The computer is so thin, the headphone jack had to be moved to the side. Now you have desktop computer with speaker cable hanging on the side going to your external powered speakers. How's that for elegant.
From an audiophile's point of view: The thing on the side is a headphone jack (digital out through the jack has been long gone AFAIK), not a line level output, you're not really supposed to connect your speakers (directly or through an amplifier) to that. It usually works, sort of, but it's far from ideal.
I'm not sure whether that could be Apple's line of reasoning, but I wouldn't be surprised.
I'm not sure whether that could be Apple's line of reasoning, but I wouldn't be surprised.