Will Apple bring back the ethernet port on the next rMBP revision?

[Luis Mazza]

What's your point? TCP/IP is from 1974 yet without it the Internet wouldn't work on anything. I get it though, you think it would be a "cool" thing to scrap TCP/IP because it is from the 70s. If it wasn't created last year then it serves no place...

Luckily for those of us who live in reality you're stuck on a forum spouting nonsense instead of actually mucking up real technological innovation.

Nothing is replaced for the sake of replacing it. Things are replaced when something better actually comes along. Wireless isn't better than Wired. It offers convenience and that convenience is fine due to most people not needing the full power of Gigabit Ethernet. Both technologies will co-exist for a long time, possibly forever. It has nothing to do with what is "older" or not.

You're talking about protocols and I'm talking about ports. So there's no actual good talking here.

I'm done with your "real world". Maybe if you feel more intelligent by grabbing pieces of misplaced comments and using this to whine, I don't.

[Roger H. Veteran]

To the OP, sadly it's not coming back but it's crap like this that makes me feel like Apple is not for the "serious" users, more casual usage or even say college students (which some dorms don't even have WIFI standard, guess adapters for them!) doing projects and such. Definitely there's a targeted group of users but still....

People were saying that Apple removed it to make it thinner? WTF? Looking at Apple.com right now and checking the tech specs pages of the MacBook Air:

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html

I'm looking at that USB and ThunderBolt port at the side, you're telling me a Ethernet port couldn't fit in that space? According to them it's 17mm (1.7cm) thick at the thick edge, The Lenovo Thinkpad T431s is 20.6mm (2.06cm) thick and HAS a Ethernet port. So Apple couldn't cut the USB hole 3mm thicker? I say whatever to that! :rolleyes:

Form over function at it's finest. Hey i'm no Apple hater though as I recommend them all the time to my friends when their old Compaq/HP Windows Vista PCs died. They got shiny new MacBooks now and loving it more than anything!! I definitely think they are great machines but not for most of us it would seem.

[KiHu]

Are you implying that if you are not using WiFi, you are not normal?

****..

I might have to visit the mental hospital.

[fusi0n]

Removing the ethernet port is insane.. My Asus Zenbook doesn't have an ethernet port.. kinda annoying

[+Warwagon MVC]

My couch computer has a laptop with the lid closed and 2 monitored hooked up to it. Not very far away I have my cable modem and a wireless router. Is the laptop connected via the wifi? Nope! There is an ethernet cable running along the wall giving me gigabit ethernet. Whenever I have the option I go wired.

How many support calls do I get about someones wired connection? Very few

How many support calls do I get about someones wireless connection? Quite a few.

[Sandor]

In this thread - Apple clowns not realizing that, in about 99% of cases, the internet connection they are using is wired right up to the point the signal exits the router sitting at their feet.

I'm a rare exception as I live in a rural area and actually have a wireless internet connection beyond the router and at least as far as the cell mast due to being too far out for standard DSL or cable. Let me tell you - wired is always superior.

[+Gl1tterUnic0rns Subscriber²]

After reading the amusing posts, I thought I would way in on the argument.. I don't use the Ethernet port on my 2009 MBP, but, I had a asus zenbook that has a USB to Ethernet adapter which I did use, which was annoying but certainly not a show stopper, so really I don't care one way or the other

[Active.]

I personally wouldn't have an issue using an adapter instead of a built-in port. This is the only part that annoys me:

• Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter (sold separately)
  
• Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (sold separately)
  

That's $60 for something that should really come included with the product.

[+virtorio MVC]

I haven't touched an ethernet cable since 802.11n came along, but I don't transfer much data over the network so the speed difference is meaningless to me. Of course ethernet is faster than wireless, but for most people 802.11n is fast enough.

It's another example of Apple's form over function. If you want ethernet, and don't want to deal with adapters (or a docking station), the rMBP is probably not for you. Apple will never add that port on those machines.

Also, Apple isn't the only one producing laptops without ethernet, and I expect that to become more and more frequent.

[Raa]

Not very far away I have my cable modem and a wireless router. Is the laptop connected via the wifi? Nope! There is an ethernet cable running along the wall giving me gigabit ethernet.

Wow, you must have fast internet then! ;)

To answer the OP's question though : Has Apple ever brought anything back?

Yes they have. It'll cost you $%apple_tax% in the form of an adaptor. Enjoy your new MBP! :)

[+Warwagon MVC]

Wow, you must have fast internet then! ;)

To answer the OP's question though : Has Apple ever brought anything back?

Yes they have. It'll cost you $%apple_tax% in the form of an adaptor. Enjoy your new MBP! :)

Na 15 down 1 up

[Raa]

Na 15 down 1 up

Ahh not bad. Deffo need GbE for that. ;)

[+Warwagon MVC]

Ahh not bad. Deffo need GbE for that. ;)

it's more or large GB ISO's and moves :ninja:

[Active.]

