Thank you Apple: No more FW, Ethernet, and Optical

[HardBall]

Hardball= Apple Fanboy poster child.

Apple could have rolled out a 2012 MBPRO made of wood and he would
still laud it's ingeniousness. Lol

U prob didn't read the my posts in previous threads, b4 the annoucements, that I hoped these ports and standards wpuld b gone from the new gen of machines.

 

[InlawBiker]

Guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings nowadays.

 

[HardBall]

iMac finally moving on from FW and ODD as well !!!!

Thank you again, Apple;

It's a great feeling to be rid of FW and Optical disks on the new iMacs as well. It's really past due to move on to newer and better things.

It would be even better if the ethernet jacks, which are still holding back the industrial design of the machine, be removed as well. But there is always next year....

 

[isephmusic]

you guys are talking about all these old things but... whats actually replacing them lol ?

 

[rocknblogger]

Maybe you're doing it wrong per Steve Job's vision? Apple is moving into the portable/mobile world. A person who with a laptop who travels with 3 USB drives at all times is not the vision/scenario they have imagined. They probably want you to upgrade to the largest internal drive available and use cloud based drives for backups or remote syncs.

No sarcasm here.

The problem with your scenario is that iCloud is not rock solid and 99.999% dependable yet. If it was as dependable and configurable like Dropbox or even Microsoft's Skydrive then you would be spot on. As it stands now we are still forced to carry around extra baggage for convenience, dependability and flexibility.

Most of my clients know how to post to Facebook, use Internet Explorer, Gmail or Yahoo (passably) and MS Office. Some are open to learning new technologies and ways of doing things but the majority don't care or are afraid of change.

I see this every day and am still amazed how low the overall tech IQ is of Joe Public. For these reasons it's a bit too early to get rid of perfectly functional technology just because its a few years old and Apple wants to save a few ounces and millimeters.

I understand the desire on Apples part to move ahead but there's really very little that the rMBP and the new iMacs bring to the table. I plan on buying a new MBP early next year and more than likely I'll go with the cMBP as long as it's still available. The retina screen is very nice but you have to sacrifice quite a bit. I like to upgrade my own hardware and by doing so I will definitly get a lot more life out of a cMBP than an rMBP.

 

[0x000000]

you guys are talking about all these old things but... whats actually replacing them lol ?

I understand the desire on Apples part to move ahead but there's really very little that the rMBP and the new iMacs bring to the table. I plan on buying a new MBP early next year and more than likely I'll go with the cMBP as long as it's still available. The retina screen is very nice but you have to sacrifice quite a bit. I like to upgrade my own hardware and by doing so I will definitly get a lot more life out of a cMBP than an rMBP.

To each their own.

I for my part am a freelance web designer working for lots of advertising and design agencies, small and large, and from my experience none of that stuff is actually needed.

I have not needed to inserted a DVD or CD in the past five (!) years. One agency did send data to their clients by mailing discs and made physical backups with DVDs, but it felt really ancient. But well, they also used tape backups. All the hallways were stuffed with DVD shelves and collected dust with no end. Everyone else uses servers nowadays.

WiFi replaced the ethernet port just fine and the USB adapter worked well in those few more secure environments without WiFi.

And I have actually never seen a firewire drive in real life. They're like unicorns. If anyone ever needed large amounts of space, they had big hard drives built for work and gigabit ethernet for backups. Even if there was someone using FW drives, they'd get Thunderbolt SSDs or raids now.

Someone talked about the "grand scheme of things" before. Sure there are uses for those older technologies and there will likely be people relying on them on a daily basis, now and in the future. But that's, sorry, a dwindling minority. If it were any different, the MacBook Air, the first test whether people could live without those things, would have failed miserably. Instead it became the best selling Apple notebook.

 

[mr.bee]

I understand the OP's discourse and I also do not need an optical drive per se. but his reasoning for not needing an optical drive is shortsighted and simple.

It's incredibly difficult to deliver the same kind if experience in streaming/downloading media on a worldwide level.
But it's true, beside the media problems, every workflow with an optical drive can be easily replaced.

 

[SDAVE]

To keep all the old ports and optical drive would mean Apple has to stick to using the same ageing technology, thus no moving forward in the industry.

Apple is usually not scared to take chances. Most of the time they succeed, but they fail just like any other company.

This is the reason they kept the cMBP and released an rMBP, so the transition is not really sudden.

Same can't be said for Final Cut Pro 7 being dropped overnight and replaced with FCP X.

Same can't be said for Mac Pro not being updated.

But overall, I think Apple is one of those consumer companies which likes to take chances, even if they fail, people agree that they do take chances.

Look at the hi-res displays on the laptops. Sure it was inevitable, but they took the firs steps while the other manufacturers have been lagging in incorporating this already available technology.

