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Why SD slot in new MBP?
- Thread starter glhiii
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It's far more likely that if I were to get a card reader it would be a USB one so that I could use it on more than just my MacBook Pro. Getting something for ExpressCard/34 wouldn't have made sense to me unless it was something that I would only ever use on the MBP.
I have a TV Tuner thing, and it's USB because I use it on the MBP and the Mac Pro, and my mate's iMac. I have a 3G USB dongle because that was the only option available from my cell network. I had no use of the ExpressCard/34 slot, and going by what Apple said, neither did 90%+ of their customers.
I'm just saying that in my experience I have had no use for the ExpressCard/34 slot, and would prefer to use the SD slot.
That's Wiki figure needs context. It includes consumer pocket digital cameras where SD is in fact predominant because of its smaller size. Look in the digital SLR market and Compact Flash is still the preferred media. Presumably, the Macbook Pro user is the latter, not the former.
Look, it's useless to defend this move by Apple. This wasn't done for convenience's sake or for the consumer's good; it was done because it saved a couple bucks for Apple. Period. Comments like "you should just buy the 17"" are idiotic and demonstrate that the person making is is: (1) not a professional user; and (2) has no clue how professional use laptops in the field and at home for work. If Apple's so keen on serving the consumer who absolutely wants an SD card included in the body, why doesn't it add the SD slot to all the Macbook lineup - you know, the so-called consumer line - and tell consumers, "you can buy a Macbook" and leave the Macbook Pro alone? Size and weight are paramount considerations for professionals, who are already dealing with those issues with their camera gear, let alone being told to add 2 inches to their laptop to get an absolutely essential port. The notion that professional photogs are helped by the inclusion of the SD port into the body of the laptop is laughable. You want a look at a real professional reaction to this move? Read Thom Hogan's reaction on his site at www.bythom.com. Thom is a very well known Nikon photographer:
And the reaction of Shane Ross, a well known TV editor, on his blog lfhd.blogspot.com:
Look, it's useless to defend this move by Apple. This wasn't done for convenience's sake or for the consumer's good; it was done because it saved a couple bucks for Apple. Period. Comments like "you should just buy the 17"" are idiotic and demonstrate that the person making is is: (1) not a professional user; and (2) has no clue how professional use laptops in the field and at home for work. If Apple's so keen on serving the consumer who absolutely wants an SD card included in the body, why doesn't it add the SD slot to all the Macbook lineup - you know, the so-called consumer line - and tell consumers, "you can buy a Macbook" and leave the Macbook Pro alone? Size and weight are paramount considerations for professionals, who are already dealing with those issues with their camera gear, let alone being told to add 2 inches to their laptop to get an absolutely essential port. The notion that professional photogs are helped by the inclusion of the SD port into the body of the laptop is laughable. You want a look at a real professional reaction to this move? Read Thom Hogan's reaction on his site at www.bythom.com. Thom is a very well known Nikon photographer:
And the reaction of Shane Ross, a well known TV editor, on his blog lfhd.blogspot.com:
cough.. fanboys.. cough
I'm surprised you guys are defending the replacement of the ExpressCard with an SD slot.
Let me ask you this, had the SD slot and ExpressCard been optional, which one would you go for?
People who frequent an Apple forum are not typical users. Your typical user would say "WTF is an ExpressCard slot?" That's why Apple went with the SD card slot.
I agree with this, and said as much in another thread somewhere. An optional SD card reader that fits flush in the ExpressCard slot would be perfect. List it on the BTO page, and everyone is happy.
Like Apple gives a ****. They make more money selling the freakin' iPod Nano than they do supporting photographers. Newsflash chief ...you all haven't been the core of Apple's success since the 90s.
People said similar things when Apple ripped the PC Card Slot out of the PRO notebooks and put in the Express Card Slot.
You see, one of the things that differentiated the "pro" vs "consumer" line in Apple notebooks was the PC Card Slot.
Every Powerbook ( now Mackbook Pro ) except for the 12" ( was too small ) had the PC Card Slot.
iBook ( now Macbook ) did not.
When Apple switched from PC Card Slot to Express Card Slot I was disappointed because at the time I had a PC Card Cellular Modem and at that time they did not make that modem in Express Card or USB.
Speaking of that Cellular Modem .... people who have the Express Card version are out of luck, they'll have to pony up the $$$ and get a USB version that will hang off the notebook. Sure the Express Card version stuck out somewhat, but for the most part it was inside.
I have ( thank god ) a one month old Macbook Pro - lucky me, I have the Express Card slot.
My daughter has a new Macbook Pro - for her to get pics out of her camera she has to tether the camera or card reader to a USB port!
First, I consider Wiki a last resort place for data.
Secondly the Wikipedia data is skewed.
You want me to think that Apple is marketing a $2000 notebook to someone who buys a $59.99 digital camera? :lol:
Of course when I walk through places like Best Buy and browse their Digital Camera selection I feel sorry for the average consumer. They are being hand fed crap and swallowing it down like there is no tomorrow.
EDIT: Form your beloved WIKI ....
Now when you DELETE all the cameras that are not SDHC capable, the numbers change drastically.
No, they're marketing a $1,199 laptop to someone who buys a crappy digital camera over their $999 notebook that doesn't have built-in support for the camera's card.
MacBook Pros start at $1200, not $2000. Nice try, though.
And why wouldn't someone buying a MBP have a consumer digital camera? Only high-end DSLRs use Compact Flash - point and shoot, superzoom, and entry-level DSLR use SD almost exclusively. And they're byfar the majority of the market.Why in the world would Apple put another slot on their computer that caters to a minority of the market?
