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Apple Cuts USB-C Adapter Prices In Response To MacBook Pro Complaints (theverge.com)
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.
Adapters are required because the USB-C connector is too new, not because it is proprietary. In two to five years, most new peripherals will not require the adapter,
USB-C does not replace or supercede or do what HDMI and Ethernet connectors do, however.
These are not legacy, and there's nothing to replace them, except in Apple's world, where they'd like people
to use Thunderbolt for video, instead
There are still brand new monitors, video capture, and other video In/Out devices being released by most manufacturers which
have 4k HDMI and no 'Thunderbolt' or 'Displayport'... It's not a great idea to have a Laptop that you won't be able to make your Powerpoint presentations on, because you have these foreign interfaces which only Apple is adopting.
I don't understand the backlash and the hatred. I love new tech! Although I run Linux on the server, I like running macOS on the desktop so I ordered the new MacBook Pro.
With glee, I'm already planning out the new setup in my office and at my current client. Which cables are cheap? Which are quality? Which are middle-of-the-road? Should I get a docking station? Based on Thunderbolt or is USB-C good enough? Love that shit.
I guess it comes down to two kinds of people: those who don't like change, and those who welcome it.
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