It seems like the entire tech community is up in arms about the new MacBook Pro. Let's remember stripping connectivity is nothing new for Apple. I have not missed my DVD drive for a day. It's increasingly rare that I find myself plugging in a USB drive, external display, or SD card. The SD card slot and HDMI port also ~~are~~ were fairly recent additions to the line. The running commentary seems to be "Pro is for professional," by which they really mean to say "Pro is for _creative_ professional."<p>For the few times per year I download pictures from my camera I will be happy to grab a dongle. Why? Because there's not a big air pocket where there once was an SD card slot. The machine is lighter, thinner, brighter, faster, all of which are steps in the right direction. USB C is fast and versatile. Yes, it will be sad to lose the MagSafe. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, I will miss the escape key. The criticism seems a bit premature, though.<p>The only thing that baffles me is why did they leave the headphone jack? And why is the iPhone 7 still Lightning and not USB C? Not enough courage.
It's just nothing special compared to what Microsoft is doing.<p>On TV Microsoft is advertising touch-screen computers used by artists to make art for stage sets, film, etc. Developers like the Unix personality in MacOS, so Microsoft is adding a Linux personality to Windows 10.<p>That is, a significant move into Apples turf.<p>Also Intel chips have not gotten that much better in recent years for laptop uses; you have to jump a long interval in time to feel an impact. Skylake's strength is the "Super Tablets" in the $999 price range that Microsoft wishes you would buy. They could have skipped Skylake and gone to Kaby Lake which would give a 10% increase in clock speed, which would have been noticable, particularly bundling in other x86 improvements, but they didn't.<p>Big picture is that Apple is focused on phones and the consumeration that entails. You can replace a cash register for a tablet, but if your work is creative you need a PC.
I've been happily using Macs for 14 years. I routinely do things like burn DVDs, plug in USB and FireWire devices, use external displays, transfer photographs from cameras, etc.<p>I may be content with a current Mac, but it seems to me that the path Apple is on is moving away from what I personally want. I remain presently undecided, but I am starting to consider non-Apple alternatives for my next computer.<p>I'm not mad, though. Things change. I wish I could still realistically be using Commodore Amiga computers, but I'm not.
Because it's expensive and is a sidegrade to anyone who owns a MacBook Pro from 2012 and newer. I don't know why any developer would upgrade their MacBook Pro if they bought one in the last few years.<p>Call me when the MacBook Pro has an OLED screen.
I for one, am looking forward to it -- my company ordered our new MacBook Pros yesterday.<p>I think the new touch bar is going to be the target of much elisp diddling on my part. And frankly, I don't care about connectors.