Considering Intel's trying to push the semi-thin, semi-light, and semi-powerful category of laptops that don't have optical drives, it's always feasible that Apple might put out something in that category.
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Steve Jobs on Lack of Firewire in MacBooks
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This one sentence here, slays the whole point of this thread. This have to be the most effective words per point of the whole MR.
I hadn't noticed this. For anyone looking for access to a cheap MacBook then 'Whitey' sure is a better choice if you're not hooked on the wrist-slitter, aluminum thing. Too sad though that the display isn't matte...
MacBook Air? Heard of that? What rock have you been living under?
MacBook Air? Heard of that? What rock have you been living under?
Notebooks of more utility than the MacBook Air. The new IdeaPad and the new Studio 14 are examples. MacBook Air? That's a segment called "Just Plain Overpriced And Just Plain Useless".
Oh, don't get me wrong, I agree with you 100%. Still, that abomination does exist and is the only Mac option so far...
Oh, don't get me wrong, I agree with you 100%. Still, that abomination does exist and is the only Mac option so far...
Well I don't think I quite deserved your snarky attitude, especially if you agree that the MBA isn't quite in the category that Intel is trying to define.
My honest apology then if it cut too close.
No hard feelings then. It's just that it still is the only option available for anyone looking for such a computer and wanting it to be a Mac. This is another sign that Apple doesn't care about the Mac market any more as much as it bothers with the iPhone.
Then what you and I may think, or not think about it's performance isn't going to change that unfortunately.
Holy cow, 3,355 posts and 214,206 views of this thread. That's almost a quarter of a million views.
I also can't believe this thread is still going. Apple better put firewire into the Al Macbooks.
The things is this affects a lot of people so I am not surprised. Apple must have known it would be controversial. Although I have a MBP so I am not affected, I know a few people who wanted the portability of a macbook but definitely need firewire, (mainly professional photographers and the like) and who made another choice based on no firewire in the macbooks. It must have been costing Apple Sales. It isn't just about 'upgrading to a MBP'. They are too big for some very mobile users frankly.
I probably won't buy a MB until it gets FW back. The only FW device I have right now is my miniDV camera, but I use it only with my iMac. However, I plan to get a FW drive soon and having faster access speed than USB would be really handy, as would not having to disconnect my iPod dock to free up the USB port.
eSATA is the future for external disks
Look for one that has an eSATA port as well - to give a bit of future-proofing. Why not get a 3 Gbps port in addition to the 1394 parts?
Of course, when Apple does put eSATA ports into their laptops and laptops-on-a-stand - Apple will use a proprietary µ-
-SATA connector so that you need to buy a $79 adapter from Apple to connect your disk.
Look for one that has an eSATA port as well - to give a bit of future-proofing. Why not get a 3 Gbps port in addition to the 1394 parts?
Of course, when Apple does put eSATA ports into their laptops and laptops-on-a-stand - Apple will use a proprietary µ-
-SATA connector so that you need to buy a $79 adapter from Apple to connect your disk.Of course, when Apple does put eSATA ports into their laptops and laptops-on-a-stand - Apple will use a proprietary µ-
No they won't.
The new eSATA + USB ports look hopeful. Power and data over the same connector. Now it's just waiting for more support.
Look for one that has an eSATA port as well - to give a bit of future-proofing. Why not get a 3 Gbps port in addition to the 1394 parts?
Of course, when Apple does put eSATA ports into their laptops and laptops-on-a-stand - Apple will use a proprietary µ-
Knowing Apple, they won't put eSATA in their Macs anytime soon, let alone in the MacBook.
Still, most FW drives also come with eSATA, so ..
You really think that they'll use an industry standard?
That would buck a lot of recent history!
By the way, has anyone managed to successfully use a dual-link DVI monitor (like Apple's) with an aluminum MacBook that has Apple's proprietary DisplayPort connector? I've heard tons of horror stories about that $99 adapter dongle....
Yes.
Mini DisplayPort is not proprietary. It's an open standard.
It works for low-power drives like new BD/DVD drives and SSD disks. The USB spec doesn't provide enough power for many typical 2.5" hard drives, though.
I prefer the spec sheet to either say "will work" or "won't work" - I find "might work" to be annoying.
In my experience it's very rare to find both. Quite the opposite of the USB and eSATA on the same external.
USB works just fine for powering 2.5" hard drives. I do it all the time with just a single USB cable.
Please list the non-Apple devices using the "standard".
Pushing a proprietary spec through a standards body and getting it approved is one thing.
Having devices in the market using the spec is another thing - and a thing that is far more important that simply having a spec.
Apple gets a "fail" on the proprietary display port connector.
Just because it isn't widely used yet does not make it proprietary. The standard is new, and isn't going to be everywhere overnight.
AidenShaw gets a "fail" for calling *everything* "fail".
I said "The USB spec doesn't provide enough power for many typical 2.5" hard drives".
- Some drives are spec'd for the 2.5 watts power from USB.
- Some USB ports don't enforce current limiting to the 2.5 watts in the spec.
This is the "might work" grey area.
I have some external 2.5" drives that work with all my systems. I have some that work with some systems, but need the second "power" USB connection for others. I have some that work with some with the second power connector - but won't work with others even with two power sources (but they work with an external 5v power source).
I don't like "might work".
I'll admit that I've probably just been very lucky in that grey area.
I love my FireWire so much more.
So, you can't list any non-Apple uses of the proprietary mini-DisplayPort? I thought so....
To be a "standard" we should be able to see it at http://www.newegg.com - not just on some arcane IEEE or other standards body's website.
Particularly if the "standard" came after the sole company using the technology started shipping products using the "standard".
PS: The standard DisplayPort connector is no taller than a USB A, and a bit wider. There really isn't a crying need for a smaller connector, is there?
Oh, you're probably right ^^ When I was talking about "most" I had WD MyBooks in mind, since its the most popular external HD in my area and what I'm leaning towards to buy.
Anyway, I don't need eSATA and if the drive/enclosure I end up getting doesn't have one I won't shed a tear ^^
True, I've never come across a 2.5" external that even my MacBook can't power with only 1 USB connection. Although I hear its a real problem among my PC-using friends - they almost always need that second connection to power up the drive, especially if they use a laptop.