We wrap up the cable and throw it into our bag without a second thought. Most of us take care when we put our MacBook in a bag or sleeve, but the same can’t be said of the charger. In a few cases, it could be that the cable itself has a flaw, but the most common reason is that the chargers are not properly looked after.
It can also reindex Spotlight, run maintenance scripts and free up purgeable space.
CleanMyMac X does just that by freeing up RAM when there is too little left to run your Mac properly and repairing disk permissions.
I rejoice every time I plug my MacBook Pro into the same USB-C chargers that I use for my Pixel phone, iPad Pro tablet, Nintendo Switch controllers and Sony headphones.While there’s nothing that any software can do to stop your MacBook cable from being frayed, you can keep other hardware and your boot disk in good condition. I know there are many fans of Apple MagSafe charging cables, but I prefer USB-C's winning combination of standardization and adaptability. But it could show Apple is interested in reviving its magnetic power connector - a rumored development for future MacBooks. It looks to me like the cable's magnetic connector is too bulky to serve as a third-generation MagSafe for MacBooks. That would be particularly helpful if it let you use the Ethernet-enabled power brick with MacBooks, too. Why is a complicated magnetic connector needed for a computer that you're not going to unplug a lot, or that doesn't have a battery to keep running if you trip over the cable and disconnect it?Īpple could have run power and Ethernet over a single USB-C cable to its new iMac, too. Some people on Twitter aren't happy about the new cable, too.
Proprietary power cables and chargers are a major problem for the computing industry: They're harder to replace when you lose one on a business trip, they fill up landfills after you upgrade and they're often more expensive than standard parts. The Ethernet cable "connects to the adapter and runs through the power cable to keep your desktop less cluttered." "We created a new power connector that attaches magnetically so it's quick and easy to connect," said Colleen Novielli of Apple's Mac marketing team. Yes, the new iMac power cable is a design unique to Apple, but it's more of a necessary accessory that enables the iMac's appealingly slim profile than a customer-hostile scheme to plump up Apple's profit margin.Īpple took a moment in its hour-long spring product launch event to spotlight the technology. That's why I'm a fan of standard USB-C cables for MacBooks or the three-prong power cords that plug into the back of earlier-generation iMacs. Power cables are basic computer parts that don't need to be proprietary, performing just as well but costing less. But upon deeper inspection, Apple's approach is justified. "Just what the world needs - another expensive, proprietary power cable," I thought. When I saw the clever magnetic connector on Apple's new 24-inch M1-powered iMac, I cringed.