Sign of Things to Come?
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No Ethernet port comes as a bit of a surprise, but it's been a *long* time I've seen a laptop come with a CD/DVD drive. I still have a crapload of them in various drawers and still hooked up to other systems, so I'm not terribly worried...especially since I took the time, years ago, to rip pretty much all of the software I have that came on CD/DVD to ISOs.
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
Um... guess what... optical drives and RJ45s are soooooo yesterday. :laugh:
Jeremy Falcon
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Many moons ago, to help a friend out with a problem, I had to attach an old peripheral to my PC. My problem was that I couldn't find the COM port for plugging it in. I searched everywhere, but with no success. The absence of COM ports may not be remarkable (especially not today); more remarkable is that the PC was almost 3 years old at the time, and in those 3 years I had never noticed that the COM was missing. So maybe the PC manufacturer was right, concluding that COM is obsolete. (Later, I discovered that the mainboard actually was equipped with a COM header. I even found an old bracket with both COM and LPT sockets and cables/plugs that fit right onto the headers. That was long after we had solved my friend's problem in other ways.) My basement is full of old equipment that I keep as a miniature computer museum. I'd sure like to be able to demonstrate it in operation. But for a lot of it, I no longer have an operational PC with the right interface. Maybe I was using a dedicated interface card, but I have operational PC with a matching bus. In one case (an SPDIF card with both input and output), the manufacturer switched into software-only, low level drivers for other manufacturer's HW - but dropped drivers for their own old HW! So when I updated to WinXP, I lost that card (even though it would still fit on my mainboard). External media is another thing: I've got floppy disks in four sizes (counting different densities makes it 9). Tape cassettes in four formats. A couple removable hard disk formats. I have operational readers for none of them. I've got documents, videos, sound files and digital photos in several dozen different formats that I may or may not have a reader for. It is like the COM port: I really haven't looked for it for a while. Such is life, and it is getting sucher and sucher. CD/DVDs are obsolete; more and more music/movies are unavailable in physical formats. Some of my friends more or less forced me to enable the WiFi in my home - I prefer cabled network, but they couldn't access that from their smartphones and tablets (and, being modern people, they would get mentally sick if they had to abstain from online media for more than a few minutes). Most devices still have USB ports, though. We'll have to cross our fingers that there won't be a 'D' plug for a few year (I've been through 6 different device-side USB plugs prior to the C plug!). You can buy Ethernet interfaces, CD/DVD readers, 3.5" floppy readers (at least you could - I've got one), sound cards, COM and
trønderen wrote:
Such is life, and it is getting sucher and sucher.
Too true! And just to let you know, I intend to remember (and purloin) your words. :laugh:
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Oh great; I'm even more out of touch than I already knew! It came with 2x A-type, and 1x C-type USB ports, but I have no idea how you're using that to get all those other functions! What new widgets do I need now?
Will Rogers never met me.
Here's the quick rundown... Lightening = Mac onry, EU no likey USB A = sucks USB B = sucks USB C = used for data but screw why it, why not video too? Thunderbolt = used for everything, even toasters... ripped of USB-C's fashion sense HDMI = used for video and audio... unless you're a hacker with mad skillz DisplayPort = used for video and audio, supports compression and probably AI too Mini DisplayPort = looks a lot like Thunderbolt to me 3.5 audio jack = what's that again?
Jeremy Falcon
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
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It was purchased in 2019, but was an identical replacement for a much older HP Pavillion of the same design.
Will Rogers never met me.
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dandy72 wrote:
No Ethernet port comes as a bit of a surprise
Smartphones never had them. I believe that few, if any, tablets ever had them. Removing them from laptops is the natural next step.
trønderen wrote:
Smartphones never had them.
Given that smartphones, by design, have wireless connectivity built-in, that's no surprise.
trønderen wrote:
I believe that few, if any, tablets ever had them
You can always hook up a tablet to a dock that has one.
trønderen wrote:
Removing them from laptops is the natural next step.
Which makes total sense. But given I'd still much rather have a cable (for reliability reasons), I don't think I'm ready yet to buy a laptop without an Ethernet port. But then, I hate spending money on laptops, and I've only ever outright purchased one exactly once throughout my career. If a donated freebie doesn't come with one, I won't complain...it just wouldn't be my first choice.
