New MacBook (2015) charger with USB hub?

[CZroe]

I haven't seen much more than a side-profile shot of the new MacBook's 29w USB type-C charger, but I'm sure we would have heard if there were even a chance that it might have a built-in USB hub or pass-thru port. Considering that it is pretty standardized, shouldn't there already be chargers with hubs or pass-thru ports on the market? Only reason I can see not to is if USB type-C doesn't support charging and data simultaneously.

It's only logical that if you only have one port on the laptop and that port is occupied when charging that the charger itself should have a hub or pass-thru. I'm still wondering how Apple could miss that. Did they?! Even the Anandtech hands-on article is written with the assumption that it does not do this.

 

[LightPattern]

Are these what you're asking about?

Apple Store:
USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter

USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

They let you connect a MacBook with USB-C port to a display, while also connecting a standard USB device and a USB-C charging cable.

So, yes, charging and data simultaneously.

 

[Ichinisan]

Suggesting all that should have been built into the AC adapter.

 

[Artdeco]

First company that builds a 10,000mA battery into a USB-C hub with an aluminum casing wins...

 

[TheStu]

Suggesting all that should have been built into the AC adapter.

Shortly after the MacBook Air first came out, HP released the Voodoo Envy 133 which had an ethernet port on its power adapter so that the adapter could be used a wireless router for the laptop.

 

[Rakehellion]

Suggesting all that should have been built into the AC adapter.

So you can't remove it at all? That would be bad.

 

[Ichinisan]

So you can't remove it at all? That would be bad.

Why would you want to remove USB-A ports from your AC adapter?

Also, if you have an HDMI port on your AC adapter, how is it any different than the breakout box you'd have to use anyway? Other than a bit more bulk...

Just as it is with the official breakout connectors, you wouldn't need to have it plugged into an AC wall outlet to use the ports.

 

[Rakehellion]

Other than a bit more bulk...

You just answered your own question. And turning a wire into a dongle is a pretty nontrivial amount of bulk.

 

[CZroe]

So you can't remove it at all? That would be bad.

Can't remove what? What I'm suggesting is a powered USB hub that also charges the notebook when plugged in and becomes and unpowered hub when unplugged. It's obvious and the only way it ever should have been done.

The plug would have the minimal bulk removed from the laptop and would at least restore the utility of the ONE port that gets occupied while charging. It already has one type-C connector on it, so how about another? How about throwing in a type-A port or two as well so I can charge/sync my iPad?

There are plenty of aftermarket notebook chargers with USB ports on them. Now that we have a notebook that charges through USB in the first place, it only makes sense that the AC adapter is a powered hub.

 

[Ichinisan]

You just answered your own question. And turning a wire into a dongle is a pretty nontrivial amount of bulk.

The HDMI thing is already a dongle. Not exactly a "wire."

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter

 

[Rakehellion]

The HDMI thing is already a dongle. Not exactly a "wire."

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter

Yes, and having that permanently attached to your charger when 99% of people don't use it is a bad thing.

 

[Rakehellion]

The plug would have the minimal bulk removed from the laptop and would at least restore the utility of the ONE port that gets occupied while charging. It already has one type-C connector on it, so how about another? How about throwing in a type-A port or two as well so I can charge/sync my iPad?

So an octopus connector. That's hideous and bulky.

 

[Koing]

They would lose a lot of sales of their hdmi adapter

Koing

 

[Ichinisan]

So an octopus connector. That's hideous and bulky.

awaits contrarian response
What's "bulky" is having both the $79 HDMI multi-port connector *and* the power brick. Having the ports built into the brick should reduce overall bulk.

 

[CZroe]

So an octopus connector. That's hideous and bulky.

What are you talking about?! Is the iPad or iPhone USB charger an "octopus charger?" No. I'm talking about the same thing with some extra ports. Stacked ports of two or four are common in motherboards. Replace ONE component with another and have logic for a hub (probably already has that logic as part of the power delivery spec).

 

[CZroe]

Yes, and having that permanently attached to your charger when 99% of people don't use it is a bad thing.

