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Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks

MagnusVonMagnum said:
I'm amazed at how ticked off so many Mac users are at the loss of something that almost NO ONE in the Windows world gives the slightest crap about (i.e. Firewire). How is it they can do without it and you guys can't?

.
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You are absolutely wrong! It drives me to distraction that people that know nothing about the creative content field make sweeping generalizations about it when it's based on nothing but their feelings. There are many thousands of PC video editors using firewire and even many entry level ($600) PC laptops include 4 pin firewire which connects the camcorder to the computer. Plus, most have either a PCMCIA or Express card slot so that firewire can be added. I have used both PC and Mac laptops for video editing for the past seven years. And I'm not the only NO ONE using them. I have networked with hundreds of others that are usi n g one or the other and am a part of online communicates numbering many, many thousands. Most professional video editors use a combination of desktops and laptops in their businesses, and many a combination of PC's and Macs.
 
I haven't logged on for a while for various reasons but have been reading MacRumors every day since April. I have taken a lot of information etc, researched and blah blah and will be happy to make my purchase soon.

Now, to the point...I was browsing the net and found the site below, with what looks like a Firewire (iLink) to USB adapter. I asked the customer services if it could be used with a Mini DV camera and they confirmed that it would work to a USB port. Could anybody shed more light on this?

Product: http://www.8starshop.com/en/b-usb-a-male-to-ieee-1394-firewire-4-pin-male-adapter.html?currency=GBP

Question:
Dear buyer,

Thank you for your email.


Yes, you could connect a Firewire (ilink) DV camcorder to a USB port. Thanks.


If you have any other questions, please feel free to let us know . We are very glad to help you.

Welcome to our online store!

Have a nice day:)

Best regards

yours sincerely,

customer service

======= 2008-10-15 23:44:51 your Email：=======

Hey there. Would this product allow me to connect a Firewire (ilink) DV camcorder to a USB port?
http://www.8starshop.com/en/b-usb-a-male-to-ieee-1394-firewire-4-pin-male-adapter.html?currency=GBP

Thanks

========================================
Click to expand...

EDIT: Just to add, I spoke to two employees on the Apple Store Chat, and both said that Firewire to USB should be possible. I don't know if they are just unaware, uneducated or whatever, but I uploaded the chats anyway which you can see below.

www.rewardguide.co.uk/files/applechat1.html
www.rewardguide.co.uk/files/applechat2.html

(I have no idea about Firewire to USB, so don't flame me ;))
 
Room for cheaper netbook?

My sense is that Apple moved the MacBook a little upmarket, basically to where the 12" PowerBook used to be. I would not be surprised if sometime later this year Apple announced a cheaper plastic-cased netbook, perhaps with a smaller screen but certainly with lower specifications (integrated Intel video?). Remember that during the last earnings call they mentioned new low-margin products. I don't think they meant the new MacBook.
 
Dave K. said:
Monoprice.com sell adapters too:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10314

Would these work?
Click to expand...

Well, if someone that has purchased a new MacBook and has Final Cut installed wants to try one, that would be good. I wouldn't buy a MB without confirmation that FC recognizes it as a firewire port. Editing programs can be pretty finicky about the firewire port anyway. If it did, the biggest problem I see is that it might not fit into some cameras that have a recessed firewire port. That's where a cable would be better but all the ones that have come up before are about $120. This is very inexpensive.
 
houttbe said:
My sense is that Apple moved the MacBook a little upmarket, basically to where the 12" PowerBook used to be. I would not be surprised if sometime later this year Apple announced a cheaper plastic-cased netbook, perhaps with a smaller screen but certainly with lower specifications (integrated Intel video?). Remember that during the last earnings call they mentioned new low-margin products. I don't think they meant the new MacBook.
Click to expand...
As much as many of us would love an Apple netbook, it is not going to happen anytime soon.
 
I filed a complaint with Apple's Consumer Relations Division about the lack of firewire on the Macbook. There are SO many professional users who use the FW400 port non-pro version Macbooks... Here is what I recieved...

