MacBook and MacBook Pro Port Speculation

[MacRumors]

The recently leaked MacBook and MacBook Pro case images have spawned a 1400+ post discussion thread. One of the most debated issues is the analysis of the ports on the side of the upcoming Apple laptops. The two laptop enclosures photographed actually show two different port arrangements, which has caused some confusion.

The larger (presumed MacBook Pro) enclosure contains an additional port which is believed to be a Firewire port:




While the Magsafe connector is not shown on this image, the remainder of the ports are believed to be (from right to left): Ethernet, Firewire, USB 1, USB 2, Video Out, Audio Jack, Headphones, Express Slot, and possible additional port (covered by tape).




This photo of the presumed MacBook enclosure shows the following ports from (right to left): Magsafe, Ethernet, USB 1, USB 2, Video Out, Audio Jack, Headphones.

If these images are believed to represent the upcoming machines, that would mean that Apple has eliminated Firewire support from the MacBook. Firewire (also known as IEEE 1394) is a common method for connecting external hard drives and digital camcorders to Macs. One interesting possibility mentioned, however, is that the newest Firewire specification does allow for the use of Firewire over Ethernet connectors, but Apple would have to specifically support this implementation. If they did, then users could theoretically use Firewire devices using a special adapter to connect to the Ethernet plug.

Other points of debate which have not found any consensus include:

- The exact video out plug standard. Though it may simply be an Apple-proprietary plug that requires a special adapter.
- The presence of a possible additional port on the MacBook Pro enclosure. Some have suggested that this could predict the iMac docking station in which a notebook would slide into an iMac-shaped dock. While the presence of a right sided optical drive would fit nicely with this design, this possibility still seems improbable.








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[queshy]

Arn,

Excellent summary of everything so far...thanks. We just gotta wait til Tuesday. Tuesday will be a big day for MR!

[overanalyzer]

Originally Posted by LEStudios

If speculating on MacBook Pro having Blu-Ray drives could the extra port be HDMI? HDMI is equal or better then the DVI. Since they are using NVIDIA motherboard and chipsets why not be HDMI since that option is on ALL new motherboards from NVIDIA. That would be nice to have 1080p with 6-8 channel of uncompressed audio through one port! Apple-TV is currently the only Apple product with HDMI. I say HDMI!

It'd be silly to waste a port on HDMI. You can just have a DVI (or mini-DVI or micro-DVI or super-tiny-dual-DVI, whatever it is they've put there) to HDMI adapter for $20.

Originally Posted by queshy

Arn,

Excellent summary of everything so far...thanks. We just gotta wait til Tuesday. Tuesday will be a big day for MR!

I agree completely. This really did summarize the forum thread well...or at least the 10 pages or so I read before it completely exploded and I gave up on keeping up with it.

[queshy]

Originally Posted by overanalyzer

It'd be silly to waste a port on HDMI. You can just have a DVI (or mini-DVI or micro-DVI or super-tiny-dual-DVI, whatever it is they've put there) to HDMI adapter for $20.



I agree completely. This really did summarize the forum thread well...or at least the 10 pages or so I read before it completely exploded and I gave up on keeping up with it.

Yeah, honestly, I have no idea how this site with SO MANY MEMBERS is run so efficiently. The threads just keep getting longer and longer due to crazy user interest and I love getting a summary of everything important that has been said.

I'm not big on "huge port selection" (=I own a MBA, haha) so I don't really care what ports are on the machines but I know most people do so I hope everyone will be happy.

[thefunkymunky]

Originally Posted by overanalyzer

It'd be silly to waste a port on HDMI. You can just have a DVI (or mini-DVI or micro-DVI or super-tiny-dual-DVI, whatever it is they've put there) to HDMI adapter for $20.

DVI doesn't support audio.

[Philberttheduck]

Originally Posted by thefunkymunky

DVI doesn't support audio.

Yep, a two-in-one solution for the blu-ray player(probably not available at launch). And with all these HDMI-DVI adapters, this shouldn't be a big problem for Apple to sell their own. Those with VGA are screwed though, but VGA is older technology and I can see Apple's justification (or at least the likelihood) in dropping VGA support.

