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Steve Jobs on Lack of Firewire in MacBooks
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I know the previous models were true of this, the MacBook had a poorer viewing angle, but the tech spec pages for both the new MacBook and new MacBook Pro leave this information out. Are they still different?
Yes, the Macbooks are almost as bad as the plastic ones. The Macbook Pros are way better. I don't really care for viewing angle on a small laptop though, as I'm generally using it myself. And it's enough for rudimentary photo editing (don't manually edit in iPhoto though, it'll look terrible on printouts). I use an external display for my occasional color-correction needs and when I need a bigger display for showing people stuff.
Damn. I was hoping the new MacBook display would be closer to that of the MBP. Oh well.
Well, real comsumer laptops should cost way under $1000 nowadays. Check out the PC market, you get awesome stuff for $700, Seriously. If you need a laptop just to do e-Mail, Office and surfing the web, it just should not cost as much as the new Macbooks.
Macs have always been a bit more expensive than similar PCs, but for a reason: you can do neat stuff with them right out of the box. If Apple had a laptop for the above mentioned target group, it would be understandable not to have firewire. A low powered, atom-based 12" or 13" Mac laptop for $800 would be great. Think Macbook Air, but with Etherenet and thicker.
Too bad...
I have an old white MacBook (with Firewire!).
I thought seriously about upgrading
to a new one, but the fact that it lacks firewire changed it by 180 degrees.
(as well as other comments from users about the new trackpad and glossy screen).
Many laptops which are under 1000$ have quite a number of ports,
and different brands really want to pack their machines with plenty
of new features.
It seems that Apple wants in this way to protect their higher end
MacBook Pro's but I think it is a really terribly bad move. I am still happy
with the old one, so I will not put my money into Steve's pocket
this time. And I really do not want MacBook Pro as it is substantially
more expensive and also bigger and heavier.
I hope Steve and co. will read these posts and think about
it seriously. If Apple will not change it I will think about switching
to dell with linux in the future ....
I have an old white MacBook (with Firewire!).
I thought seriously about upgrading
to a new one, but the fact that it lacks firewire changed it by 180 degrees.
(as well as other comments from users about the new trackpad and glossy screen).
Many laptops which are under 1000$ have quite a number of ports,
and different brands really want to pack their machines with plenty
of new features.
It seems that Apple wants in this way to protect their higher end
MacBook Pro's but I think it is a really terribly bad move. I am still happy
with the old one, so I will not put my money into Steve's pocket
this time. And I really do not want MacBook Pro as it is substantially
more expensive and also bigger and heavier.
I hope Steve and co. will read these posts and think about
it seriously. If Apple will not change it I will think about switching
to dell with linux in the future ....
Could you point me to one of your "usb to firewire adapers"?
I think that several people think FireWire and USb are like Phillips-head and flat-head screws, in that they do the same thing but only look different.
In reality of corse, USB and FireWire are completely different protocols. They are not compatible with one another.
It would still be bad engineering to remove a couple of bucks of important connectivity from a $800 laptop.
And $800 for an Atom-based laptop is still too much. I expect to pay $350 for a netbook.
I wouldn't count on Steve reading these forums. Instead go to
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html
but what do we do when that one is no longer available. I am an audio, MBP is overkill for me. As much as I hate PC's what is very true is that you get way more connectivity with a PC. I don't care about graphics, I guess I will dump my three firewire audio interfaces when its time to upgrade
They are user titles, they auto change when a certain post count is met.
http://guides.macrumors.com/index.p..._FAQ&printable=yes#How_do_user_titles_work.3F
Aw, damn. Eric S. beat me to it. Now I look like a jackass.
Thanks, I looked but I didn't look long enough.
I thought it might be something like that.Firewire is the only high-speed data transfer option that comes with Macs; some people call it dead, but what else is there ?
Didn't see an eSata port on a stock Mac yet.
USB ? It's been around forever, and was never any good for heavy lifting.
As a pro photographer, I depend on FW (400) to connect to my digital back, and my hard drives.
How many professionals in video, audio and photography are there running anything via USB ?
How many FW harddrives do exist for backup and archiving ?
I'd say hundreds of thousands owned by Mac users alone, not everyone is using eSata , unless it's for super-heavy loads.
Firewire is the industry standard, for Mac users in the fields mentioned above, and now Apple aims to turn every Mac into an iPod .
What's next, Palin for CEO ? Talk about loosing touch ...
Didn't see an eSata port on a stock Mac yet.
USB ? It's been around forever, and was never any good for heavy lifting.
As a pro photographer, I depend on FW (400) to connect to my digital back, and my hard drives.
How many professionals in video, audio and photography are there running anything via USB ?
How many FW harddrives do exist for backup and archiving ?
I'd say hundreds of thousands owned by Mac users alone, not everyone is using eSata , unless it's for super-heavy loads.
Firewire is the industry standard, for Mac users in the fields mentioned above, and now Apple aims to turn every Mac into an iPod .
What's next, Palin for CEO ? Talk about loosing touch ...
