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Apple Cuts USB-C Adapter Prices In Response To MacBook Pro Complaints (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the what-a-steal dept.

One of the biggest complaints with the new MacBook Pros is the lack of ports. There are between two and four USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports depending on the model you select -- that's it. If you need a SD card slot, HDMI, USB, or VGA port, you will need an adapter. In response to the criticism, Apple says they will be cutting prices for all of its USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) adapters: "We recognize that many users, especially pros, rely on legacy connectors to get work done today and they face a transition. We want to help them move to the latest technology and peripherals, as well as accelerate the growth of this new ecosystem. Through the end of the year, we are reducing prices on all USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals we sell, as well as the prices on Apple's USB-C adapters and cables." The Verge reports: It's a sign that Apple recognizes these dongles are a hassle, and it seems to hope that reducing the prices on them will lessen the pain of this transition. Starting immediately, all of Apple's USB-C adapters and some of its USB-C cables will have their prices cut by $6 to $20: USB-C to traditional USB adapter from $19 to $9; Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter from $49 to $29; USB-C to Lightning cable (1 meter) from $25 to $19; USB-C to Lightning cable (2 meters) from $35 to $29; Multiport adapter with HDMI, USB, and USB-C from $69 to $49; Multiport adapter with VGA, USB, and USB-C from $69 to $49; Only USB-C charging cables aren't being discounted. Apple is also cutting prices by around 25 percent on all third-party USB-C peripherals that it sells. SanDisk's USB-C SD card reader is getting a slightly steeper discount, from $49 to $29. The discounted adapters will be available at Apple's physical and online stores through the end of the year. It still has no plans to ship adapters in the box with the new MacBook Pro.

6 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. where is the keyboard with the touchbar? by bobm · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ok, so they brag about how great the keyboard is and that you can connect to a bunch of monitors. But I don't know anyone who connects to external monitors and still types on the laptop keyboard.

    Of course most of the people I know touch type and don't look at the keyboard anyway, so that 'feature' is just going to be a pain.

    After this I'm done with macs and that's saying a lot considering how many how many I've used over the years.

    1. Re:where is the keyboard with the touchbar? by pubwvj · · Score: 3, Informative

      "I don't know anyone who connects to external monitors and still types on the laptop keyboard."

      I do. My laptop keyboard is great. I have an external 27" monitor. I touch type.

      I will agree with you though that the new bar across the top is not appealing. I don't look at the keyboard. I look at the screens. I want the function keys to be what I mapped them to be and not switched by applications. I also want them to be tactile. I touch type and need them to be where I expect them to be. I also cord. Gives a lot more functions.

      But then you don't know me so your statement holds true. Barely.

  2. Re:Ridiculous by KingMotley · · Score: 2, Informative

    No worries, here you go: https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk...

  3. Re:Apple and wIntel moving PROprietary hellenizati by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wrong.

    I worked at a supercomputing company that sold Alphas NON-STOP for 20 years.

    Navy, clusters, Army, you name it, they had Alphas.

    So, no. Do some research.

  4. Simple Solution by pubwvj · · Score: 4, Informative

    Buy a used MacBook Pro.

    This gives you the connectors you want.

    The used MacBook Pros are almost as fast as the new ones. Trivial difference.

    The cost of the used ones is about 50% of the new ones.

    Buy used and you save. Of course, Apple doesn't make any money off of that transaction which is your way of voting with your pocket book. Apple will pay attention to this when Mac sales crash due to them releasing machines people don't want. They will pay attention and notice the sales of the used machines are doing well. They'll figure it out.

    Lastly, leave Apple feedback here:

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/...

    They do read the feedback and that is your conduit to change.

  5. She also doesn't need a $2000 laptop by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 3, Informative

    If all she's doing is using a word processor (and presumably basic Internet stuff) then a high end laptop isn't something she needs. A sub $1000 laptop would do very nicely for that. All most users need is a simple laptop. The only people who have a need for a higher power laptop are ones who ask it to do more. People who have few needs may wish to get a powerful laptop just because, but trying to argue this is an "everyman's" device is quite silly given the price tag.

    That aside, display output is something many users need. At work (a university) we have a number of little loaner laptops. They are 11" Dell Latitudes that were chosen because they are very cheap, so they can basically be regarded as throwaway, very small and have an HDMI port and USB port. That last one matters because a common use is to hook them to a projection system and present, and HDMI has fast become the standard for that. The USB port, USB-A, is important because often things need to be loaded on via flash drive and essentially 100% of the flash drives out there are USB-A interface.