Steve Jobs on Lack of Firewire in MacBooks

[apearlman]

Firewire isn't the same as a floppy drive.

I look on the floor to my right and see my B&W G3 tower.

There's no floppy drive! OMG! What was Steve thinking!? Sell now, all is lost, Apple is doomed!

True, some users still needed a floppy drive back then. And when those drives disappeared from the G3 and iMac, we immediately had a cheap ($50) solution for legacy users: USB floppy drives.

There's no comparable solution for people who use legacy Firewire gear.

 

[Marx55]

FIREWIRE FOR REPAIRS. Via Target Disk Mode. That is absolutely needed on both MacBook Air and MacBook. NO FIREWIRE, NO PURCHASE.

 

[thedoctorlee]

Yes, and it's yesterday's technology. Compare the specs to the new MB's. They have a better graphics card, more ram, bigger hard drive. Why would I buy yesterday's technology? That's not very good business.

Your point is taken. I do feel bad for people in your situation, who need a small form factor macbook with firewire, and can't possibly live with getting a MBP (too expensive, too big) or a white MB (too outdated). Apple seriously forgot about you - that sucks.

 

[Thornie]

Everyone here who actually wants this decision to be reversed should do everything in their power to spread the word about signing the online petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/MB1394/petition.html

I fear that we will have to be very loud in order to be heard on this issue and actually make a difference. There had to be some bizarre thinking going on within Apple for this decision to make it into production. If we want to wake up Apple we will have to make a ruckus unlike anything they've ever seen before.

I don't write letters or even send emails much but I've already sent two emails to sjobs@apple.com trying to throw my weight against this idiocy. Now I'm going to attempt to find a few mailing addresses that might actually reach someone who will take the time to read a physical letter. This is really unprecedented for me to think seriously about taking the time to put actual letters in snail mail, but I am very much afraid that it will take this kind of input for them to wake up.

I would appreciate any help in finding names and mailing addresses that will reach the appropriate parties and have a chance to correct this wrongness in time for the next production cycle. I would also highly recommend that everyone who has already signed the petition and posted to forums like this should take the time to sit down and compose a short, succinct and thoughtful physical letter and mail it out ASAP via certified mail. That way someone at the receiving end has to sign for it. It will help get their attention.

Thanks.

Signed. I am glad to see that someone out there is taking this issue as seriously as I am.

 

[Snide]

I may not know as much as you do but I can see trends and I know it's dying especially in the consumer market which is the market Apple caters to now, they see more money to be made with consumers.

You really should quit while your behind. USB 2 sucks, and I won't be replacing my many firewire devices any time soon.

 

[FJ218700]

So, you've surveyed apple computer owners and came up with the 1% figure? That's ridiculous. Just educational facilities using firewire on Macs would be a very large number. And if you and others don't care about firewire, why are you discussing it in this thread? You already have what you want. Obviously some of you are so smitten with Apple that if the told you they were coming to your home do disable some of the functionality of your Mac, you would welcome them.

Yes, for consumers (and I am defining this as those who don't require their Mac to contribute to their annual income) I think 1% is probably a fair estimate.

Look, I too use firewire for all my peripherals and an in no way pleased about its removal from the new macBooks. Just saying dude, it's an entry-level consumer notebook. How many computer manufacturers offer firewire on their entry-level notebooks?

 

[synth3tik]

Yawn, different day - same old whining. It's simple folks, if you NEED Firewire, don't buy a computer without it. Many many many laptops don't have Firewire. Whining won't help.

Seeing as how Apple is forcing customers to spend $500 more on a MBP with overfills their needs except it has firewire is hardly whining.

Sure some people were really waiting for the new MB and the older models are still available and viable. however as these older MBs start disappearing and no longer can keep up with current applications people will be forced to do one of two things. A) spend $500 extra for a computer with features you don't need or want except firewire or B) get a PC.

I was hoping for a smaller laptop to work on audio projects away from the studio. One of the main ideas here is that since I would be mainly for mix downs and mastering I would not need a huge display. I don't like the glossy screen or the Chiclet keys. These things as annoying as they may be to me are things that I could get used to. Wouldn't really like it all that much, but could deal. Without firewire I would be unable to master as all my matering and other high end plug ins use external DSP. That DSP is firewire only.

Why is it firewire only. Because Apple helped develop firewire, was the first to intorduce firewire across their line. Audio professionals main use Macs. Therefor when when deciding what interface to build their products around they choose firewire. It made sence.