I am sure people need ethernet and optical (I use ethernet) but there are many workarounds for those who need those things. In the long run, Apple caters to the majority of the users, not the minority.

 

[Ccrew]

Thank you for your honesty;

I cannot believe how many people are still deluding themselves in thinking that things like Ethernet and FW are still current technology.

Apple is one. Hence why the wireless AP isn't online until after login frequently breaking a domain bind in an enterprise.

 

[lightz39]

I agree but a lot of people aren't going to. I got the ethernet adapter just for the off chance I need one (like say a vegas hotel room).

 

[ZipZap]

If you want Ethernet, it's there, via a tiny adaptor. Same with Firewire.

Would you really want them to have to design the computer around these ports that most people don't use?

A tiny and expensive adapter. Where other computers include it in the price, Apple charges way more.

 

[NewbieCanada]

A tiny and expensive adapter. Where other computers include it in the price, Apple charges way more.

Are you somehow under the impression that if it's included in the price you're not paying for it anyway?

This way the the tiny minority who need it, or think they need it, can pay for it. And the vast majority who don't need it, don't have to.

(For the record I have two Thunderbolt-Ethernet adaptors. And as an Apple stockholder I'm really glad they didn't waste my money including things most people don't want or need.)

 

[57004]

I don't think Ethernet as a technology is outdated at all. WiFi will never offer the same bandwidth: as 802.11ac comes out the wired 10gbps is becoming more commonplace too.

WiFi is always a shared medium so not ideal for crowded offices. It's also not as reliable.

However I like Apple's solution of a cheap adapter that still gets the most out of the gigabit connection while keeping the laptop small. You can just leave the adapter at work connected to the Ethernet cable.

 

[Purant]

This way the the tiny minority who need it, or think they need it, can pay for it. And the vast majority who don't need it, don't have to.

Yeah, let's actually leave only the things that most people use on their computers.

Just a facebook app and a mail app. Everything else only a small percentage of the users use it!

And by the way, I guess they put two thunderbolt ports because as we all know EVERYONE uses those, right? RIGHT?

 

[ssmed]

I don't think Ethernet as a technology is outdated at all. WiFi will never offer the same bandwidth: as 802.11ac comes out the wired 10gbps is becoming more commonplace too.

I agree wholeheartedly, gigabit ethernet connected to a decent switch is so much faster than WiFi even with a few concurrent connections. I connect with a wire for server-client database work if I can.

In addition, the Firewire adaptor seems to be unreliable in my hands with SBOD being quite common when used with several different disks. Is this common, or do I need to try a new adaptor? If this technology is unreliable it might explain the complete absence of any working hubs except for the RB display

 

[NewbieCanada]

Yeah, let's actually leave only the things that most people use on their computers.

Just a facebook app and a mail app. Everything else only a small percentage of the users use it!No,

And by the way, I guess they put two thunderbolt ports because as we all know EVERYONE uses those, right? RIGHT?

You're comparing software to hardware. Having the ability to run more than mail and facebook doesn't make a computer thicker, heavier or more expensive.

By all means let's include things that people don't want or use and will make the computer considerably thicker.

Despite their high prices and supposed lack of features, the Retinas have been very successful. Maybe, just maybe, it turns out Apple really did have a better idea of what the market wants than you did.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Are you somehow under the impression that if it's included in the price you're not paying for it anyway?

This way the the tiny minority who need it, or think they need it, can pay for it. And the vast majority who don't need it, don't have to.

(For the record I have two Thunderbolt-Ethernet adaptors. And as an Apple stockholder I'm really glad they didn't waste my money including things most people don't want or need.)

Actually... It's already built into the chipset of the motherboards Intel makes, so it is already included all Apple has to do is add the physical port.

 

[Purant]

You're comparing software to hardware. Having the ability to run more than mail and facebook doesn't make a computer thicker, heavier or more expensive.

By all means let's include things that people don't want or use and will make the computer considerably thicker.

Despite their high prices and supposed lack of features, the Retinas have been very successful. Maybe, just maybe, it turns out Apple really did have a better idea of what the market wants than you did.

I like the rMBP (the 15inch at least). And I really don't mind (that much) the removal of said ports.

BUT, I really dislike the excuse "they took it out because only a small percentage used it". And that applies to both software and hardware.

Computers are things that do a lot more than a single user can do and are machines that, even at that one time that you might need something weird that you don't usually do, they should be able to deliver. So "only a few people use that" is a really bad excuse for me. Computers are general purpose machines and shouldn't cater to the lowest common denominator.

 

[sjinsjca]

Just received my 15" rMBP earlier this week.

Awesome machine. The performance!! What a beast.

In my briefcase is a little kit in which I carry assorted adaptors needed now and then (iPad to VGA, mini DisplayPort to VGA, RS-232 to USB, assorted cables, a spare thumb drive, etc.). So okay, I've added a Thunderbolt to Ethernet and Thunderbolt to FireWire to this.

