OSX is my OS of choice, but I can't help but wonder how long before some of the OSX features/apps that I rely on will be dropped because Jobs & Co. have decided they're something "most people don't use or need".
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Steve Jobs on Lack of Firewire in MacBooks
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OSX is my OS of choice, but I can't help but wonder how long before some of the OSX features/apps that I rely on will be dropped because Jobs & Co. have decided they're something "most people don't use or need".
funny as you can use linux on those same pc's
i know i know, im very computer illiterate so thanks for telling me they arent the same
my point is that any upside to use firewire now over usb 2.0 may lose some of its luster once usb 3.0 becomes standard
no where did i say usb 3.0 and firewire were the same or compatible
i know i know, im very computer illiterate so thanks for telling me they arent the same
my point is that any upside to use firewire now over usb 2.0 may lose some of its luster once usb 3.0 becomes standard
no where did i say usb 3.0 and firewire were the same or compatible
Fine, but USB 3.0 doesn't exist on my video cameras and hard-drives. USB could make me a TV dinner while transporting files and it would still be worthless because my devices are firewire based.
This is always good advice.
Unfortunately, Macs are selling very well now. Apple seems to be blinded by this. Reminds me of the late 80's and early 90's when Apple was flying high, and then almost disappeared.
There is a lack of clarity of the market for the MB, MBA and MBP models.
Sometimes I wonder why Apple doesn't go with two lines:
MBA: 10, 13
MBP: 13, 15, 17
But that probably doesn't make sense either.
i know i know, im very computer illiterate so thanks for telling me they arent the same
my point is that any upside to use firewire now over usb 2.0 may lose some of its luster once usb 3.0 becomes standard
no where did i say usb 3.0 and firewire were the same or compatible
again, as many people have said before: USB 3.0 cannot replace FireWire. USB is used to transfer data, FireWire is used for live capture (something USB will never do) and transfering data.
Add a matte option to the pro line and Apple would sell me two notebooks to complement my Mac Pro!
MBA 10 (or netbook) and MBP 13.
Their current line is useless to me and doesn't make any sense...
IMO, the real weirdness isn't so much no FireWire on the MacBook as no FireWire 400 on the MacBook Pro. WTF... You'd think that something called "Pro" would be encrusted with ports, like:
x4 USB 2.0
x2 FW400
x2 FW800
x2 eSATA
x2 TOSLINK
1x DVI (full size)
1x DisplayPort (full size)
1x HDMI
1x ExpressCard
1x Parallel printer port
If you really want to see something pathetic, watch this.
You'd think that something called "Pro" would be encrusted with ports, like:x4 USB 2.0
x2 FW400
x2 FW800
x2 eSATA
x2 TOSLINK
1x DVI (full size)
1x DisplayPort (full size)
1x HDMI
1x ExpressCard
1x Parallel printer port
If you really want to see something pathetic, watch this.
LOL. I actually watched it, even though he p...ed me off. That video could certainly do with quite a bit more editing. Kill your darlings, in other words.
I wish all Macs (MB, MBA, MBP & iMac) had a matte screen option.
I must admit, that the current lineup confuses me as well. There simply isn't enough difference between the MB and MBP lines. And now with the MBA getting improvements, it seems that Apple would do better by simply making a pro level laptop and a lightweight laptop.
Part of the allure of Apple is the simplicity of the lines. Many other manufacturers offer so many options it becomes confusing to the customer.
What they should do now is just have two lineups - an ultraportable line-up consisting of a 10" $800 computer and the 13" MacBook Air. Then have the "conventional" lineup consisting of the 13" MacBook and 15" and 17" MacBook Pro.
In fact, don't even call it "Pro" anymore. It is an arbitrary designation. Professionals were using MacBooks for their work. Ordinary consumers were using MacBook Pros for their general activities.
if they want to limit ports based on size and weight, I think few people would have a problem with that and understand the compromises. But give the ports and features (like Firewire and matte screen BTO options) on the conventional laptops so people can get the type of machine they want and need.
