this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 311 points 1 month ago (6 children)

You won't find these symbols on most devices though (certainly not on any macbook as the picture suggests).

[–] [email protected] 197 points 1 month ago (4 children)

By removing the symbols they were able to shave the case down 0.0003nm, making it the thinnest and lightest laptop ever.

[–] [email protected] 78 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 month ago

Stunning and brave!

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

You know it’s a thunderbolt connection on a MacBook. They stopped using the USB symbol when they used the usb for thunderbolt and stopped using the mini display port.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If they etched the symbol they could have reduced the weight of the laptop by 0.003g making it even better

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

But if they omit the symbol entirely, they save 0.003 cents per unit, but they will continue to charge the same inflated retail price for it and all their cult members will cover for them by gushing about how sleek the "minimalist" design is.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I didn't take the image to be showing a macbook, it could just as easily be my computer or probably many others.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It could be, but combine the color looking very much like Apple's space grey, the slimness of it, particularly how slim the lid is versus the body, and what looks like the MacBook's classic black, rounded rubber stoppers on the bottom, I think it's safe to say that's meant to be an MacBook.

Also certain MacBook models tried to go to a single USB C port about a decade ago, and it was on the corner like that.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (2 children)

True, my latest Dell laptop has 3 "usb-c shaped ports", there is 0 symbol anywhere close to them or the underside cover, you're on your own as to what it supports, you have to find the doc online somewhere I guess.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I discovered that my Thinkpad apparently supports charging from all of the (unlabeled) USB-C ports after I inadvertently started it charging from my cell phone's (unlabeled) USB-C port.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

I can do you one better: My GPD laptop has a charging indicator on the center type-C port indicating that this is where the power supply goes, but it can actually be charged from either port regardless of the icon. Both ports are USB 3.0 or 3.2 or whatever the current fast standard is this week, but only the center one supports video out via an external GPU enclosure. So if you want to use it docked with an eGPU, it's actually required to not plug the power supply into the port that says you should plug the power supply into it.

So not only is the marking meaningless, it's arguably worse than meaningless because in one of the headline hardware setups for the machine it is actually 100% incorrect to do what the marking is telling you to do. Wrap your head around that one...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Tbf my work Dell Latitude 5440 has a USB A with a SS5, an A with a SS5 and charging indicator, a C with a thunderbolt indicator, and a C with a battery and a thunderbolt indicator.

So at least some of their laptops do in fact have the indicators similar-ish enough to what the infographic shows.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

my 5680 has absolutely nothing. Checking online I found that the right one is a usb-c 3.2 and the 2 left ones are TB4. IIRC they all support DisplayPort and all support being used as the power input (165W charger), not sure for PD and fast charging a cell/tablet...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

With some devices, I assume that they're trying to save a bit of money.

With the MBP, I'm pretty sure that they just don't want to disrupt the designer's vision of the aesthetic.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Have the thunderbolt symbol on my HP Laptop.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Why would you need them on a MacBook? They're always* Thunderbolt.

Edit: Better explained by GamingChairModel below. I entirely forgot one series of MacBook, and also forgot when the older ones did have the Thunderbolt symbol on them.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The only devices that don't have at least Thunderbolt 3 on all ports do use the Thunderbolt logo on the ones that support it, except the short-lived 12-inch MacBook (non-Pro, non-Air). Basically, for data transfer:

  • If it's a 12-inch MacBook, the single USB-C port doesn't support Thunderbolt, and only supports USB 3.1 Gen 1.
  • In all other devices, if the ports are unmarked, they all support Thunderbolt 3 or higher
  • If the ports are marked with Thunderbolt symbols, those ports support Thunderbolt but the unmarked ports on the same computer don't.

For power delivery, every USB-C port in every Apple laptop supports at least first generation USB-PD.

For display, every USB-C port in every Apple laptop (and maybe even the desktops) supports DisplayPort alt mode.

It's annoying but not actually that hard to remember in the wild.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I completely forgot the 12-inch one existed.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Okay, the old ones that apparently have both do have the Thunderbolt symbol on the ones that are, though, so what's the problem?