The thing is, they don't even need to push the envelope. I would have been happy with a classic MBP with upgraded hardware but without USB C ports and no touchbar.
It's just that they keep introducing stupid, useless gimmicks.
IMO they needed one transitional design where they replaced the thunderbolt (is that right? I get all their storm-named ports mixed up) ports, and maybe the charger port if they must, with USB-C, but kept HDMI and at least one USB-A. I use the SDCARD port all the time but I could see their getting rid of it. The other stuff? Gimme a break, going all USB-C from a state of no USB-C? WTF was I supposed to plug into it without an adapter or buying all new peripherals and drives?
All the USB-C ports on the new MacBook Pros double as Thunderbolt 3 ports — IMO this is a big advantage over other laptops where some ports are USB-C only.
I've only ever had a 2016+ MBP as a work computer so I didn't mind the USB-C stuff too much (especially with a dock that I didn't have to pay for). The lack of dedicated ethernet port and SD card reader is vexxing though (on my personal 2015 MBP).
> All the USB-C ports on the new MacBook Pros double as Thunderbolt 3 ports — IMO this is a big advantage over other laptops where some ports are USB-C only.
The disadvantage is that one of those USB-C ports will be your charging port when there is only 4 on the 15" and 2 on the 13".
I don't mind USB-C/Thunderbolt so much, I think it's great we'll get products that will be forced to adopt it (looking at you, audio interfaces/DACs). The MBP has been a port desert for a long time and dongles are awful UX - and they just keep removing more and more of them.
It baffles me when they try and do things that seem to improve UI/UX, like the touchbar (which I hate, but I get it), the move to Retina displays, high quality dual-front facing speakers on all models now, etc... but then they turn around and remove IO options and roll out a terrible keyboard. It seems like they have warped priorities for the mac line.
Personally if the move to ARM and don't offer MacOS as a standalone product, the pro-media world will probably abandon Macs altogether. And I don't really want to develop for another OS, I love mac. The machines are just awful.
If any of your TB3 or USB-c devices is decent (ie not a cheap Chinese POS) and has a/c power it’ll probably provide power back to the laptop over the same connection.
It's just that they keep introducing stupid, useless gimmicks.