I've been using a PC laptop that I purchased last spring to run some of the PC programs I need. No malware nor wasted CPU cycles and it has actually been a pleasant surprise and a pleasure to use. It (Asus) had better specs and more connections than the entry level MBP at the time and for about $700 less (it was actually less than the new MB) and in a smaller form factor like I wanted. And it's not bad looking. Was this the direction I planned to go? No, but it's the direction Apple is driving me. If I can't get the tools I need from them, I'll get them someplace else.
i know i know, im very computer illiterate so thanks for telling me they arent the same
my point is that any upside to use firewire now over usb 2.0 may lose some of its luster once usb 3.0 becomes standard
no where did i say usb 3.0 and firewire were the same or compatible
Yes, I believe you are computer illiterate (as you said) or you wouldn't keep suggesting that somehow USB 3.0 will negate the need for firewire. Firewire won't lose it's luster as long as there is a need for it.
My understanding is that the USB protocol can never match the Firewire protocol as far as large amounts of data, audio, and video work.
I have an external DVDRW drive in both USB and FW I use for my basic Mini to burn DVD's. I've had it fail to burn DVD's in USB, but works fine in FW...
I posted the following "I'm A Mac - I'm a PC" commercial on the Apple Discussions forum, but they deleted it. I thought it was very appropriate. They didn't. Here it is:
[Opening catchy Apple jingle]
Mac: Hi. I'm A Mac
PC: ...and I'm a PC
PC: Hey Mac, you look like you've lost a lot of weight, and not in a good way.
Mac: Yeah, I had an operation and they took my FireWire out. Don't know what I'm gonna do with this slower USB and the inability to connect to the better, faster FireWire stuff out there.
PC: (EVIL GRIN) Oh... so sorry to hear that Mac. I have eSATA and an ExpressCard port so that if I need FireWire, I can just get a FireWire card. Zoom, zoom, zoom!!!
Mac: (SAD FACE)
PC: Guess that makes me... BETTER than you now, huh Mac??!!
Mac: Well, not if Psystar - the Mac clone maker - has anything to do with it (CONTEMPLATIVE LOOK)... you see, they're working it out that so that they can make legal Mac clones that will have a lot more punch and more expansion, including FireWire in their more powerful but cheaper MacBook clone.
PC: (CONTEMPLATIVE LOOK)
Mac: This will lead to Apple's sudden "concern" for their loyal base of users of their best selling laptop - The MacBook - and they will miraculously see the "need" to reestablish FireWire as well as include some other cool stuff that they wouldn't have before on the MacBook. Then I will be better than you again PC.
PC: Good luck with that Mac. (Evil grin returns) Until that time, I'm better... and there's always Hackintosh.
Mac: (Sad face)
[Closing catchy Apple jingle]
[Opening catchy Apple jingle]
Mac: Hi. I'm A Mac
PC: ...and I'm a PC
PC: Hey Mac, you look like you've lost a lot of weight, and not in a good way.
Mac: Yeah, I had an operation and they took my FireWire out. Don't know what I'm gonna do with this slower USB and the inability to connect to the better, faster FireWire stuff out there.
PC: (EVIL GRIN) Oh... so sorry to hear that Mac. I have eSATA and an ExpressCard port so that if I need FireWire, I can just get a FireWire card. Zoom, zoom, zoom!!!
Mac: (SAD FACE)
PC: Guess that makes me... BETTER than you now, huh Mac??!!
Mac: Well, not if Psystar - the Mac clone maker - has anything to do with it (CONTEMPLATIVE LOOK)... you see, they're working it out that so that they can make legal Mac clones that will have a lot more punch and more expansion, including FireWire in their more powerful but cheaper MacBook clone.
PC: (CONTEMPLATIVE LOOK)
Mac: This will lead to Apple's sudden "concern" for their loyal base of users of their best selling laptop - The MacBook - and they will miraculously see the "need" to reestablish FireWire as well as include some other cool stuff that they wouldn't have before on the MacBook. Then I will be better than you again PC.
PC: Good luck with that Mac. (Evil grin returns) Until that time, I'm better... and there's always Hackintosh.
