MacBook's USB-C only - Does it work or is it an issue?

hoogie

hoogie

hoogie

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Joined
18 Dec 2003
Posts
327
Hi,

I took delivery of a MacBook Pro 13" non touchbar on Friday, and I love the form factor, display and touchpad.

Before ordering it, I spent a lot of time considering if being USB-C only, and with only 2 ports at that, was feasible or if it was too much of a trade off. I made the decision that USB-C was the future so went for it.

I am now having some serious concerns about whether or USB-C only can really work for me, and specifically around if 2-ports is enough. And I'm considering returning it.

The main issue I have, is that I was sold on the USB-C hubs being able to get around the issue of low port numbers, I also read articles stating they could be daisy chained and had the bandwidth and power to connect all sorts of devices at once. However, now that I am looking to buy a HUB, and looking at the better ones such as Satechi, I am reading that:
  • HDMI output flickers and often need system reboots to work
  • They do not output enough power to run USB external HDD, which can lead to data loss
With that being the case I don't see how a 2 USB-C system can work. I don't use a huge amount of devices or SD cards, but at the least I want to be able to reliably output to HDMI, and plug in an external USB HDD at the same time.

What is everyone's experience with using USB-C only system?

And do people think 2 ports are enough?

Thanks
 
Thanks for the replies.

Based on the replies of people not having issues with even just a single port on the MacBook, are you having to connect to external monitors/HDD at the same time? And if so what adaptor are you using?

Regarding Thunderbolt 3 HUB solutions, are there any in particular people would recommend? And should this solve the power issue that the USB-C hubs appear to have with external HDD?

Thanks
 
Barry Smalley said:
Im using an external DAC, an external HDD an using HDMI out also. All through one port with the Anker one -https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/USB-Hubs/Anker-Premium-Delivery-SuperSpeed-Charging-Specification-ChromeBook/B018XF4KRC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1499373736&sr=8-3&keywords=anker+usb-c+hub
Click to expand...

This is the adaptor I was originally looking at, but was put off by people saying it didn't provide enough power for the HDD.

Does your external HDD have a dedicated power source? And if not are you finding the adaptor gives it enough power?

Thanks
 
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