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Comment by phaed | Hacker News Reader

It speaks volumes that a manufacturer has to step in and deliver the product the consumers want and Apple is incapable of delivering.

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I think the real test is how many of those who complained that they would be happier if Apple had just made it thicker and included all the ports would actually buy something like this. (And also if they are more than a very, very tiny minority)

This product has me actually considering the purchase of a MacBook Pro now.

Exactly. It will be interesting to see how something like this sells.

I have a feeling that it will fill a niche, but not be a hugely popular option with most MBP users. Folks can whine about the lack of ports, but in a few years USB-C devices will be quite common and reliable.

For something like ethernet, I'd honestly rather "haul" a small dongle around.

That thing does look like it suffers for having an Ethernet port, because it has to be taller to accommodate it. I would similarly rather have an Ethernet dongle than a much thicker laptop.

>> Folks can whine about the lack of ports, but in a few years USB-C devices will be quite common and reliable.

For most people, dongles probably a non issue - you'll get used to it.

But the thing with dongles is that a) you can forget them, b) they can stop working -- and that usually happens at the most inopportune time (in front of a client during an important meeting).

I've killed plenty of the MiniDisplayPort to [VGA/HDMI/DVI] dongles just based on the repetitive flexing where the cable meets the DP plug.

I think it's only a real test if the unit is reasonably priced (still tbd). If it's overpriced, then I think it won't be a true indicator at all.

I like the idea a lot (I'm a huge fan of the older unibody MBP chassis), but I wouldn't want to pay $500 just for the privilege of having one.

They're offering USB ports and an Ethernet port. Apple will sell you both of those if you want them.

Though it also has an SD card reader and more battery, neither of which Apple has dongles for.

The fact that its USB-C actually makes the "more battery" thing pretty easy and standardized, even if apple doesn't sell it themselves.

This basically solves the problem of the "bag o' dongles". Put them all in one place, and attach it to your laptop. BAM, no more dongles.

It basically reverses what Apple is trying to do by exporting everything out into separate devices which makes the machine look pretty in store shelves but a headache to use in the real world.

The “bag of dongles” problem has been solved by other vendors too, though. There's a whole market for mini-hubs that plug into your MacBook or MacBook Pro now. Heck, Apple has their own three-port USB type-A/charging/HDMI hub.

Also, I don't think Apple actually wants the dongle situation. This is a transitional stage where many existing devices lack USB-C. Apple presumably wants everything to either use USB-C, or be wireless.

> It basically reverses what Apple is trying to do by exporting everything out into separate devices which makes the machine look pretty in store shelves but a headache to use in the real world

95% of people in the "real world" don't plug anything into their laptops except the power cord.

Since we are making up stats, I'd say 82.6% of my coworkers and friends use their laptop as a desktop and have at least 4 things plugged in all the time.

My work desktop is a laptop, and I don't care what ports it has because it's always plugged into a dock.

> Apple is incapable of delivering.

I don't doubt for a second that Apple could capably deliver such a product. The disconnect is that Apple has chosen, for better or worse, to dive in to USB-C as the future "everything" standard. It's one of those things where either this will look like a genius move (on the level of dropping the floppy drive & PS2 ports in the first iMac) or a bone-headed kneecapping of their own product line only with the benefit of hindsight.

As John Siracusa* would say. Apple is just making the "naked robotic core". Different people have different needs. But USB-C by itself is the most versatile port that has been released for a computer. Sooner or later every thing will support it.

Right now, an Android device that has USB-C is one of the most versatile phones available.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.cnx-software.com/2015/08/29/c...

It's like a docking hub. Personally I see no need for anything other than larger disk (is it too much to ask for 4TB?)

Does that picture really represent the product consumers want?

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