Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode centers on the tension between Apple’s push toward thinner, more minimal devices and the practical needs of power users, illustrated by a fictional OWC MacBook Pro dock and broader concerns about the Mac’s future. The hosts debate whether the Mac is being left behind or intentionally deemphasized, then pivot to voice assistants and smart-home cylinders (Google Home, Echo) as the next major platform battleground.
Main Topics: OWC’s “Naked Robotic MacBook Pro” dock: The hosts react to OWC’s announced MacBook Pro expansion dock that adds ports and storage while making the laptop thicker. They question how it connects, whether it adds battery, and whether anyone actually wants a bulkier machine for a few extra ports. Thinness vs. utility in Apple hardware: A long discussion weighs the real-world benefits of Apple’s thinner devices against their missing ports, mediocre battery life, and keyboard compromises. The speakers argue that people get used to thin devices, but also feel the pain when basic connectivity is removed. Is the Mac dying or is the market moving on?: The hosts revisit the homework question of how to tell whether Apple is abandoning the Mac too early versus whether PCs are simply becoming obsolete for some users. They conclude the answer depends on whether people in the same professions are switching in meaningful numbers. Desktop OSes, Mac relevance, and Apple’s priorities: The group debates whether desktop operating systems are ‘solved,’ whether Apple should continue investing in the Mac, and whether the company would be better off focusing entirely on iPhone/iPad or other future platforms. Voice assistants and smart-home cylinders: The later discussion shifts to Google Home, Amazon Echo, and the emerging smart-assistant category. The speakers compare strengths in search, home automation, purchasing, photos, calendars, and ecosystem integration, concluding that multiple assistants may coexist by specializing in different data silos. CarPlay and follow-up confusion: A brief follow-up segment tests whether a Honda supports CarPlay by plugging in an iPhone, only to find that nothing happens and the car’s Bluetooth audio was already connected to a different phone. The bit highlights the show’s loose, humorous approach to follow-up.
Key Arguments: Apple’s removal of ports and emphasis on thinness creates practical friction, especially for workflows that still rely on SD cards and USB-A devices. The existence of a thick accessory dock proves that extra functionality can be added, but only at the cost of greater bulk than if Apple had built it in directly. A device becoming marginally thinner each year can feel trivial in the moment, but over time the cumulative effect is meaningful and hard to reverse. The Mac is not yet dead because many professional workflows—especially programming and complex production work—still depend on PC-style computers. The real indicator of platform transition is not sentiment but whether people who do the same jobs as you are switching in large numbers. Apple may not be forced out of the Mac market by demand, but by its own decision to stop caring enough to keep the product competitive. Voice assistants are likely to be ecosystem-driven: Google excels at search-like intelligence, Amazon at purchasing and home integrations, and Apple could be disadvantaged if it enters late. These assistants will likely coexist rather than converge, because each company controls different “silos” of user data and services. Google Home is promising because it understands natural speech well, but it lacks features and integrations compared with the Echo. Amazon and Google are racing to own the home-assistant category before Apple meaningfully enters it.
Data Points: OCW dock availability: 2017 - The OWC MacBook Pro dock was said to be available in 2017, with final details still pending. MacBook Pro ports: 4 USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports - The thin 2016/2017 MacBook Pro being discussed has four USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. Added storage claim: 4 terabytes - The OWC dock page claimed internal storage up to four terabytes. Betterment customers: over 180,000 - Sponsor read mentions Betterment managing money for more than 180,000 customers as of the previous fall. Betterment assets under management: more than $5.5 billion - Sponsor read notes Betterment managing over $5.5 billion. Casper trial period: 100 nights - Casper’s mattress offer includes a 100-night home trial with free return pickup. Google Home account limit: 1 Google account - The speaker notes Google Home can only be connected to one Google account. Google Home price paid: $110–$120 - One speaker says they bought Google Home on sale in this range. Google Home default price: around $150 - The hosts mention Google Home as roughly a $150 device. Amazon Echo Dot price: around $40 - The discussion contrasts the Echo Dot’s low price with Google Home. Betterment fee offer: up to 6 months of no fees - Sponsor promo for ATP listeners. School of Motion survey: 42% yes, 40% maybe, 18% no - Poll asking if motion designers would consider switching to PC. CarPlay-supported Honda models: Cord EX, EX-L, Touring - Follow-up cites which Honda trim levels support CarPlay/Android Auto. Tesla supercharging: 40 cents/minute after 100% - Marco mentions waiting to avoid being charged after the car reaches full charge. Tesla charging stop: about 30 minutes - The long road trip required a supercharger stop of roughly half an hour.
Pivotal Quotes: "If you do add stuff, it will always necessarily be bigger than if it was built in." — Marco: Used to illustrate why external expansion like the OWC dock makes the MacBook Pro thicker than an integrated design would. "I think it's important to really make these observational comparisons... on people who do the same kind of work that you do." — John: Explaining how to judge whether the Mac is being left behind or whether Apple is making a mistake. "The last time Mac users were seriously passing around articles like this... was during the transition from Mac OS to Mac OS X." — Marco: Tweeted reflection on current anxiety around the Mac’s future and comparison to the earlier OS transition.
Implications: The episode frames Apple’s Mac strategy as a live question, not nostalgia: professionals’ real workflows will show whether the platform still matters. It also suggests the next major computing battleground may be voice assistants, where ecosystems and service depth matter more than hardware aesthetics.