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No FireWire in MacBooks

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havoc41 said:
Wanted to add my voice to this thread. Apple has designed me out of the Macbook by removing Firewire despite the conversion cables (which is asking for latency issues) and all the rest.

All of my audio and video gear is Firewire, By removing Firewire Apple has forced me to tack on at least 500 bucks and consider buying a laptop (or other hardware) that i do not want: a previous rev Macbook, a 15" Pro, different recording interfaces, etc.

Where i was excited to dive into an upgrade from my Mini and become portable, i am now being forced to reconsider the way i do business and work with an out of date machine despite loving Apple products: OS/Software and Hardware

I will therefore limp along and eventually be taking my business elsewhere unless Apple pulls a rabbit out of their hat and somehow makes it possible for me to connect Firewire to the Macbook with a supported proprietary solution.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I ended up getting the previous rev of Macbook to compensate for this. Like I have said in earlier forums, either fix this macbook or just give me a 13.3" or 14.1" Macbook Pro. I'd like the 14.1" personally.
 
Two-part question:

Okay, so the new MB isn't Firewire-capable. If I bought one and wanted to transfer the data now on my Black Book's drive to my new MB, could I conceivably do this with Ethernet and Migration Assistant?

I have a FireLite hard-drive for backups that only runs via Firewire. Are there hard-drives available that will run with a Mac via USB? I know that Firelites don't.

Thanks in advance.
 
JPS said:
1. Okay, so the new MB isn't Firewire-capable. If I bought one and wanted to transfer the data now on my Black Book's drive to my new MB, could I conceivably do this with Ethernet and Migration Assistant?

2. I have a FireLite hard-drive for backups that only runs via Firewire. Are there hard-drives available that will run with a Mac via USB? I know that Firelites don't.
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1. You could use a Time Machine backup, or transfer over your network (wireless or ethernet connected).

2. Nearly every hard drive that has FireWire has USB 2.0 too.
 
OMG that illustration is hilarious! The only part you still need to include is Apple getting zapped back.

"Don't whiz on the electric fence..." Or Firewire for that matter. :D
 
carve said:
To be honest, I have NEVER used firewire on my iBook before.
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Yes, we understand that not everybody needs Firewire.

There are tons of Apple technologies I don't use:
- Automator
- iWeb
- Spaces
- CoverFlow in Finder
- video output jack
...to name just a few.

It doesn't mean that I don't think other people might find them useful.

But hell, by Apple's line of logic I suppose we can just get rid of the 1/8" Mic input and audio output jacks too - you can substitute these with USB instead! We can probably even use USB for video output so let's do away with the video output!

...it just doesn't make sense.

I'll point out one more observation:
If conserving space was the reason Firewire was excluded, there is another smaller Firewire port - the kind that PCs use. I think it's FW400 only, but at least it's something.
 
Yeah if space was an issue, they could have put in a 4-pin Firewire connector, which is what Windows laptops use.

I know not everyone uses firewire, so those people don't understand. Like others have mentioned, when the floppy drive, and dial up modem were removed, there were other alternatives available to those who needed it, like USB Modems...

It would be like HP, Toshiba, Dell, etc going strictly to DVI ports on their laptops, and not having an DVI to VGA adapter available. It would be stupid, since sooooo many monitors are VGA.

I have an ADS Pyro AV Link that cost me around $250 a few years ago. It connects to my computer via firewire. I used it a couple times of year, and one reason is because my HDD Video Cam won't connect with iMovie via USB, so I use the ADS to connect my Video Cam, and it connects to my MacBook that way.

They should have put a Firewire 800 port at least...then you could at least convert to FW400.
 
It's not only consumers that may be affected

For illustrative purposesthis is a link to a message on Apple's Firewire mailing list. The reaction of the company's president pretty much sums up what a lot of people are feeling.

This move by Apple has provoked a reaction across the board that has literally gone off the charts - and Apple remains silent.

Luckily they can't remain silent for too long as this issue is bound to come up at Tuesday's Conference Call.
 
Chaos123x said:
Thats because they designed that way.
Click to expand...

No doubt it was purposely designed out. Not for space reasons.

I'd rather have them get rid of the ethernet port than firewire. At least I could then get a dongle if I really needed ethernet.
 
Avon B7 said:
For illustrative purposesthis is a link to a message on Apple's Firewire mailing list. The reaction of the company's president pretty much sums up what a lot of people are feeling.

This move by Apple has provoked a reaction across the board that has literally gone off the charts - and Apple remains silent.

Luckily they can't remain silent for too long as this issue is bound to come up at Tuesday's Conference Call.
Click to expand...
I forgot about the FireWire mailing list! I'm on several other ones but not that one.
 
all my stuff (all cameras, externals, 360 controller for pc) are all usb, so I could care less. I think it's great they put no firewire, since it gives more space on the left side of your comp, and the battery life their is great as well.
 
Also: In The Refurb Store The Old Mbp With Firewire 400, 800, Usb, Express Card, 2.4 Ghz, Etc Is $1350 If You Really Need It For Same Price As Macbook.
 
Just to toss this out there- looking in Apple's CREATIVE PRO section it's laudable to see how many profiles had listed macbooks in there equipment lists... Wow... even Pro's have been using macbooks...

Seriously it's not a Pro/Consumer issue here- it's a valuable port to both sides... why not just put 1 FireWire, and 1 USB, and then if anyone needs more of either they can get a hub...

(Although I have no link, I have heard that you can get FireWire Hubs too...)
 
jigo said:
No doubt it was purposely designed out. Not for space reasons.

I'd rather have them get rid of the ethernet port than firewire. At least I could then get a dongle if I really needed ethernet.
Click to expand...

I need ethernet for my Euphonix mixing console. Can you provide more info about this dongle please? A link to the product will do.
 
Aniki said:
all my stuff (all cameras, externals, 360 controller for pc) are all usb, so I could care less. I think it's great they put no firewire, since it gives more space on the left side of your comp, and the battery life their is great as well.
Click to expand...

Bully for you. Now run along and play on a busy road.
 
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