How to work with no USB A on new Macbook Pro?

Question

Level 1

6 points

How to work with no USB A on new Macbook Pro?

I am loosing my faith here. It seems Apple has made another step to the dark side. I used to think that only Microsoft didn't give a monkey's what actually works for the end user. Seems Apple has joined the club.

Am I right, Apple has decided that they are only putting USB c ports into the newer Macbook Pro? Or am I missing something. Considering how utterly abysmal Apple connectors and chargers are made - how on earth are we supposed to use external hard drives and other vital equipment?

And then to charge heftily for connectors - not exactly customer friendly.

I have my third Iphone charging cable (and I only use it lying peacefully on my bedside table, so absolutely no reason why it doesn't last more than a couple of months at a time!).

Anyone have an idea how to deal with this? Are there going to be cables that will connect for example existing external hard drives to my laptop or do I have to buy everything new?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 6, 2016 2:03 PM

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Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Nov 6, 2016 2:17 PM in response to ravenowl

Hi,

Yes, you're correct, going all USB-C/Thunderbolt 3.

Yes, there are cables/connectors/dongles for just about everything you need, but yes they cost money. The "good" news is that their prices are reduced until the end of this year.

Here's one specifically for USB-C to USB type A: http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1M2AM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter

Here's a page with many adapters on it (many more non-Apple brand are available on places like Amazon): http://www.apple.com/shop/mac/mac-accessories/power-cables

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Answer 2

ravenowl Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 6, 2016 2:54 PM in response to tjk

Thanks for the info.

Ok, all around bad news in that case. So if I buy my laptop after that I have to pay high prices for crappy and cheaply made products. Not exactly customer friendly.

I like Apple laptops and other devices but they are becoming increasingly about profit only with too little regard for the users who pay big money for their products. If this continues I might just go back to Microsoft, it might not be worth the hassle in future. Very disappointing.

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Answer 3

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Nov 6, 2016 2:59 PM in response to ravenowl

ravenowl wrote:

If this continues I might just go back to Microsoft, it might not be worth the hassle in future.

I echo your sentiments, and I've thought about it before, but I just couldn't work on Windows for my main machine. I have too much time and knowledge invested in Macs. I wonder if Apple counts on that for its main customer base?

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Answer 4

Nov 6, 2016 3:18 PM in response to ravenowl

These are the same sort of complaints heard when they decided to use Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) instead of good old serial ports for the keyboard (which already used a wacky round nine-pin port), later when they decided on that wacky new USB port, when they stopped including Floppy disk drives, then when they stopped including FireWire, when MacBooks had no Ethernet ports, when they stopped including DVD readers, when they put stuff on ThunderBolt ports.

In time, peripheral makers and Apple itself will step up and make devices that plug DIRECTLY into USB-C, and when there are a few more of those, being able to plug anything into any port will seem pure genius.

I have to agree that at this moment, "genius" is NOT the word I would choose for the current situation.

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Answer 5

Sonicray

Level 5

4,572 points

Nov 6, 2016 5:39 PM in response to ravenowl

There is also things like this T3 dock from OWC:

https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock/

cheers,

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