Has Apple ever brought anything back?

Well, yeah. For example, they brought the Firewire port back after it had been removed from the 2008 Macbooks.

[pickytech]

You clearly don't know the size of the ethernet port vs. the rMBP sides. lol

Go grab a USB drive, and then grab an ethernet cable (if you have one...). Put the heads together. The only difference is the little clip on the ethernet cable, which is probably about 2mm. Now, take a look at this bad ethernet port and USB port; both are larger than they need to be.

Now, go take a look at the rMBP's specs: http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/

Are you trying to tell us that Apple does not have smart enough engineers to reduce the clunkiness of the port? Further, looking at the side of the rMBP, they could use some of that curved part, if they needed to, to add the ethernet port. It might modify the sleekness of the ports, but it would be very easy for their engineers to have added.

Heck, if they're so unwilling to do that, then they could create a mini-connection and create a direct adapter for ethernet, and they could include a cheap head converter in the box. It worked out well for mini-DisplayPort (and now the Thunderbolt connection). As it stands, a $30 converter to push it over USB is pathetic.

Some company has to push new technology and some people are willing to pay for cutting-edge tech. That's how new standards are created.

By pushing old ethernet cables out, they may develop thunderbolt or even USB ethernet.

BTW, ethernet is from 1980... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet

Pretty new, huh? Were you already born in 1980? lol

When are they going to take care of that nasty auxiliary jack? They're from the 70s. Technology like that cannot work, right? x86 is also from the 80s. They really should get some new CPU technology.

USB ethernet? Seriously? Ethernet has a higher throughput over a further distance, and Apple is not developing Thunderbolt--Intel is. I want Thunderbolt to succeed as much as you do, and it can only chain up to six devices; ethernet does not have that limitation. I actually understand the technology here, and I want it to succeed in addition to the others. You seem to want to move beyond technologies for the sake of moving on, even if the replacement (WiFi, or "USB ethernet") is inferior. Thunderbolt is worth moving to because it offers improvements over both FireWire and USB.

[Xerxes]

Some people use them in corporate environments and need a way to image them. I don't see how you think they "should" go away, especially when they don't really affect much. We got an Asus X202E in and it has a hnged cover for the ethernet port. therefore, the plug can fit in, without needing to be full sized. It's a pretty slick solution, IMHO.

My Asus VivoBook has that too. Gives the convenience of a full sized Ethernet port but without the overall bulk normally associated with it. However, I doubt Apple will bring it back since they are making money off people buying the adapter, why would they sacrifice profits for consumer convenience? I doubt the shareholders would be too happy about it either.

[Shadrack]

Are you implying that if you are not using WiFi, you are not normal?

Yes. You would be an outlier if you insist on being wired at Starbucks to check your email when you could just connect to WiFi (for example). As I said in the portions of my post that you did not quote, using ethernet at home and at the office is reasonable/normal. Using wired ethernet at an Airport, for instance, would not be normal.

I personally wouldn't have an issue using an adapter instead of a built-in port. This is the only part that annoys me:

That's $60 for something that should really come included with the product.

I'm all for OEMs providing more adapters that are included in the cost of the laptop... However, this is really not industry norm. Pretty much every laptop manufacturer ships their laptop with a power adapter. If you need other stuff you'll have to buy that separately.

[Luis Mazza]

Go grab a USB drive, and then grab an ethernet cable (if you have one...). Put the heads together. The only difference is the little clip on the ethernet cable, which is probably about 2mm. Now, take a look at this bad ethernet port and USB port; both are larger than they need to be.

Now, go take a look at the rMBP's specs: http://www.apple.com...o/specs-retina/

Are you trying to tell us that Apple does not have smart enough engineers to reduce the clunkiness of the port? Further, looking at the side of the rMBP, they could use some of that curved part, if they needed to, to add the ethernet port. It might modify the sleekness of the ports, but it would be very easy for their engineers to have added.

Heck, if they're so unwilling to do that, then they could create a mini-connection and create a direct adapter for ethernet, and they could include a cheap head converter in the box. It worked out well for mini-DisplayPort (and now the Thunderbolt connection). As it stands, a $30 converter to push it over USB is pathetic.

When are they going to take care of that nasty auxiliary jack? They're from the 70s. Technology like that cannot work, right? x86 is also from the 80s. They really should get some new CPU technology.

USB ethernet? Seriously? Ethernet has a higher throughput over a further distance, and Apple is not developing Thunderbolt--Intel is. I want Thunderbolt to succeed as much as you do, and it can only chain up to six devices; ethernet does not have that limitation. I actually understand the technology here, and I want it to succeed in addition to the others. You seem to want to move beyond technologies for the sake of moving on, even if the replacement (WiFi, or "USB ethernet") is inferior. Thunderbolt is worth moving to because it offers improvements over both FireWire and USB.