 

[Chaos123x]

 

[sfh]

Mb firewire

You don't need it for a macbook... i can't believe that people are whining so much. If firewire is such a huge part of what you do BUY THE PRO! I'm sorry but USB 2.0 is faster to transfer files and with the exception of some camcorders virtually every other piece of hardware can be purchased sans firewire. ...

DONT give me the junk about "...i have all this equipment ..." your current setup will not explode just because a new model came out, and nobody has a gun to your head making you upgrade.

 

[thedoctorlee]

OK, point taken.

Yes, and it's yesterday's technology. Compare the specs to the new MB's. They have a better graphics card, more ram, bigger hard drive. Why would I buy yesterday's technology? That's not very good business.

Your point is taken. I do feel bad for people in your situation, who need a small form factor macbook with firewire, and can't possibly live with getting a MBP (too expensive, too big) or a white MB (too outdated). Apple seriously forgot about you guys - that sucks.

Let's build a time machine and go back to the 12"PB era, everyone was much happier back then... I miss those days when apple made us happy.

 

[Eric S.]

maybe they don't care about those 1% of people who absolutely need firewire on a consumer laptop ?

Maybe we should just take laptops away from everyone except the 1% who really need them too.

And while we're at it, TVs, video games, cell phones, SUVs, ... [feel free to add your own items to the "worthless" list.]

It doesn't matter who "absolutely needs" it. All that matters to Apple is how much money they think they can make by forcing people to a more expensive product.

 

[thedoctorlee]

For real!

You don't need it for a macbook... i can't believe that people are whining so much. If firewire is such a huge part of what you do BUY THE PRO! I'm sorry but USB 2.0 is faster to transfer files and with the exception of some camcorders virtually every other piece of hardware can be purchased sans firewire. ...

DONT give me the junk about "...i have all this equipment ..." your current setup will not explode just because a new model came out, and nobody has a gun to your head making you upgrade.

Thank you!

 

[corinhorn]

Signed. I am glad to see that someone out there is taking this issue as seriously as I am.

Is there any evidence that these online petitions actually do anything, or do they only make us feel better?

 

[FJ218700]

Maybe we should just take laptops away from everyone except the 1% who really need them too.

And while we're at it, TVs, video games, cell phones, SUVs, ... [feel free to add your own items to the "worthless" list.]

It doesn't matter who "absolutely needs" it. All that matters to Apple is how much money they think they can make by forcing people to a more expensive product.

bingo.

 

[Chaos123x]

Why do people think that artists have more money than consumers?

 

[editguy]

Yes, for consumers (and I am defining this as those who don't require their Mac to contribute to their annual income) I think 1% is probably a fair estimate.

Look, I too use firewire for all my peripherals and an in no way pleased about its removal from the new macBooks. Just saying dude, it's an entry-level consumer notebook. How many computer manufacturers offer firewire on their lowest entry-level notebooks?

Except, at it's price point it's really not an entry level notebook. Go peruse Newegg and you will find some very low priced notebooks with not only firewire but also an expansion card slot (which would allow you to add firewire if it doesn't have it), eSATA, etc.
Look, I really wanted the MB. There are a few Apple programs that I really like over PC alternatives (like LiveType and DVDSP). But there are alternatives and unfortunately Apple seems to want me (and I'm sure I'm not alone) to make the switch. If they had made a small MBP with firewire I wouldn't even be in this discussion. Although I would still think it's wrong-headed that they removed it from the MB because of all the audio people and consumers that use FW.

 

[isaacc7]

Yes, for consumers (and I am defining this as those who don't require their Mac to contribute to their annual income) I think 1% is probably a fair estimate.

Look, I too use firewire for all my peripherals and an in no way pleased about its removal from the new macBooks. Just saying dude, it's an entry-level consumer notebook. How many computer manufacturers offer firewire on their entry-level notebooks?

IT IS NOT AN ENTRY LEVEL NOTEBOOK! Since when is $1299 entry level? It is an expensive machine for what it is, there isn't an excuse for dropping firewire at this price.

Isaac

 

[mixel]

I guess they expect you to video edit on a different machine where the port space is less limited..

The day they remove FW from the iMac, now that will be a huge bad move.. For the macbook im not hugely bothered.. They obviously either intend it as a satellite computer (like the Air but still much more functional) or a /very/ consumer orientated model.. That's not a big deal.. I don't know anyone with ONE computer in their house.. Import on another machine and copy the files over.. ? Not ideal admittedly..

