Known for making its products thinner and lighter (and then even thinner and lighter, and some more thinner and lighter), Apple has had to make some tough decisions this time. At its October press event, they pulled the switch on some of its most iconic features.
Let’s take a look at everything Apple killed
*weeping buckets of tears*
- The Illuminated Apple Logo
The evergreen glowing Apple logo on the MacBook cover is no more. Similar to the 12-inch MacBook, the iPad, and the iPhone, there simply wasn’t any room to slice in some light in the new MacBook Pro’s display. I, for one, will definitely miss that happy pulsing glow, but the wide color retina display is a pretty good reason to smile, since this is something I can spend my time looking at, perhaps with more affection than ever before.
- The MagSafe Charger
If you are the proud owner of an Apple notebook with a MagSafe connector, you would know how convenient and safe this port was. Apart from connecting the charger easily, it also kept the device safe. If someone tripped over your cord, the magnet would release from the MacBook. So, even though your cord would go flying, but your MacBook wouldn’t.
The new MacBook has replaced the MagSafe charging port with a USB Type-C port. There are four such ports on the MacBook Pro covering both sides, giving you ample opportunity to trip over the cable and trash your shiny new MacBook from either side. This decision hurts – in more ways than one!
- The 11-inch MacBook Air
Apple has been quite brutal in the elimination of the 11-inch MacBook Air and all its kith and kin in the line. Instead of launching a new 13-inch MacBook Air, Apple released a cheaper, feature-limited version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro in its place. The last of the weird stepchildren of the MacBook Pro family are the $1299 Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro and $1999 15-inch MacBook Pro.
- Physical Function Keys
Apple has essentially killed that irritating function key bar (the physical one), replacing it with a capacitive, customizable Touch Bar that changes based on what app is opened on your Mac. Don’t weep their loss, though, as these keys are gone but not forgotten, with digital doppelgangers springing to life on the Touch Bar when required.
- The SD Card Slot
The SD card slot had been loyal to the Pro line (and the 13-inch Air) for quite a few years, but Apple has killed it too, streamlining it to four USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. It’s become less imperative to have a dedicated SD card slot as more cameras are now supporting Wi-Fi transfer or USB-C. That being said, my five-year-old Wi-Fi-less Nikon camera is pretty sad about the change.
- Optical Drive
In an attempt to slim down for the new MacBook Pro, Apple has discontinued its optical drive as well, and along with it goes the last MacBook with a built-in optical drive. For those who are disheartened, you can still buy and use the Apple USB SuperDrive and it goes without saying that you’re going to need a USB-C adapter for that too.
These kills have been a testimony to the fact that winter really is coming. We might miss them, only after we have stopped staring at the new, sexy Touch Bar.