Sorry, you try, but you know nothing about Macs. The specs you're looking at are the total thickness of the laptop, but it has rounded corners the size of a USB port. So no, there's no way to put this s*** on such a gorgeous and thin piece of hardware.

One more example that you know nothing about Macs is that the so called "auxiliary port" as you call, also outputs SPDIF 5.1 audio, because it is also an optical out and headphone out, which is very thin, even with a port model coming from the 70's, but of course updated for this century and small enough to be used even for cellphones.

[Tomoko]

You're talking about protocols and I'm talking about ports. So there's no actual good talking here.

So, old protocols are good but old ports are bad. Yes, that makes so much sense...

Especially since Ethernet is also a protocol making your statement even more ridiculous.

[Mr. Gibs]

Sorry, you try, but you know nothing about Macs. The specs you're looking at are the total thickness of the laptop, but it has rounded corners the size of a USB port. So no, there's no way to put this s*** on such a gorgeous and thin piece of hardware.

Do what Samsung does then. Put a simple lid that allows you to keep the curved design of the laptop. If you need to use the port, you push it open and voila.

One more example that you know nothing about Macs is that the so called "auxiliary port" as you call, also outputs SPDIF 5.1 audio, because it is also an optical out and headphone out, which is very thin, even with a port model coming from the 70's, but of course updated for this century and small enough to be used even for cellphones.

Wow an aux out that can output SPDIF. Shocking, oh wait my 3 year old dell came with that too. Plus mine has 2 aux/SPDIF ports and 1 microphone one. Both are small enough to be used on cellphones too because it's a standardized size. I guess that makes my epeen bigger than yours :rolleyes:

I can't believe you seriously just tried to claim the mbp's aux port is superior to other laptops...

[PyX]

It is. It has optical in and out.

Not many laptops do. This is what saved my Logitech Z-5500 from being sold.

[pickytech]

Sorry, you try, but you know nothing about Macs. The specs you're looking at are the total thickness of the laptop, but it has rounded corners the size of a USB port. So no, there's no way to put this s*** on such a gorgeous and thin piece of hardware.

As I already stated, I own a 2011 MBP. With that out of the way, not only do I know about Mac's, but I also understand engineering. They could lose the curve for the ethernet port, and it would be all of 2 mm lost. Clearly, you appreciate the aesthetic feel of the rMBP, but there is a segment that buys for quality and effectiveness rather than just looks, and that is supposed to be the "Pro" segment (something the rMBP is not applicable too without an adapter). You are the epitemy of what's wrong with the Mac community: you think that you understand something, and you blindly believe in it.

The curve is quite evident in the picture that I linked too, as is the-probably 1mm space around the USB ports (top and bottom combined), which means that adding the ethernet port is well within the realms of feasibility with Apple's engineers. The outer metal is just a shell. There is only a problem if you exceed its size; not work within it. Creating a spot for an ethernet jack, or even a mini-ethernet jack is something that they could quite easily do. Frankly, I'd even buy into a mini-ethernet jack.

One more example that you know nothing about Macs is that the so called "auxiliary port" as you call, also outputs SPDIF 5.1 audio, because it is also an optical out and headphone out, which is very thin, even with a port model coming from the 70's, but of course updated for this century and small enough to be used even for cellphones.

That further proves our point: ethernet has been updated in the same fundamental way. Same port. Modern specification.

[t3chmachine]

NO..Apple is dumb to think the future already is wireless when there Iphone 4 or older Ibricks don't even support N wireless..Keep being a sucker and paying thousands of dollars on them. I know I used to work for them and what they teach is "We support the product not the customer"

[sundayx Veteran]

This year is probably about 802.11ac... so no.

[vanx]

Yes. You would be an outlier if you insist on being wired at Starbucks to check your email when you could just connect to WiFi (for example). As I said in the portions of my post that you did not quote, using ethernet at home and at the office is reasonable/normal. Using wired ethernet at an Airport, for instance, would not be normal.

First of all, if I wanted to check my email in Starbucks, I would not use my laptop; I will happily use my iPhone because I encrypt using S/MIME or tunnel via VPN, as necessary. At an airport, using your example, and given a choice of wired or wireless, I would always opt for the cable. Not only it is generally faster -- because I do not have to fight for access point bandwidth with people using their iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices -- but is usually (though not always) more secure because it is less susceptible to man-in-the-middle traffic sniffing.

For laptops, wired all the way baby. If Apple is gradually phasing out Ethernet sockets from models in their MacBook portfolio, they can be my guest. I will quite happily choose a Windows-based power horse that does not force me to battle things like interference, signal strength, etc.