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Do you use the Firewire port on your Macbook? (Not MBP)

  • Yes, regularly.

    Votes: 54 57.4%
  • I have used it a few times.

    Votes: 14 14.9%
  • I haven't yet, but I plan to use it someday.

    Votes: 5 5.3%
  • No, I've never used it.

    Votes: 21 22.3%

  • Total voters
    94
  • Poll closed .

Phrasikleia

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 24, 2008
4,082
403
Over there------->
This is a question for people who own a MacBook (not a Pro model). Respond to this poll if you own a (consumer-level, plastic case) MacBook.
 
Haha, I was about to create a poll like this myself.

Use FireWire regularly, but on my 12" PowerBook G4, cut down enough to be level with a MacBook in terms of features. (ie no expansion slots or FW 800)
 
VERY regularly, for both Time Machine backups, and connecting my camera. Losing the Firewire port would be a fatal loss.
 
when i had a macbook, yes all the time. even on my iMac its used all the time. FW 400 is great for external drives, USB 2.0 is just too slow imo.
 
I know that it exists, but I've never actually known what uses it or what its used for. Whats the difference between it and a usb? =\.
 
Never used it & don't expect to in the future, but I'd still want one in case I need it in the future.
 
I know that it exists, but I've never actually known what uses it or what its used for. Whats the difference between it and a usb? =\.

Basically it is faster providing a constant flow of data as opposted to bursts of data with USB. This makes it useful for video applications where you can't afford dropped frames when streaming video.

It can also be used to power external hard drives, whereas with USB you'd normally need a power adapter or two USB cables.
 
Losing FireWire would be a bad thing for me; FireWire Disk Mode is a godsend, and the relatively-little-used TCP-over-FireWire is incredibly fast and nice for big files transfers when you don't feel like rebooting the machine.
 
Basically it is faster providing a constant flow of data as opposted to bursts of data with USB. This makes it useful for video applications where you can't afford dropped frames when streaming video.

It can also be used to power external hard drives, whereas with USB you'd normally need a power adapter or two USB cables.

Oh haha thanks for the info. That makes sense for me since I'm just the average computer person. Thats surprising that the new macbook doesnt seem to have a firewire port. The common stereotype for mac is that macs are only good for media types of work, which is true. I don't see why apple would drop it. Maybe they have something better in store?
 
I mean, we still aren't completely sure that they won't include some sort of FireWire.... Those could still be fake pictures lol.... Let Tuesday tell.
 
I for sure use it all the time for my iTunes external HDD. I could use USB for this particular drive, but FW is much better.

If the leaks are true and the MB's don't have FW, I will not being getting the MB whenever I replace my current one (which won't be for like 3 years at least so whatever)
Losing the FW port just to try to differentiate the model lines or something is terrible. Make the pro BETTER instead of making the MB worse.
Oh well. Guess I'll be happy with what I have (imagine that :apple: fanboys :D)
 
I use it all the time on my MacBook to varying degrees for target disk mode, external hard disks, and video camera use. In fact I use it and have used it all the time on all my macs, and several other people's(!). USB sucks so much by comparison it's painful.

I'm hoping that if firewire is dropped on any MacBooks it will only be for a new cheaper model, as an additional option for people who don't need (to pay for) it. Sadly Apple don't tend to offer that many choices, so I am not too optimistic.

Naturally people will say 'buy a MacBook Pro if you need FW', but one of the main reasons I bought the MacBook over the Pro was that I didn't want a portable that was as un-portable as even the 15 inch MBP is by comparison. So if they offered a 13.3 inch or smaller pro machine with firewire, then great. If not, then I think they are making a bad decision.
 
ya i use it everyday when I use my external HD for time machine, better to use firewire so I still could have 2 empty USB ports!
 
I wish I could use it. I just don't have any firewire devices. I think that's the pint in Universal Serial Bus. I use USB more often, but run out of ports, so I might look into firewire...
 
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