No firewire 400 is a bust to me. i remember reading somewhere that the firewire 3200/1600 are going to be the same cable as the fw800, so the FW800 could support all then(3200/1600/800/400)?

[Craigy]

Would it make sense for the new MBPs to have a dual esata port? - We use an express 34 slot at the moment for a esata raid for HD video capture. However I understand that no many people would need this so it's probably not likely....

[MrCrowbar]

Originally Posted by Philberttheduck

Yep, a two-in-one solution for the blu-ray player(probably not available at launch). And with all these HDMI-DVI adapters, this shouldn't be a big problem for Apple to sell their own. Those with VGA are screwed though, but VGA is older technology and I can see Apple's justification (or at least the likelihood) in dropping VGA support.

No firewire 400 is a bust to me. i remember reading somewhere that the firewire 3200/1600 are going to be the same cable as the fw800, so the FW800 could support all then(3200/1600/800/400)?

Sadly, virtually no projector has DVI, and those that have only have the VGA cable connected and run to the presenter's spot (I'm talking about those projectors that are mounted to the ceiling). I had to use S-Video because there was not other way to hook up my Mavbook to the projecor (didn't have the mini DVI to VGA adapter back then). I have all 3 adapters now, ont for displays (DVI), one for old TVs (S-Video) and one for projectors (VGA). Diversity sucks :-)

[Craigy]

Would it make sense for the new MBPs to have a dual esata port? - We use an express 34 slot at the moment for a esata raid for HD video capture. However I understand that no many people would need this so it's probably not likely....

As for losing FW off the MBs - If this comes with a price drop and the ability to use a FW/Ethermet adaptor I can see this as being a differential between the 'consumer' and 'pro' machines.

[layte]

Originally Posted by thefunkymunky

DVI doesn't support audio.

It does on ATI desktop PC cards. All Apple need to do is copy that system.

[drayon]

Originally Posted by layte

It does on ATI desktop PC cards. All Apple need to do is copy that system.

that would be pointless. DisplayPort is the native internal display connection, it carries video, audio, aux (for usb and other signals) it is a bi-directional and supports daisy chaining and HDCP stuff. It allows thinner display panels even with an external DisplayPort connector so there is no need to hack on a convertor for a port like DVI or HDMI.
DisplayPort has the additional advantage of being able to interface with adapters to HDMI, DVI, VGA devices.

[KingYaba]

Originally Posted by thefunkymunky

DVI doesn't support audio.

What? Do your hdmi displays have built-in speakers or something? I bet ya most people will use HDMI and use a separate audio cable to feed their sound system. If it ever comes to HDMI instead of a DVI port.

I don't think you can power a 30" ACD with HDMI. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[tgildred]

No cup holder? Epic fail, Apple.

[blindzero]

Originally Posted by overanalyzer

It'd be silly to waste a port on HDMI. You can just have a DVI (or mini-DVI or micro-DVI or super-tiny-dual-DVI, whatever it is they've put there) to HDMI adapter for $20.

If it's got a Blu-Ray It wouldn't pass the inevitable copy protection that's gonna happen soon that may prevent 1080p from going through DVI, plus doesn't pass sound through DVI. HDMI is so much simpler than 2 cords (except for the fact that the lock on all my HDMI devices is so flimsy...plugging and unplugging will not be good for it).

[hobbbz]

For anyone interested I measured the port in the pic and its dimensions are 16.6 mm x 4.14 mm or .654 in x .163 in.

I don't have an apple remote to compare it to but i would be interested to see if the remote would fit in this hole.

Anyone care to measure the remote?

[corinhorn]

Originally Posted by hobbbz

I don't have an apple remote to compare it to but i would be interested to see if the remote would fit in this hole.

Seems like a waste of space to me.

[aleksandra.]

Originally Posted by hobbbz

For anyone interested I measured the port in the pic and its dimensions are 16.6 mm x 4.14 mm or .654 in x .163 in.

I don't have an apple remote to compare it to but i would be interested to see if the remote would fit in this hole.

Anyone care to measure the remote?