Mac: (Sad face)
[Closing catchy Apple jingle]
The problem is not with the USB protocol. Even USB 2.0 offers an isochronous mode, but current devices do not implement it. They only implement bulk mode transfers, which is not what you want to use for time-based data. If future devices implemented isochronous mode then USB could be used to stream video and audio data. Of course that doesn't solve the problem for people who need that support right now.
Apple isn't the only one dropping support. I will also be dropping my support of Apple by not buying anymore of their product.
If a better high speed buss comes along shortly, new products come out that supports it and Apple puts it on the macbook, fine. But until then FW is the choice for both amateur and pro A/V.
Barring that, I use audio FW devices. If they no longer make an affordable laptop with FW, it'll be perfectly fine with me to get a pc for my next laptop.
Screw you Apple.
If a better high speed buss comes along shortly, new products come out that supports it and Apple puts it on the macbook, fine. But until then FW is the choice for both amateur and pro A/V.
Barring that, I use audio FW devices. If they no longer make an affordable laptop with FW, it'll be perfectly fine with me to get a pc for my next laptop.
Screw you Apple.
What shal i do?
I have a 700 gb external hd with firewire 400, i know i should have got the 800! But as i am write now, what shall i do when my mbp comes in couple days time? IS there an adapter i can buy or am i just screwed over completely. Also do you think i will adopt to 15" after 17"????
thanks
I have a 700 gb external hd with firewire 400, i know i should have got the 800! But as i am write now, what shall i do when my mbp comes in couple days time? IS there an adapter i can buy or am i just screwed over completely. Also do you think i will adopt to 15" after 17"????
thanks
Agreed. It would certainly be better than the ads Microsoft is currently running, and would be just what Apple deserves.Nice, but you should send it to Microsoft, not Apple!
There are plenty of FW400 to FW800 cables available, just get one of those. FW800 is totally backward compatible with FW400.
There are plenty of FireWire 400 to 800 cables and adapters available all over. Here's one for you:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/1394B6912C/
I replaced my G5 tower with a PC tower that was clocked at the same speed. I only use it for 3d, and I don't connect it to the internet. Despite being the same clockspeed as my G5, my dual core PC blows it away in terms of performance and stability when running the apps I use (photoshop, Maya, after effects).
It's hard to want to kill myself when my PC runs 64-bit photoshop and 64-bit Maya without crashing every 2 minutes, like the 32-bit versions did on my Mac..
I still want the MacBook, but no way am I spending 2 grand on a mac again. I use Macs for fun, PCs for work now. Seems to work really well.
This article suggests that Apple has been tinkering with the USB ports so they operate much faster and may go some way to explain why they dropped the FW400.
http://barefeats.com/mbpp10.html
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2008-10-28/#9086
http://barefeats.com/mbpp10.html
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2008-10-28/#9086
They seems to be some windows suckers. They must do a measurement of the cpu usesage at the same time. OSX is a unix system, it's designed to do many
thinks att the same time. When we use the machines for audio we need the cpu to process audio, not doing some usb-bit-by-bit copying. The costs of cpu cyckels counts!
Benchmarks measuring file transfer speeds measured in a lab are meaningless in the real world of audio production.
Compared to FireWire, using USB for audio is a low-end solution. Firewire has numerous advantages: USB puts more load on the CPU which means you'll be able to do fewer audio or virtual tracks via USB compared to Firewire. USB has less bandwidth, which means fewer audio track can be recorded in real time (FireWire 400 has enough bandwidth over a single connector for hundreds of channels of noise free, high-resolution digital audio and up to 256 channels of MIDI). Fire has greater long-distance capability vs. FireWire (USB is ~10 ft. unless you use special cables). Firewire can provide enough power on the FireWire bus (up to 45 watts, with a maximum of 1.5 amps and 30 volts) to bus-power audio interfaces. The list goes on...
No one who's used Firewire for audio production would want to take a step backwards to using USB. You might as well dust off an old PIII or G4 and start using either for audio production...