99% of people don't use USB? What planet are you living on? You lose USB while charging. It only makes sense to have it be a hub while you are tethered to a wire anyway. That also gives you reason to bring it with you even if you aren't going to charge off it (might need to connect more than one USB device).

 

[LightPattern]

99% of people don't use USB? What planet are you living on? You lose USB while charging. It only makes sense to have it be a hub while you are tethered to a wire anyway. That also gives you reason to bring it with you even if you aren't going to charge off it (might need to connect more than one USB device).

I also would not want a laptop with this loss of functionality. AFAIK they will continue making the Macbook Air, largely for that purpose.

Apple is betting there is a market segment that won't miss that on a regular basis. A growing number of people carry around mobile devices only, without ANY USB ports.

 

[Ichinisan]

I also would not want a laptop with this loss of functionality. AFAIK they will continue making the Macbook Air, largely for that purpose.

Apple is betting there is a market segment that won't miss that on a regular basis. A growing number of people carry around mobile devices only, without ANY USB ports.

Yeah. Apple even said something like: "Need WiFi? Enable the hotspot on your phone. Well, that would be fine if I could keep the phone charged. Having a USB-A port on the power brick (maybe a USB-C port too) would solve that problem. If the power brick isn't plugged into AC power, then the port would draw power from the computer (the USB-C connector there is designed to work both ways).

 

[Rakehellion]

I also would not want a laptop with this loss of functionality. AFAIK they will continue making the Macbook Air, largely for that purpose.

Apple is betting there is a market segment that won't miss that on a regular basis. A growing number of people carry around mobile devices only, without ANY USB ports.

Yeah, I don't use USB much. All my files go through Dropbox.

People got all persnickety when they tried to get rid of the floppy drive too. And the optical drive.

 

[CZroe]

Yeah, I don't use USB much. All my files go through Dropbox.

People got all persnickety when they tried to get rid of the floppy drive too. And the optical drive.

Last I checked, USB was for a lot more than simply moving files.

You charge your iPad through Dropbox? You jailbreak your iPhone through Dropbox? You connect your low-latency wired gaming mouse through Dropbox? You connect your XBOX 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver or USB gamepad through Dropbox? Huh. News to me.

Even as far as moving files goes, I use thumbdrives to move stuff between offline work PCs every day. Dropbox won't help me there either.

 

[Rakehellion]

Last I checked, USB was for a lot more than simply moving files.

You charge your iPad through Dropbox? You jailbreak your iPhone through Dropbox? You connect your low-latency wired gaming mouse through Dropbox? You connect your XBOX 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver or USB gamepad through Dropbox? Huh. News to me.

My iPhone came with its own charger and you bought the wrong computer if you're a hardcore gamer who needs a low-latency mouse. Troll harder.

I'm not saying I never use USB, but it's seldom enough that I wouldn't be inconvenienced by a dongle.

Even as far as moving files goes, I use thumbdrives to move stuff between offline work PCs every day. Dropbox won't help me there either.

So don't buy one. See how easy that is?

 

[CZroe]

My iPhone came with its own charger and you bought the wrong computer if you're a hardcore gamer who needs a low-latency mouse. Troll harder.

I'm not saying I never use USB, but it's seldom enough that I wouldn't be inconvenienced by a dongle.



So don't buy one. See how easy that is?

Contrarian as usual. USB-C is not Macbook-only and a corded low-latency gaming mouse isn't the only kind of USB mouse. "Troll harder," indeed. Last time I synced my huge iTunes library to my phone, I didn't do it using my phone's included wall charger. Even if I only wanted to charge it, it makes sense to use one AC socket instead of two and carry *gasp* one charger. it *is* a USB charger, remember? It seems that the problem here is that it makes too much sense for you to admit after being so argumentative from the start.

 

[Commodus]

I'm looking at it this way: the 12-inch MacBook (at least, in this first generation) isn't for everyone, but it does actually open up an opportunity for smart power chargers that give you as much or more functionality than you'd have otherwise. The 11-inch Air never had an SD card reader, for example, since it didn't fit; you could throw that in and extra USB ports without requiring a gigantic brick.

