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Comment by codezero | Hacker News Reader

Pretty impressive specs and battery life, but every time I see the power connector for a non-Apple notebook, it makes me kind of mad, MagSafe is really exceptional and Apple's power adapters are generally tiny and unobtrusive, pretty important since you use one at least once a day.

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Even though 'MagSafe' wasn't necessarily an Apple invention (things like deep fryers had magnetic 'break-away' cords), I believe that Apple patented the 'magnetic power connector' + computer combination.

For "electronic devices" in general actually, but yes: http://www.google.com/patents/US7311526

They also don't license it, which is why you don't see it anywhere else.

All Microsoft Surface tablets have a magnetic power connector.

Both companies cross licence all patents iirc.

They may have patented it, but that doesn't prevent others from innovating along a similar path. I am pretty disappointed with non-Apple power adapters across the board, and while magnetic adapters may seem great, there must be something that is between standard DC cylindrical male->female or chunky rubberized proprietary plug and MagSafe and I just don't see that from anyone else.

Granted, I am not looking very much, but when I see a new hot system, I do consider it, and I haven't seen anything that caught my eye :/

Couldn't a non-US manufacturer implement it and not officially sell their laptops in the US? Though it's probably not economically viable.

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