Here's some higher end USB audio interfaces that seem decent:
MOTU (all other products are firewire):
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828mkII/
Tascam (2 low end, 2-channel interfaces are also USB, all other are Firewire):
http://www.tascam.com/products/us-1641.html
Apogee (all Firewire)
Digidesign (all Firewire)
M-Audio (the better stuff is all Firewire)
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra8R.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePreUSB.html
Presonus (all other Firewire)
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=53
E-Mu
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=53
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15185
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15186
Edirol (a few more USB interfaces, their website is a mess though...)
http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-25EX/index.html
All in all, 1 out of 5 audio interfaces is USB. All others are Firewire 400. The real pro stuff has proprietary connectors (PCI cards for Mac Pro).
MOTU (all other products are firewire):
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828mkII/
Tascam (2 low end, 2-channel interfaces are also USB, all other are Firewire):
http://www.tascam.com/products/us-1641.html
Apogee (all Firewire)
Digidesign (all Firewire)
M-Audio (the better stuff is all Firewire)
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra8R.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePreUSB.html
Presonus (all other Firewire)
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=53
E-Mu
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=53
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15185
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15186
Edirol (a few more USB interfaces, their website is a mess though...)
http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-25EX/index.html
All in all, 1 out of 5 audio interfaces is USB. All others are Firewire 400. The real pro stuff has proprietary connectors (PCI cards for Mac Pro).
Aw, damn. Eric S. beat me to it. Now I look like a jackass.
Don't worry, it takes more than that to look like a jackass.
12" Powerbook owner TIRED OF WAITING
I signed the petition. I emailed Apple's feedback. I sent an email to Steve Jobs (sjobs@apple.com). Now, I've registered here in case it might make a difference.
I'm tired of waiting for a suitable replacement to my two Powerbook 12" machines. Why can we not have a 13" Macbook WITH Firewire? I have to admit, I was very excited at the rumors leading up to the launch - FINALLY, a replacement for my beloved and trusty Powerbooks. But no. WHY?
Unless you have been on location doing live on-set video capture and editing for an international film you have little understanding of how important firewire is in professional film. And you have no understanding of how important it is for the machine to be as portable as the 12" Powerbook unless you have carried the machine to 5 continents to do your work. 15" is simply too big.
Apple, the most aggravating thing is that everyone knows it is trivial and possible to include firewire in the 13" form factor. You have greatly dissapointed. The Macbook is crippled compared to the 12" Powerbook, and it doesn't have to be this way.
Please bring back Firewire to the 13" Macbook. Price it however you see fit because its not a money issue, its a matter of functionality and portability.
I signed the petition. I emailed Apple's feedback. I sent an email to Steve Jobs (sjobs@apple.com). Now, I've registered here in case it might make a difference.
I'm tired of waiting for a suitable replacement to my two Powerbook 12" machines. Why can we not have a 13" Macbook WITH Firewire? I have to admit, I was very excited at the rumors leading up to the launch - FINALLY, a replacement for my beloved and trusty Powerbooks. But no. WHY?
Unless you have been on location doing live on-set video capture and editing for an international film you have little understanding of how important firewire is in professional film. And you have no understanding of how important it is for the machine to be as portable as the 12" Powerbook unless you have carried the machine to 5 continents to do your work. 15" is simply too big.
Apple, the most aggravating thing is that everyone knows it is trivial and possible to include firewire in the 13" form factor. You have greatly dissapointed. The Macbook is crippled compared to the 12" Powerbook, and it doesn't have to be this way.
Please bring back Firewire to the 13" Macbook. Price it however you see fit because its not a money issue, its a matter of functionality and portability.
^^^^^
Agreed. I know someone in the same boat... currently using a 12" PowerBook and waiting for a replacement (I used to have one myself and still miss it). Were it not for the omission of FireWire, I think the new MacBooks would have fit the bill. Usually we can nitpick about the things Apple does, but I think they'll find out that they made a serious miscalculation this time. As the above poster relays, the fact of the matter is that there a critical form factor currently not being served by Apple.
EDIT: Oh and btw, welcome to MacRumors, ateslik! We do hope you'll stick around
Agreed. I know someone in the same boat... currently using a 12" PowerBook and waiting for a replacement (I used to have one myself and still miss it). Were it not for the omission of FireWire, I think the new MacBooks would have fit the bill. Usually we can nitpick about the things Apple does, but I think they'll find out that they made a serious miscalculation this time. As the above poster relays, the fact of the matter is that there a critical form factor currently not being served by Apple.
EDIT: Oh and btw, welcome to MacRumors, ateslik! We do hope you'll stick around
^^^^^
Agreed. I know someone in the same boat... currently using a 12" PowerBook and waiting for a replacement (I used to have one myself and still miss it). Were it not for the omission of FireWire, I think the new MacBooks would have fit the bill. Usually we can nitpick about the things Apple does, but I think they'll find out that they made a serious miscalculation this time. As the above poster relays, the fact of the matter is that there a critical form factor currently not being served by Apple.
EDIT: Oh and btw, welcome to MacRumors, ateslik! We do hope you'll stick around
The 12" PB was in my opinion the best notebook Apple has ever produced, and guess what? I didn't give jack **** that it was thicker than the rest. Apple needs to get off its thin preoccupation and give us an option for a kick ass 12" or 13" notebook with lots of beefy specs and ports.