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Um... guess what... optical drives and RJ45s are soooooo yesterday. :laugh:
Jeremy Falcon
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But I bought two new CDs on Saturday, and the fee for my fiber connection is due today! What should I do???
Join the rest of us and sell your soul to big tech. Resistance is futile.
Jeremy Falcon
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
Boy you have been under a rock for a bit. There haven't been any cd drives for about a decade and Ethernet ports disappeared about 5 years ago. I know because I run a repair shop and have external cd drives and usb Ethernet ports at the ready for when it is necessary. Margins are real slim these days so if it isn't necessary to the masses then cry us a river if you miss it. You can get a usb to slim cd drive adapter cable and pull the dvd drive out of the old pc (undo it's release screw on the bottom of the laptop and pull the drive out), this is what I did for my old dvdless ASUS QL502 i5 laptop. And you can get usb to Ethernet adapters for a song. You don't even need to sing good.
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
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Cheaper to produce, probably. I think you can still get external dvd writers and wouldn't be surprised if you could get a usb to ethernet adapter.
As a matter of fact, I ordered both today - about $40. :-D
Will Rogers never met me.
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Many moons ago, to help a friend out with a problem, I had to attach an old peripheral to my PC. My problem was that I couldn't find the COM port for plugging it in. I searched everywhere, but with no success. The absence of COM ports may not be remarkable (especially not today); more remarkable is that the PC was almost 3 years old at the time, and in those 3 years I had never noticed that the COM was missing. So maybe the PC manufacturer was right, concluding that COM is obsolete. (Later, I discovered that the mainboard actually was equipped with a COM header. I even found an old bracket with both COM and LPT sockets and cables/plugs that fit right onto the headers. That was long after we had solved my friend's problem in other ways.) My basement is full of old equipment that I keep as a miniature computer museum. I'd sure like to be able to demonstrate it in operation. But for a lot of it, I no longer have an operational PC with the right interface. Maybe I was using a dedicated interface card, but I have operational PC with a matching bus. In one case (an SPDIF card with both input and output), the manufacturer switched into software-only, low level drivers for other manufacturer's HW - but dropped drivers for their own old HW! So when I updated to WinXP, I lost that card (even though it would still fit on my mainboard). External media is another thing: I've got floppy disks in four sizes (counting different densities makes it 9). Tape cassettes in four formats. A couple removable hard disk formats. I have operational readers for none of them. I've got documents, videos, sound files and digital photos in several dozen different formats that I may or may not have a reader for. It is like the COM port: I really haven't looked for it for a while. Such is life, and it is getting sucher and sucher. CD/DVDs are obsolete; more and more music/movies are unavailable in physical formats. Some of my friends more or less forced me to enable the WiFi in my home - I prefer cabled network, but they couldn't access that from their smartphones and tablets (and, being modern people, they would get mentally sick if they had to abstain from online media for more than a few minutes). Most devices still have USB ports, though. We'll have to cross our fingers that there won't be a 'D' plug for a few year (I've been through 6 different device-side USB plugs prior to the C plug!). You can buy Ethernet interfaces, CD/DVD readers, 3.5" floppy readers (at least you could - I've got one), sound cards, COM and
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I've got floppy disks in four sizes (counting different densities makes it 9). Tape cassettes in four formats.
Tapes. Impressive. I've got audio tapes, for the C64, filled with games, including (IIRC) River Raid and Boulder Dash. Too bad that neither the computer, nor the power brick it came with, work anymore. Pretty certain the tape driver still works, but impossible to tell.
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
What? Not even a Morse-code interface?:confused:
Nothing succeeds like a budgie without teeth. To err is human, to arr is pirate.
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What? Not even a Morse-code interface?:confused:
Nothing succeeds like a budgie without teeth. To err is human, to arr is pirate.
Happily, even the FCC has finally admitted that there's little reason to require hams to know Morse code. That's the only reason I upgraded my license to Amateur Extra. :-D
Will Rogers never met me.
