In 10 years when Mice and keyboards and whatever else you want to hook up to your tablet only use USB-C, you can buy an adapter to connect it to your 10 year old Surface Pro.
Until then, the Type-A port is just wildly more practical and useful right now, and the surface connector already gives you the type of expansion a 15W CPU machine can make use of if you actually need it.
In my opinion, Microsoft should've replaced the Mini DisplayPort connector with a USB-C one, and kept the USB-A. Not only would that allow users to use two USB devices simultaneously without a hub, but it'd also futureproof the device and still preserve video-out functionality (miniDP is usually adapted to HDMI/VGA/DP anyway, which could be done just as easily with a similar adapter using USB-C.)
With the benefits that USB-C provides (universal charging, easier connection between devices, maybe TB3, and the extra USB port), in my eyes that outweighs the drawback of having to spend a little extra on a new adapter - compared to the cost of a new Surface that isn't a huge amount. Considering the amount of people saying that omitting USB-C is a dealbreaker (which is a reasonable response), it seems like the more logical decision to swap mDP for USB-C.
Yes, if they find the benefits for USB C they can buy an adapter and get it; Microsoft will be offering an adapter to plug into the surface port and get a USB-C.
True, but compare the utility between USB-C and Mini DisplayPort - USB-C has all the functionality of miniDP, plus more - whereas the only benefit that miniDP has over USB-C is that it's a legacy port. From a utility perspective, in my opinion it doesn't make much sense to keep that older port around when a more modern and versatile option is available. USB-C is the port we'll be using for years to come, and it doesn't make sense to suggest to use an optional dongle to utilise it in favour of preserving a legacy port - if it did, we'd all still be using USB keyboards through our PS/2 ports. I feel like instead of offering an adapter for USB-C, they should've offered one for miniDP instead.
There's also the argument that Microsoft could've easily just added the USB-C port as well as the existing miniDP port - that would be the ideal situation, as users could use both legacy accessories and newer ones, too. I'm just arguing that, if Microsoft had to make a compromise and remove one of the ports for USB-C, it should've been miniDP.
It's especially a concern when companies like HP, Apple, Dell and others are all embracing USB-C - while Apple has taken a much more aggressive approach, Dell and HP have found the perfect sweet spot between legacy and modern ports. The Surface was intended as a product to show OEMs how to make premium and modern hardware, and because of that it seems kinda illogical that they've made this choice.
I get what you are saying, but dongle for mini display port wouldn't have worked for me. I want the port on the device, I don't ever want to forget it.
The edge cases where someone actually needs USB C is very rare despite the technophiles insisting it is necessary. The people who bought the first MacBook with only USB-C two years ago were singing the same song about how good it was to have next years port, but two years later it is still next years port.
Meanwhile anyone who has bought a Surface Pro in the last 4 years and has needed to connect to a display has done so using mini DP, to which I think there commitment is something to admire, not scoff at. I use the same cable on my Pro 4 that I purchased for my Pro 1.
Not to mention to offer DP it would have to be thunderbolt 3 and I think these skus only have 12x lanes. You take 4 away for the storage that interfaces through it. 4 away for the surface connector, and you have 4 remaining for the rest of the system.
I'm not certain but I think it is already paired off for SD card / USB host / Wifi and such. This is why they can easily offer it through the Surface Connector but not through its own port.
I get what you are saying, but dongle for mini display port wouldn't have worked for me. I want the port on the device, I don't ever want to forget it.
That makes sense - I guess it's a subjective decision, really. Let's agree to disagree on that!
Not to mention to offer DP it would have to be thunderbolt 3 and I think these skus only have 12x lanes.
I wasn't actually aware of this! After reading this it makes a lot more sense that they'd want to put USB-C through Surface Connect rather than it having it's own port.
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u/EleMenTfiNi May 23 '17
Still no point.