It'll take a while for the accessories to roll out, but I could see a point where the 12-inch MB makes a lot of sense if you have a smart charger at home or the office. You get the expansion when you need it, but you don't have to lug it around with you the whole day.

 

[Rakehellion]

a corded low-latency gaming mouse isn't the only kind of USB mouse.

YOU are the one who mentioned gaming on integrated graphics, so nice backtrack, troll.

If you want to use a mouse, Apple offers a wireless one. If you need your fancy gaming mouse with 13 buttons, use the dongle. Better yet, buy a gaming computer.

USB-C is not Macbook-only

Duhhhhhhhhh. And that's relevant how? My point is you can do nearly everything wirelessly without dongles or cables of any kind.

Last time I synced my huge iTunes library to my phone, I didn't do it using my phone's included wall charger.

802.11ac is way faster than USB 2.0. Troll harder.

Even if I only wanted to charge it, it makes sense to use one AC socket instead of two and carry *gasp* one charger.

"Makes more sense" how? If it's too much trouble to carry an iPhone charger than occupies 1 cubic inch of space you might want to get a bigger purse. Particularly considering all the space you saved in your bag by not carrying a dongle or a larger laptop.

 

[CZroe]

YOU are the one who mentioned gaming on integrated graphics, so nice backtrack, troll.

I specified no such thing. I was taking about YOU and how YOU replace these other functions of USB with Dropbox. You tried to dismissively wave all that away as if Dropbox replaced all functionality and now you are moving the goalposts.

So, I was talking about YOU and not a MacBook, but the product we were both arguing the merits of that led to this is also not a MacBook: it's a combination/multi-function USB hub/charger for USB-C charging notebooks/tablets/devices, doesn't even seem to exist. I'm talking about applicability far beyond the current 2015 MacBook to the future of the entire line and beyond (even the competition). They lost the ability to force an Apple charger like they could when they refused to license MagSafe so the least they can do is make the charger as compelling as possible to compete with better functionality.

If you want to use a mouse, Apple offers a wireless one. If you need your fancy gaming mouse with 13 buttons, use the dongle. Better yet, buy a gaming computer.

I use my corded and Bluetooth Razer Orochi across many computers, thank you very much. I don't see any reason to carry two wireless mice when this premium one serves all my needs, and I do own the Bluetooth Apple MagicMouse too.

Duhhhhhhhhh. And that's relevant how? My point is you can do nearly everything wirelessly without dongles or cables of any kind.

Extremely relevant. I gave you more than enough examples. Choosing to ignore them can't be anything but trolling. Wireless doesn't magically restore my USB port that charging occupied. It doesn't let me jailbreak my phone or transfer files to intentionally air-gapped PC at work or charge my iPad or any number of other things I was able to do before I plugged in to charge the notebook.

802.11ac is way faster than USB 2.0. Troll harder.

I remember this argument when Bluetooth and 802.11b were rolling out and people ignorantly saw them as competing wireless standards and even went as far as comparing them to previous format wars.

Sorry, but Bluetooth headsets, mice, keyboards, etc, still had a market. I didn't have to configure DHCP and assign an IP address to my keyboard. Did 802.11g spell the end for USB1.0? Did 802.11n spell the end of USB2.0? Of course not. I'm not about to configure a wireless NAS to move files between air gapped PCs and USB thumb drives have not been replaced in functionality by wireless key ring NAS devices.

"Makes more sense" how? If it's too much trouble to carry an iPhone charger than occupies 1 cubic inch of space you might want to get a bigger purse. Particularly considering all the space you saved in your bag by not carrying a dongle or a larger laptop.

Charging is not the only reason to connect it and two WALL SOCKETS do not duplicate that functionality. Hell, you might not even have two available. I am surrounded by 32 monitors right now and am reduced to charging my stuff at 500mah off the air-gapped PCs they are connected too.

No matter how portable the iPad charger may be, it's going to use a second wall socket and still fail to reproduce the same utility as a charger hub for Type-C equipped notebooks. You focus on the size but using two wall sockets is arguably worse than the inconvenience of having to carry it. On top of that, you appeared to be describing the iPhone charger instead which is underoowered for a typical iPad (suitable only for first gen iPad mini, all others have trouble getting a charge off it with active use).