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
prices are going up ok gut out all possible ports, and shift to a hub also the transition from Ethernet Port, to one with hinge part to allow thin laptop the jump to wireless screens seemed like a fantasy in 2014, now every meeting room has screen share the next cord cut might be wireless USB docking hub
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Many moons ago, to help a friend out with a problem, I had to attach an old peripheral to my PC. My problem was that I couldn't find the COM port for plugging it in. I searched everywhere, but with no success. The absence of COM ports may not be remarkable (especially not today); more remarkable is that the PC was almost 3 years old at the time, and in those 3 years I had never noticed that the COM was missing. So maybe the PC manufacturer was right, concluding that COM is obsolete. (Later, I discovered that the mainboard actually was equipped with a COM header. I even found an old bracket with both COM and LPT sockets and cables/plugs that fit right onto the headers. That was long after we had solved my friend's problem in other ways.) My basement is full of old equipment that I keep as a miniature computer museum. I'd sure like to be able to demonstrate it in operation. But for a lot of it, I no longer have an operational PC with the right interface. Maybe I was using a dedicated interface card, but I have operational PC with a matching bus. In one case (an SPDIF card with both input and output), the manufacturer switched into software-only, low level drivers for other manufacturer's HW - but dropped drivers for their own old HW! So when I updated to WinXP, I lost that card (even though it would still fit on my mainboard). External media is another thing: I've got floppy disks in four sizes (counting different densities makes it 9). Tape cassettes in four formats. A couple removable hard disk formats. I have operational readers for none of them. I've got documents, videos, sound files and digital photos in several dozen different formats that I may or may not have a reader for. It is like the COM port: I really haven't looked for it for a while. Such is life, and it is getting sucher and sucher. CD/DVDs are obsolete; more and more music/movies are unavailable in physical formats. Some of my friends more or less forced me to enable the WiFi in my home - I prefer cabled network, but they couldn't access that from their smartphones and tablets (and, being modern people, they would get mentally sick if they had to abstain from online media for more than a few minutes). Most devices still have USB ports, though. We'll have to cross our fingers that there won't be a 'D' plug for a few year (I've been through 6 different device-side USB plugs prior to the C plug!). You can buy Ethernet interfaces, CD/DVD readers, 3.5" floppy readers (at least you could - I've got one), sound cards, COM and
trønderen wrote:
Today, it looks as if WiFi is The One and Only Solution.
I've seen software where the manufacturer specifically says not to use wi-fi, only to use wired ethernet, preferably through a built in adapter, so one hopes that the option is still available for some time.
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
Roger, my laptop came with both an Ethernet port and a USB-C connector. The USB-C connects to a hub I bought with HDMI, USB-A(2), and Ethernet support. The hub was <$50. Small giggle: The hub was marked as an Apple product, and it's hooked up to an HP laptop.
Software Zen:
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
My previous laptop at work had about 11h autonomy, 4x USB A and 1xUSB C and all possible readers and an Ethernet port. My brand new laptop has only two USB A and a USB C with 2,5h autonomy. SO I have to carry around a USB hub with hanging 20cm cables, plus my power supply - this is not a laptop anymore, it is a thin desktop. X| Sure, the laptop is not heavy, but the extra needed hardware is pure nonsense.
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I just bought a new laptop to replace one that I've had for much too long. I was surprised to find that it not only has no CD/DVD device installed, it also lacks any Ethernet port! It never even occurred to me to look for either in the list of features before buying it; these are ubiquitous parts of any off the shelf computer! Apparently, not anymore. It seems that we are being driven to rely on wireless connectivity rather than anything physically secure! I'm hating this...
Will Rogers never met me.
The new laptop my employer gave me a few months ago has three USB-C ports and what look like a microphone jack, a card reader, and some little rectangle I don't recognize. It also came with a dongle that gives me one USB-A port and one HDMI port. My manager, who loves Apple products, was overjoyed that Windows laptops have finally caught up with Mac laptops. I hate having to drag the dongle and a USB hub everywhere I go. At home, it connects to my WiFi. At my desk at work, the dock has an Ethernet port. Welcome to the future, I guess.