Could someone make a little battery powered firewire sucker which pulls all the data off of a FW device and stores it, letting you access it with an ethernet or USB2 cable?

 

[editguy]

You don't need it for a macbook... i can't believe that people are whining so much. If firewire is such a huge part of what you do BUY THE PRO! I'm sorry but USB 2.0 is faster to transfer files and with the exception of some camcorders virtually every other piece of hardware can be purchased sans firewire. ...

DONT give me the junk about "...i have all this equipment ..." your current setup will not explode just because a new model came out, and nobody has a gun to your head making you upgrade.

You're wrong on so many levels, but how many tims do we have to say it? They don't make a MBP in the small form factor and that is what some of us want and need.

 

[Vulpinemac]

Heh. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one to agree with SJ on this matter. Yes, I do think he jumped the gun a bit; but if you really look at what's currently on the shelves in the consumer-level camcorder department, they are almost exclusively USB2 and have been for at least a year.

 

[corinhorn]

You don't need it for a macbook... i can't believe that people are whining so much. If firewire is such a huge part of what you do BUY THE PRO! I'm sorry but USB 2.0 is faster to transfer files and with the exception of some camcorders virtually every other piece of hardware can be purchased sans firewire. ...

DONT give me the junk about "...i have all this equipment ..." your current setup will not explode just because a new model came out, and nobody has a gun to your head making you upgrade.

That argument is invalid. Many of us are concerned that one day Apple will not ship any computer with FireWire. If you compromise once, it makes it easier to compromise again and again. FireWire is unlikely to survive without Apple's support.

USB is a bastardization of peripheral connections and I hate how big of an infestation it has become.

 

[FJ218700]

IT IS NOT AN ENTRY LEVEL NOTEBOOK! Since when is $1299 entry level? It is an expensive machine for what it is, there isn't an excuse for dropping firewire at this price.

Isaac

Except, at it's price point it's really not an entry level notebook. Go peruse Newegg and you will find some very low priced notebooks with not only firewire but also an expansion card slot (which would allow you to add firewire if it doesn't have it), eSATA, etc.
Look, I really wanted the MB. There are a few Apple programs that I really like over PC alternatives (like LiveType and DVDSP). But there are alternatives and unfortunately Apple seems to want me (and I'm sure I'm not alone) to make the switch. If they had made a small MBP with firewire I wouldn't even be in this discussion. Although I would still think it's wrong-headed that they removed it from the MB because of all the audio people and consumers that use FW.

like it or not, it is Apple's entry level notebook

Design is 50% of the cost, not to mention it runs OS X which at $129 is dirt cheap compared to Windows.

I think Steve knows that most of the people who walk into an Apple store to replace their dying virus-ridden PC are not even going to ask about firewire, nor do they know that MacRumors and this heated debate even exist.

 

[editguy]

I guess they expect you to video edit on a different machine where the port space is less limited..

The day they remove FW from the iMac, now that will be a huge bad move.. For the macbook im not hugely bothered.. They obviously either intend it as a satellite computer (like the Air but still much more functional) or a /very/ consumer orientated model.. That's not a big deal.. I don't know anyone with ONE computer in their house.. Import on another machine and copy the files over.. ? Not ideal admittedly..

Could someone make a little battery powered firewire sucker which pulls all the data off of a FW device and stores it, letting you access it with an ethernet or USB2 cable?

Well, if you're volunteering to carry my desktop to the location shoot, I won't worry about the smaller computer.

 

[synth3tik]

Love it, simply love it.

Any possibility of a higher res image??

please

 

[isaacc7]

You don't need it for a macbook... i can't believe that people are whining so much. If firewire is such a huge part of what you do BUY THE PRO! I'm sorry but USB 2.0 is faster to transfer files and with the exception of some camcorders virtually every other piece of hardware can be purchased sans firewire. ...

DONT give me the junk about "...i have all this equipment ..." your current setup will not explode just because a new model came out, and nobody has a gun to your head making you upgrade.

I do need it in a macbook if I'm going to buy an Apple cause there's no effing way I'm spending 2 grand on a notebook. What, exactly is the MBP going to get me over the $1299 MB for audio? Not a damn thing except I'll have less money, a larger computer, and a firewire port. No thank you. You're right, no one is forcing me to buy a new laptop, but when i do, it will be a laptop that does what I want it to, I won't use it the way that jobs wants me too. Jobs is cutting a lot of us out of Apple...

Isaac