Leander is having a bit of a moment. One of his favorite features of Apple product design is missing on his shiny new MacBook.
Jony Ive, what have you done with the magnet?
You can commiserate with our Editor and Publisher over the loss of the magnet that secured the cable to the charging port in the latest Kahney’s Korner video.
Apple made the leap into the future by designing the new 12-inch MacBook Pro with a single USB-C port. From the one port, users will be able to charge the machine or transfer data more quickly. The cable goes both ways, so either end goes into the port without the user having to worry about plug orientation.
That being said, gone is the satisfying snap heard on older models when the plug is near the charging port. The new plug must be pushed in place, much like you do with the cable on the Lightning port of the iPhone.
“It’s so elegant, it’s such an old technology, it’s physics that is put to such good use,” Leander says. “Apple, come on. What happened? Put it back.”
In less than two minutes, Leander will give a brief history of magnets – which dates back a few thousand years – plus run down the many ways Apple has used magnets, from that little remote you could stick to the side of your iMac to how the new Apple Watch magnetically secures to its charger.
David Pierini is a former newspaper writer and long-time photographer. Considered a luddite by most of his friends, they did not believe him when he broke the news that he would be writing for a technology website. He is fascinated by human nature and would love to cultivate stories about the people driving the tech bus. Reach out to him at [email protected].
19 responses to “Kahney’s Korner: Something’s missing from new MacBook – magnetic attraction”
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed when I seen they removed MagSafe from the new Macbook.
I quit my office work and today I am making 85 Bucks every hr. How? I work online! My previous work didn’t make me happy ,so I was forced to take a chance with something new… Two years after…I can say in great confidence my life is changed completly for the better! This is what i do…
Get paid $90 each day for working on the web from your home for few h each day… Get paid regularly weekly… You’ll need a laptop, internet access, plus a little leisure time…
I know! I switched to Macs from Windows in 2012 and the FIRST thing that made me say “Wow, I love Macs” was the Magsafe. It epitomized to me how Apple had the end user in mind even if it added cost to the product. I’m thinking that the Magsafe will remain for the MacBook Pro even if it is USB-C since it will be positioned as the more expensive better equipped model.
Dear Apple, Don’t you dare kill the Magsafe!
Its one reason I am not recommending this model to any clients. The trip factor is super important.
“Kahney’s Korner: Something’s missing from new MacBook – magnetic attraction”
A USB-C connector is not a simple Magsafe power connector, and cannot be one. This is a •ridiculous• complaint.
Don’t want a Macbook, don’t buy one. But to lament the lack of a Magsafe connector on a computer that doesn’t have one, and wasn’t •designed• to have one, is absurd. Must be a VERY slow tech news day.
The reality is that it doesn’t need to be magnetised anymore. People don’t charge their laptops and use them at the same time. Now that they have all day battery life, people charge them at night and use them in the day. Never are they subjected to the risk of being tripped on. This is why the iPhone and iPad don’t need magsafe. The watch is different, its connector is magnetic not in case you trip over the cable, but because it’s more convenient. What’s more, the MacBook is so light that the connector probably wouldn’t even disconnect when tugged – therefore, it would need such a weak magnet that it would be more frustrating than useful.
Apple Watch is magnetic for convenient. Thats exactly why the Mac should be too.
I happen to like the idea that I can plug in a single USB-C cable (connected to the new dongle) and have it work like a docking port – I get external monitor, USB and charger all in one simple connection. Take the Macbook to the office, plug it in, boom, all set and ready to go. Then with a simple one-cable unplug I can take it to meetings to take notes, etc, then re-dock when back at the office or at home. While magsafe was nice, single-cable docking is more functional for my purposes.
MagSafe has saved my Macbook Air more than once. I think I’ll just hang on to my old laptop until Apple sorts this oversight.
Think you’re missing the point. This is •not• an Apple “oversight.”
Again, the Magsafe connector is for charging only, while the USB-C is for much more, including charging. Apples and oranges. Not to mention the fact that if the USB connector somehow could attach magnetically, you •really• wouldn’t want it to detach so easily while transferring data, or anything else the connector handles.
It’s hard to educate idiots :)
Go fuck youself.
Magnetically or Plug In?
Would you rather lose some data or replace a laptop?I bet those smart folks at Apple can figure out a both-and solution.
I think most people’s complaint is not that the usb-c is lacking magsafe, but that they couldn’t have had just used Two ports. Magsafe & usb-c.
Loved the greek letters on the Magnets explanation.
That’s what happens when you are an Apple fan and a Greek geek.
Hahahaha. Kahn’s Korner. It won’t matter what Kahney thinks in his little corner, it’s a fantastic computer irrespective of the MagSafe or not. Another pointless story for an author to remain relevant and be seen.
I also notice that someone said they won’t be recommending this computer to their customers because of the trip factor. What a ridiculous comment. Deprive people of great technology because of a magnet.
People just need to be heard, even thought most of the time their comments are irrelevant.
Why don’t they just add the mag safe connection to the other end of the cable so it connects magnetically to the power brick? That way you don’t loose the USB C and your safe from trips and snags! it’s the best of both worlds!