THE RESPONSE: The response I recieved was in conversation with Apple tech support was, “I am actaully not sure what Apple was thinking, I just found out yesterday myself. I don’t understand because we use it for troubleshooting and diagnostics ourselves...” So even the people at APPLE are not happy…
***The person with Apple’s Consumer Relation’s division said if Apple gets enough viable complaints they may change the design of the products… Posting on this forum may do very little good, that’s why WE must file with Apple’s Consumer Relations Division which you can speak with my calling the main number and requesting to file a complaint with Apple’s Consumer Relation’s division…
 
Apple shouldn't be making that netbook crap, they are useless toys with small screens that I have to squint my eyes to even see anything.
 
chrono1081 said:
I thought so at first too...until I thought about it. This is actually pretty genius. Instead of worrying about what monitor you want to buy having what connections all you do is buy whatever monitor you want, then one adapter.

Your macbook suddenly has DVI or HDMI, or VGA, whatever connection you want.
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Of course how convenient that Apple just happens to own all these proprietary adapter cables, which they'll happily sell your for $29 a piece. As opposed to go to Best Buy and spending $2 on a similar adapter for any other PC.
 
Okay, I've been doing a lot of research on the USB to Firewire cable. One exists, but it only works under Windows XP. It also uses proprietary capture and editing software that creates a mpeg file. So, the bottom line is what I suspected. They are incompatible technologies and are not a solution for the lack of a firewire port on the MB.
 
Adjei said:
Apple shouldn't be making that netbook crap, they are useless toys with small screens that I have to squint my eyes to even see anything.
Click to expand...

That is how I feel about using the iphone to browse the web. Tiny screen that you squint to see.
 
delude said:
Just to add, I spoke to two employees on the Apple Store Chat, and both said that Firewire to USB should be possible. I don't know if they are just unaware, uneducated or whatever, but I uploaded the chats anyway which you can see below.

www.rewardguide.co.uk/files/applechat1.html
www.rewardguide.co.uk/files/applechat2.html

(I have no idea about Firewire to USB, so don't flame me ;))
Click to expand...

Having read the two transcripts I have come to the conclusion that the "experts" do not know what they are talking about.
 
cube said:
USB 3.0 is still a year away from being finished. Meanwhile, FireWire S3200 is already done, and products should come out soon.
Click to expand...

plus usb 3 has more pins than usb 2

Pinout (Normal)

Series "A" plugs are used towards the host system and series "B" plugs are used towards the USB device.
Pin Name Description
1 VBUS +5 VDC
2 D- Data -
3 D+ Data +
4 GND Ground
Pinout (Mini)

Mini-A:

54321
_______
\˙˙˙˙˙/
----- (at the cable)

Mini-B:

54321
_______
\·····/
----- (at the cable)

Pin Name Description
1 VBUS +5 VDC
2 D- Data -
3 D+ Data +
4 ID

* Mini-A: Ground
* Mini-B: Not connected

5 GND Ground


Pinout (USB 3.0)

Connectors are backwards compatible with USB 1.1/2.0. The original 4 pins are still there. Expected transfer rate 4.7Gb/s.
Pin Name Description
1 VBUS +5 VDC
2 D- Data -
3 D+ Data +
4 GND Ground
5 USB3_RX USB 3.0 Data Receive (differential)
6 USB3_RX USB 3.0 Data Receive (differential)
7 GND Ground
8 USB3_TX USB 3.0 Data Transmit (differential)
9 USB3_TX USB 3.0 Data Transmit (differential)
 
chrono1081 said:
I thought so at first too...until I thought about it. This is actually pretty genius. Instead of worrying about what monitor you want to buy having what connections all you do is buy whatever monitor you want, then one adapter.

Your macbook suddenly has DVI or HDMI, or VGA, whatever connection you want.
Click to expand...

Um, that's called an ADAPTER and you're going to NEED one with the new Macbooks regardless of what monitor you pick. At least with DVI or Mini-DVI, it's a standard $10 cable you can get anywhere (I believe the old MacbookPros came with the cable for free). Here it's a $99 EXTRA (read PURE PROFIT for Apple since it costs them $5 to manufacture them). They're nickel and diming Mac users to death with accessory charges (driving that $2000 MBP up to $2100 and canceling out the miniscule educational discounts they now offer in one swoop). And some of you actually tout it as a FEATURE?


rickag said:
It never ceases to amaze me that posters will defend Apple, in this case in removing FW400, based on their experiences. Statements like no one in the PC world uses firewire so why shouldn't Apple discontinue it.

