.g. during compiles quite visibly so (e.g. dual core != quad core)

Don't be sorry. Be careful. My MBP is not quad core. I was specific about that.

For some applications I'm sure it's quite adequate, but a powerhouse it is not.

No-one said it's a powerhouse. Or that it's as fast as a current MBP. But the high-end MBP colours your vision. The MBA is a pretty powerful machine. A 3 year old MacBook Pro is still considered a good machine for most things, and you see them in used by professionals from every industry all the time (yes, even here in the first world). Heck, people are still doing video on now pretty old G5 Mac Pros. My MBP is good for a heck of a lot more than "some applications."

 

[[)roi(]]

Don't be sorry. Be careful. My MBP is not quad core. I was specific about that.

No-one said it's a powerhouse. Or that it's as fast as a current MBP. But the high-end MBP colours your vision. The MBA is a pretty powerful machine. A 3 year old MacBook Pro is still considered a good machine for most things, and you see them in used by professionals from every industry all the time (yes, even here in the first world). Heck, people are still doing video on now pretty old G5 Mac Pros. My MBP is good for a heck of a lot more than "some applications."

Sorry not meant to try to fault your decision, rather to state why I still haven't bought one... I love everything about the Airs except the spec... Something which I believe will be addressed in Apple's soon to be announced Mbp to Air transition.

I believe the iMac, and Mac Pro have a very limited lifespan -- most of Apple's desktop range will settle around the Air form factor.

Hey I can appreciate the lifespan of a Mac (vs the Alt) -- sadly I sold my Apple IIe

 

[noxibox]

The ports are generally far enough apart for most uses except when you're using a 3G dongle

I've almost never been able to use both at once.