> How do people see removing Magsafe as a downgrade?
Because it's so much easier to plug in. Get the plug close, and the magnet does the rest.
In contrast, with USB-C, you not only have to align it with the receptacle, you also have to apply considerable force. I've had my MBP fail to charge overnight because I mistakenly thought the USB-C cable was plugged in all the way.
USB-C cables also don't have the little LED to tell you that a) the computer is receiving juice (yellow or green); and b) whether the computer is fully charged (green). Just that feature alone would have save me from the not-charging situation I mentioned above.
Have you ever tripped over a cable with the Magsafe connector while attached to your laptop? It comes off, like it's supposed to. What about the USB-C connectors? The laptop comes off the desk.
What is the use case for tripping over your laptop charger cable?
I just can’t see myself having to do that very frequently, but I definitely remember the constant struggle that was keeping the magsafe cable plugged in.
This assumes that Magsafe laptops will never fall off the table, even if pulled at less than ideal angles, and USB-C laptops will always fall off the table, even if pulled at the perfect angle for unplugging.
Unless you read it uncharitably and require disclaimer clauses in every internet comment, their comment just suggests that one is better than the other and points out a practical and reasonable scenario that demonstrates this difference.
I really don't want an HN where we have to constantly hedge against an absolute reading of our comments with disclaimers like "btw, there are exceptions."
I disagree. I love the Magsafe adapter on my mid-2013 Macbook Air.
> And if the cable gets torn, I can just plug in another.
Personally, I am less concerned with the cable than I am for the power socket on the laptop, which if damaged could require replacing the whole motherboard.
My new Air's charger has none of those problems. And if the cable gets torn, I can just plug in another.
Even better, I can charge my other devices from the same cable. Right now, I'm charging my OnePlus phone with the same cable.
This was definitely one case where Apple actually practiced some pragmatism