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Do any of the current M1 MacBooks/laptops have a built-in Ethernet port? As far as I can tell, the answer is "No," which leads to my follow-up question: What is the last/most-recent Apple laptop of any type to have its own built-in Ethernet port? I have an old MacBook Pro that's over a decade old, which has an Ethernet port. When were those ports discontinued?
Hi,
Another way could be to use a wireless Ethernet bridge connected to the printer. This can be a Wi-Fi range extender with an Ethernet port (similar to Edimax EW-7438RPn Mini or TP-Link RE200) operating in a bridge (client, entertainment or media adapter) mode. The bridge device would wirelessly connect to the Wi-Fi router.
Wow, 2012 is a really long time ago -- didn't realize laptop-Etherrnet was discontinued so long ago. If I want to directly connect any post-2012 MacBook to a wired Ethernet device, looks like I'll have to buy one of those Belkin USB-C-to-Gigabit-Ethernet adapters. No way around it, I suppose.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, looks like the current iMacs still do have Ethernet ports, so Apple hasn't discontinued Ethernet completely -- just phased them out of their laptop lines.
Well my problem is that I have an old (1990s era) Ricoh laser printer that is Ethernet-only, and has no wireless capabilities. It's a great printer (very fast, very clear, toner cartridges last for many years, etc.), so I'd like to keep it if possible and not junk it simply because of a connection problem. If I keep the Ethernet-to-USB-C adapter always plugged in to the end of the printer's Ethernet cable, then it will have a new lease on life, even if none of my new Macs have Ethernet ports.
Basically for mobile computers ethernet does not make much sense anymore in the grand scheme of things.
If you buy a laptop it's because you need portability, and generally that means wireless networks rather than wired.
Yes, desktop computers still have ethernet ports because it still makes sense, since they aren't moving around. And would logically be connected to a wired connection.
Outside of that, most current laptops from most manufacturers no longer have builtin in ethernet ports either. The ethernet connection is a bulky one, and removing it form laptops allows for sleeker, lighter laptops. And as the vast majority of laptop users don't need it or use it, it makes sense to remove it.
It's not that ethernet is being phased away, it's just being used where it makes the most sense.
If you require an ethernet port, there are literally thousands of USB-C to ethernet adapters out there, it does not absolutely need to be the Belkin one. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=usb-c+to+ethernet+small&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
As for the printer you can connect the printer to whatever router your Mac is connected to, not entirely sure why it needs to be a direct connection to the Mac over ethernet. The Printer should be able to be plugged in to your wireless router, and be found by the Mac then over the network.
It's not the Mac that needs an ethernet connection, its the Printer.
Well, the printer is at the opposite end of the house from the router, so it'd be a big hassle to run an Ethernet cable through several rooms to connect them. I think the simplest solution would be just to pop an adapter on the printer's Ethernet cable, and that would allow me to just plug my laptop into it whenever needed. And thanks for the tip about other manufacturers -- I'll look for the best deal on a highly rated adapter, and buy it.
I still have my old Macs -- a MacBook from around 2010, and an iMac from 2006, both of which have Ethernet ports. I use those for the printing, and as my main computers. I recently obtained a more recent no-Ethernet MacBook, but for now I'm just familiarizing myself with it to eventually use as a travel computer, not using it as my main computer. Eventually I plan to replace my old Macs and get brand-new computers to use as my daily main computers, and I just wanted to know if there was a no-hassle way to connect them to an Ethernet-only printer, when the time comes. Looks like the adapter will be the simplest. Thanks!
Well, currently, most of the time I'm sitting at with my laptop at the desk where the printer is anyway, so it only takes two seconds to plug it in. On occasion I'll be somewhere else and have to walk over to the printer to plug in -- but I have to walk over to the printer to turn it on anyway (generally it's "off"), so not an extra hassle at all.
Yeah, I thought of doing a wireless Ethernet bridge, but these days I generally only have to print out one or two (or a very small number) of documents per week, so generally keep the printer turned off until I need it (only has a five-second warmup time -- like I said, a great printer), so there'd be no need to have an always-on Ethernet bridge doohickey, especially since I'd have to walk over to turn on the printer anyway -- might as well just plug it in directly at that point, since I'm already physically at the printer. If I printed more often I'd definitely do it the way of your excellent suggestion, but due to the ever-encroaching "paperlessness" of the modern work environment, my printing needs get less and less over time....
I think the mid-2012 non-Retina MacBook Pro was the last one.
I think Apple started dropping the built in Ethernet ports about the same time they started introducing Thunderbolt ports..so, i’d guess somewhere around 2012..
john b
Possibly an indication of how wi-fi routers/speeds have improved from years ago. My MacBook Pro doesn't have an ethernet connector (without an adapter) but even if it did I would never use it.
wait, what?
How are you printing to this printer today?
so...
you walk to the printer and plug in the Ethernet cable and print direct?
In that case, yes, keeping the adapter plugged into the Printer is the easiest thing to do yes.
What is the most recent Mac laptop with a built-in Ethernet port?