Big deal. If I didn't use the ports Apple removed from the rMBP, I would've saved a princely $58. But that $58 bought me a machine that's incredibly thin and light-- benefits I enjoy every day, versus the ports I'd use only now and then.

There is no way they could have added an internal Ethernet port without increasing the machine's thickness. Same goes for the Firewire socket-- it's nearly as tall as the rMBP's body is thick.

So for those rare occasions when I need Ethernet or Firewire, I reach into the kit and nab an adaptor. Big whoop.

Meanwhile, Thunderbolt is basically PCIexpress-on-a-wire. Infinite expandability once the ecosystem spins up.

It's really hard to see what the controversy is about.

 

[TheSpeaker]

Thank you again, Apple;

It's a great feeling to be rid of FW and Optical disks on the new iMacs as well. It's really past due to move on to newer and better things.

It would be even better if the ethernet jacks, which are still holding back the industrial design of the machine, be removed as well. But there is always next year....

HOLY DEAD THREAD RESURRECTION BATMAN!

Are you really that pathetic and desperate to make your inane point 6 months later? Nothing can compete with Gigabit Ethernet (not even 802.11ac, which I have and it doesn't come close). Nice try slick.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

HOLY DEAD THREAD RESURRECTION BATMAN!

Are you really that pathetic and desperate to make your inane point 6 months later? Nothing can compete with Gigabit Ethernet (not even 802.11ac, which I have and it doesn't come close). Nice try slick.

Most consumers use Ethernet to connect to the Internet. In the US at least and the exception of Google Fiber, your ISP will bottleneck your connection way before your 802.11 G router does. Most US broadband connections don't pass the tens of Mbps. Yes, some ISPs go up to around 100Mbps, but 802.11 N is 300MBps. Again, the MAJORITY of the population's needs can already be served with the 802.11 G standard, much less N, even less dual-band N, and very rarely 802.11 AC.

If you were thinking of computer networks where Ethernet is used as a computer to computer interconnect or NAS type of setups, then those are the MINORITY. And if you do need this functionality, there's always a relatively cheap adapter that is 100% compatible.

 

[Ccrew]

And I have actually never seen a firewire drive in real life. They're like unicorns. If anyone ever needed large amounts of space, they had big hard drives built for work and gigabit ethernet for backups. Even if there was someone using FW drives, they'd get Thunderbolt SSDs or raids now.

I dunno, I have a pretty sweet WD MyBook Studio here that's a FW800 drive. It's oh, maybe 6 months old. They're hardly Unicorns, and unless you need the TB speed 2tb for $150 is hardly antique.

 

[therealseebs]

If you were thinking of computer networks where Ethernet is used as a computer to computer interconnect or NAS type of setups, then those are the MINORITY. And if you do need this functionality, there's always a relatively cheap adapter that is 100% compatible.

And that eats one of your very useful Thunderbolt ports. With the other used for Firewire, leaving zero for display (and HDMI can't do high-res displays).

Thing is... Yeah, this is all "minority" functionality, but you know what? The point of the Macbook Pro was to be the machine which has the extra features that only a minority of users need, or that they only need a minority of the time.

Also, before you are too quick to condemn the Ethernet port as redundant, please do a quick test: Get 750GB of files. Now run a full (not just incremental) backup to a Time Capsule over gigabit ethernet, and run another backup to it over 802.11. Let us know how equivalent they are.

Nothing's really changed much since this thread was first posted; I still find that the cMBP is a much more powerful computer. I bought a Mini, and I am using the firewire port on it -- in fact, I wish it had two, because I want to use both FW800 and FW400 devices, and I want to be able to leave the 400 plugged in but possibly remove the 800. I bought a new drive with FireWire interfaces on it last night, because it turns out I still use those, because they're still awesome for disk transfer.

I still think it says a lot that people were dismissing my concerns about the rMBP by saying that "only professional users" would want that functionality.

Maybe a year or two out, there'll be thunderbolt hubs that have dual-link DVI (or just displayport) output, ethernet, firewire, and all the other stuff that's missing. But in the mean time... This is just the thing where some Apple fans are so devoted that they will actively attack functionality that's not included in a given Apple product on the grounds that they can't emotionally handle the idea that an Apple product could not meet the needs of absolutely all users unless the users are somehow defective.

Still loving the OS, still buying Macs, but also getting more concerned about the long-term viability of OS X as a primary platform for my work, because Apple seems to be moving away from the stuff I need...

 

[TheSpeaker]

If you were thinking of computer networks where Ethernet is used as a computer to computer interconnect or NAS type of setups, then those are the MINORITY.

Not in my line of work.

 

[therealseebs]

Not in my line of work.

Well, your line of work may be a minority in general. But so what? Mac users are a minority. If Apple were to stop catering to minorities, they'd be shipping machines with Windows 8.