Actual port would be a bit smaller than the hole in the casing, although I don't know how much precisely (I don't have a MacBook to compare).

Anyway, the dimensions exclude HDMI - types A and B are too big, type C has different proportions (and is smaller than USB).

[milenkod]

The rumors I heard are some models (Mackbooks I think, not necessarily MB Pros) will drop the FW400 and just have a FW800 port.

Also mentioned was support for something called "DisplayPort"...not sure what that is, exactly.

Glass trackpad with some type of textured surface to facilitate a better glide across the surface.

Everything I've "heard" seems consistent with what the typical rumor sites are reporting.

[ubercool]

Originally Posted by milenkod

The rumors I heard are some models (Mackbooks I think, not necessarily MB Pros) will drop the FW400 and just have a FW800 port.

Also mentioned was support for something called "DisplayPort"...not sure what that is, exactly.

A DisplayPort in the MacBook, that oddly dimensioned port, is a distinct possibility. Here's verification of that rumor:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost...&postcount=532

[Masklinn]

Originally Posted by milenkod

The rumors I heard are some models (Mackbooks I think, not necessarily MB Pros) will drop the FW400 and just have a FW800 port.

• Macbooks don't have FW800 and it seems they're dropping FW400, meaning no firewire at all
• MBPs currently have both FW400 and FW800, and seem to have dropped FW400 leaving them with only FW800 (same state they were in when first introduced)

Originally Posted by milenkod

Also mentioned was support for something called "DisplayPort"...not sure what that is, exactly.

Successor to DVI, a fairly small digital-only port including audio and video as well as all the content protection crap you'd want, and resolutions up to 2560*1600 (which matches Apple's 30" Cinema Displays). It's also compatible with both HDMI and DVI-D.

Now we don't know if there will be that support, but the rumored chipset for macbooks (MGP79) supports it (as well as DVI and HDMI of course), the new enclosures have an unknown dispay port noticeably smaller than the existing mini-DVI (and it's not micro-DVI), the rumored MBP enclosure (15") doesn't have any full-size DVI port (and mini/micro DVI wouldn't do as they wouldn't be able to drive 30" Cinema Display screens), and finally a macrumor google master uncovered documents talking about the creation of a mini-displayport port by a taiwanese company for Apple

Originally Posted by milenkod

Glass trackpad with some type of textured surface to facilitate a better glide across the surface.

I've seen no evidence of that.

[cv01]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

- The exact video out plug standard. Though it may simply be an Apple-proprietary plug that requires a special adapter.

Well, it's a Mini-DVI Port:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DVI

There are various types of Mini-DVI Adapter:
Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter Apple part# [1](M9320G/A)
Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter Apple part# [2](M9319G/A)
Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (DVI-D) Apple part# [3](M9321G/B)

[Super Intendo]

Originally Posted by cv01

Well, it's a Mini-DVI Port:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DVI

There are various types of Mini-DVI Adapter:
Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter Apple part# [1](M9320G/A)
Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter Apple part# [2](M9319G/A)
Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (DVI-D) Apple part# [3](M9321G/B)

nope, its not, its too small, look at it next to the USB port. Mini-DVI is about 1.5x the height of USB, this ones the same height, if not smaller. I assume its a proprietary plug made by apple that supports adapters for HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort and VGA. hey, why not?

[cv01]

Originally Posted by Super Intendo

nope, its not, its too small, look at it next to the USB port. Mini-DVI is about 1.5x the height of USB, this ones the same height, if not smaller. I assume its a proprietary plug made by apple that supports adapters for HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort and VGA. hey, why not?

OK, so a new Micro-DVI Port, with new adapters, yes, why not?

[queshy]

YES for the count down!!

[Marx55]

FIREWIRE IS ESSENTIAL FOR:

- Repairs via Target Disk Mode.
- Connection to Firewire camcorders.
- Fast and efficient file transfer (Retrospect backups, Time Machine backps, etc). PARTICULARLY FOR LARGE FILES.

EVEN FIREWIRE 400 is much faster, efficient and trouble-free than USB 2.

Is Apple fool? NO FIREWIRE, NO PURCHASE!!!