Along with the release of the new single-port MacBook comes one small issue — the end of the MagSafe charging port.
For those unfamiliar with MagSafe, it is essentially Apple's charging port, which connects via magnets, meaning that when, for example, someone trips over your charging cable, it simply disconnects. With the new USB Type-C port, this is no longer the case.
This is a problem for many — the MagSafe has taught Apple users not to worry about charging cables. Whatever happens, a Mac will never go crashing to the floor. Not only could USB Type-C implementation as charging send a computer to the repairman, it could even damage the USB cable itself because of the lack of give in the design of the port.
MagSafe was first introduced in 2006 on the first MacBook Pro, being touted by Steve Jobs as the technology that would put an end to accidents involving power adapters. He even suggested that the technology was a win-win for everyone because of the fact that Apple wouldn't have to repair as many computers.
Having one single port on a computer was likely to happen eventually, especially with the advent of USB-C. It is very likely that Apple will roll out USB-C to all of its MacBook computers over the next year or so, eventually doing away with MagSafe altogether.
There are certainly advantages to this, especially as a user. Implementation of USB-C could eventually mean universal chargers. A USB-C charger that works on a PC will also work on a Mac. This is great news for those with multiple products or brands of computers who likely have to deal with a number of different chargers. Even mobile devices will likely adopt USB-C at some point in the future.
The single port also gives the computer a very clean look, even if it does away with some functionality. Even if there were two USB-C ports, the uniformity of these ports would look cleaner than two different ports.
There are a number of factors that will determine whether or not the new MacBook will go flying across the room should someone trip over the cable. While the rubber feet on the bottom of the computer could help prevent this, the fact that the computer is very light will not.
Perhaps Apple will offer some kind of USB-C MagSafe adapter, but that seems unlikely. Instead, users will simply have to be more careful with their computers, making sure that cables aren't strung across the room in a way that they could be tripped over.
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