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Apple Stops Selling 2015 MacBook Pro With Old-Style Keyboard, Legacy Ports (arstechnica.com)

After announcing new MacBook Pro models today, Apple has removed the 2015 MacBook Pro from the Mac section of its website. Ars Technica reports: Beloved by many, the 2015 MacBook Pro had a number of features that have since been changed or have disappeared entirely from new MacBook Pro models. Arguably the most polarizing among these tweaks is the butterfly keyboard -- the 2015 MacBook Pro predates that mechanism, making its traditional keyboard a preferred alternative for many users. The 2015 MacBook Pro also contained legacy ports that Apple has since abandoned in the newest models: USB-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 2 ports, and an SD card slot. All of the newest MacBook Pros exclusively feature Thunderbolt 3 ports, which some will appreciate but all will scowl at when they're forced to buy multiple dongles to connect legacy accessories. Currently, Apple has a few 2015 MacBook Pro models listed in its online clearance section, but it's likely that Apple will not have more to sell after those are gone.

2 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Those aren't legacy ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Because it doesn't have DRM bullshit. It's analog and it WORKS.

    The first time you watch a meeting get delayed because someone's laptop and the projector refuse to get along, you'll understand why VGA is still necessary.

  2. Re: Those aren't legacy ports by TeknoHog · · Score: 1, Interesting

    DVI was nice because it was digital without DRM. This changed with HDMI, which was just another form factor for DVI signals. As a result, it's possible to have HDCP over DVI, as some monitors accept HDMI extensions over the old-style port.

    VGA on modern hardware means you'll be converting digital to analog to digital again, which is beyond idiotic. Also, you'll be dealing with all sorts of analog adjustments with the image alignment. I agree it's still practical to have a laptop with VGA out -- in many cases I've come across, there's a relatively modern projector at the ceiling, but they only put a VGA cable up there.

    --
    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.