Best feature of the new MacBook Pro

In case you missed the news, there’s a new laptop in town. It’s supposed to be really fast and stuff. But my favorite feature is the new MagSafe power connector.

On Tuesday morning, before the keynote, one of my students happened to stop by my office to show me what had happened to the power adapter on his PowerBook. His roommate tripped over the power cord while he was working on the couch. Here’s the damage (not covered under warranty, naturally):

A few hours later, the MacBook Pro was introduced. Here’s the new power connector:

Apple explains: “…tripping over a power cord won’t send MacBook Pro flying … the cord simply breaks cleanly away, without damage to either the cord or the system.”

D’oh!

xian commented on Thu Jan 12 15:44:16 2006:

I’d just be happy if it keeps a constant seal over time. My Mac powercords always end up getting “mushy” and loose.

Paul commented on Thu Jan 12 16:13:02 2006:

Yeah. I’m guessing this will solve that problem, because the cord no longer depends on friction to stay in. The third-party adapter makers must be freaking out!

Ian Holsman commented on Tue Jan 24 22:43:31 2006:

I think I have gone through 3-4 power adaptors and at $150 a pop damn pricey as well. I look forward to the new cord design, but wish the whole industry could just come up with a standard interface

SK commented on Fri Sep 14 22:53:10 2007:

Yeah, but then notebook manufactures couldn’t make money selling replacement power adaptors for a fortune. A new one for my dv2000 cost me $70. Anyways, you have to consider the difference in voltages and such, at least some manufactures (Lenovo, HP) use the same adaptors across all their notebook lines, with only a difference in wattage.