Firewire is arguably a much better standard than USB with faster sustainable real world speeds. Is a peer to peer standard allowing Target Disk Mode that makes servicing problem computers really really easy for those of us less technically minded. Up till recently camcorders by the vast majority used Firewire for transfers, at least in the millions if not tens of millions in use right now.

What makes this exclusion so galling, is the cost of inclusion of Firewire on a laptop costing $1299 is not excusable and I believe the only reason it was done was to upsell anyone that relies on Firewire. For professionals, that need firewire, they will probably pay the price, for the rest of us, unless we can afford the extra $700 we are out of luck. We will have to purchase new camcorders, hard drives, etc. prior to buying a new Apple laptop, all so Apple can save what??? $10, $20 ???
Click to expand...

You don't get it. They're not saving $10 or $20!!! They're making $200-$300 in pure profit from people like you that think you NEED a dead format and so they know that you will buy the Macbook Pro instead. They KNOW you WILL do it sooner or later because they know that most Mac users would rather shoot themselves than go back to Windows. They're COUNTING ON IT. Don't forget to buy your $100 mini-display adapter too or you won't be using any external monitors. Face it. Apple just PWNED all of you! :D Hey, you can always go crawling back to Bill Gates...oh wait he retired and is laughing all the way to the bank while his former company is tanking on the crap operating system known as Vista. Steve Jobs knows THAT also and so it's even less likely the Apple faithful will leave for the land of Windows, which means they're free to raise prices and screw customers over with accessories and features they'll pay for in the next round to get back (e.g. matte screens). To me, it's a total spectacle. Steve Jobs is a business mastermind! He's just getting to his best game while Bill Gates is retiring. No wonder Apple profits have never been higher. He knows how to screw his customers over with the best of them and better yet, they LOVE him for it!

Me, I just went ahead and bought the previous MBP for the price of the new Macbook (it has TWO firewire ports, not that I'll need them, though) and a MATTE screen. So while others cry and get ripped off by Apple, I'm taking advantage of the situation and getting the features that I want for over $500 off ($1444 after rebate). Yeah, I know I'm coming across as some kind of Apple hater or something, but it's more like I love OS X. I don't like Apple or Microsoft at all as companies. But then I'd buy a Hackintosh to get what I want also. I couldn't care less about Apple or Microsoft as companies.

Now it COULD be some other cable making companies will make you guys a REASONABLE priced adapter soon, but you better hope Apple doesn't have some kind of patent on that particular port or cable design (is it their design or are they just using something less well known?) in which case you better learn to roll your own I guess or pony up the $100.

editguy said:
Okay, I've been doing a lot of research on the USB to Firewire cable. One exists, but it only works under Windows XP. It also uses proprietary capture and editing software that creates a mpeg file. So, the bottom line is what I suspected. They are incompatible technologies and are not a solution for the lack of a firewire port on the MB.
Click to expand...

So is it reasonable to ask if you were to install WindowsXP with BootCamp and/or Parallels/Fusion would that then be an option to at least get your video out of your Firewire camera at which point you could then access the video from Mac software? Hey, it's just another $100-200 (assuming you can find XP for sale somewhere still). Or maybe if Steve Jobs would cooperate more with outside companies, OS X would have more support for 3rd party hardware. Don't be the least bit surprised if Steve suddenly announces at the next major Apple event that they have their own USB to Firewire converters (for the low low price of only $199 or something equally ridiculous). Of course, that's then getting to the point where you might as well have bought the MBP instead, so either way, Apple WILL get your money sooner or later.



My new (prior model) MBP (you know the one that has a regular DVI port and a free cable with and two firewire ports) just arrived a little bit ago (2-day shipping apparently means 1-day?) so I better go play take it out of the box and start playing with it.
 
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