This statement simply doesn't make sense. SD is still SD, whether its SDHC, SDXC, or regular old SD. In all cases, you want an SD card slot, not some other format slot.i use it that's why apple put it in there
and can I add, me too! I was really glad Apple added the SD slot onto the MBP and it was one of three reasons I'm buying a MBP now.
Yes, and the WIKI data includes all those older cameras when it draws its conclusions on SD card popularity.
But alas, as I stated before .... I'll never have use of a SD card.
I stuck with Compact Flash because it's a stable technology, never had a compatibility issue with any hardware, camera, reader, or computer.
That's right the Macbook doesn't have any card slot at all.
Forgot about that ..... but even the $1199 one jumps in price once you add in a thing or two.
We just picked up the $1199 one for my daughter who starts college this fall.
Bumped it to 4 Gig Ram and 500 Gig HDD.
Should keep her happy for a few years.
My PB has a CF or a SD/MMC/MEMORY STICK/SMART MEDIA/xD reader that can stay in it always.
PC people always find more places for ports than Apple. Apple is moving to less ports with less function (READ: form over function) 12 ports (13 on 17 inch) on a 15 inch PowerBook with 10 on the 17 inch MBP
PC people always find more places for ports than Apple. Apple is moving to less ports with less function (READ: form over function
) 12 ports (13 on 17 inch) on a 15 inch PowerBook with 10 on the 17 inch MBPThat's why I held on to my G4 Powerbook - it was the 15", last model before Intel. I had the CF II adapter, Verizon Cell Modem, and a few other expansion cards for it.
If Verizon would have had an Express Cell Modem, I might have switched back then. You see where I live there was no Cable Internet, and no DSL. All I had for internet was that cell modem.
We have finally modernized and a cable company came in and we got cable internet.
For the longest time that Verizon Card/Powerbook was the family internet connection shared by 5 users!
Or, you know most of Canon or Nikon's DSLRS which are in the multi thousand dollar range. It's not like SD is a completely unheard of format or something.
EDIT: Or that it's limited to the strictly cheap camera market, and you know that.
Because Apple is trying(succeeding) to milk every dime from its fanboys by removing/returning features at will calling it consumer desire LOL
Let me tell you it seems to be working, I say let them have this new Apple.
The expresscard was the last real expansion to make a MBP useful for me via eSata or FW/USB coombo cards as needed.
Let me tell you it seems to be working, I say let them have this new Apple.
The expresscard was the last real expansion to make a MBP useful for me via eSata or FW/USB coombo cards as needed.
Canon puts SD in their " sub $1,000 " units like the Digital Rebel.
But the $1500 and up units use Compact Flash
Digital Rebel - SD - $795 - Current
20D - CF - $1500
30D - CF - $1500
40D - CF - $1500 - Current
50D - CF - $1500 - Current
5D - CF - $2500 - Current
EOS 1DS MkIIII - CF - $5500+ - Current
Out of 5 current DSLR model only 2 in Canon lineup are in the " multi-thousand " dollar range, one is sub $1,000.
The 40D and 50D can be had for closer to $1,000 if you shop right.
Where did they put the SD card ??? In the sub $1,000 unit.
I never said SD was " unheard of ", just that it was not used in the higher end " pro " or " pro-sumer " cameras that's all.
and can I add, me too! I was really glad Apple added the SD slot onto the MBP and it was one of three reasons I'm buying a MBP now.
Agreed. I mean, it wasn't a sealed deal with the SD slot for me, but its an okay addition. It works since I just bought a D60.
If you want the Express slot, there are still multiple stores selling the first generation of Unibodies. At this rate, if people keep complaining, it'll probably be back, just like Firewire.
They want consumerism to flourish and stick it to Microsoft's attacks by attracting more people...and it seems to be working.
Bottom Line:
PC Card Slot - Versatile
Express Card Slot - Versatile
SD Card Slot - Extremely Limited
Now if Apple made Digital Cameras and they used SD cards, I could see Apple putting in SD card slots.
But even SONY, which uses Memory Stick, will have Memory Stick in their laptops as well as Express Card.
Not pushing Sony in any way. just giving an example of versatility.
Apple used to have that versatility, but now its gone.
PC Card Slot - Versatile
Express Card Slot - Versatile
SD Card Slot - Extremely Limited
Now if Apple made Digital Cameras and they used SD cards, I could see Apple putting in SD card slots.
But even SONY, which uses Memory Stick, will have Memory Stick in their laptops as well as Express Card.
Not pushing Sony in any way. just giving an example of versatility.
Apple used to have that versatility, but now its gone.
I've never been 'pissed' per say by an Apple announcement (except the $200 drop after 2 months of owning an iPhone), but when I was following WWDC this just outraged me.
Pros DON'T use SD cards. They just DON'T. Sure, a Canon XSi or TS1 has SDHC, but my 5D Mark II doesn't. 1D's don't, high end Nikons don't. You know, the pro equipment. These laptops used to cater to those who owned these things, hence the "Pro" moniker. These are consumer notebooks now. Looks like Apple have forced me into a 17" screen next upgrade cycle.
I usually agree with the decisions Apple makes to limit a device for a superior result, but this is just dumb.
And just like Apple's attitude of "consumers really love the glass displays so we're throwing them on everything," this won't change. Apple caters to the consumers now, they've left the Pros behind (Just look at the Mac Pro's graphic card options). It's sad, really very sad.
My daughter has a new Macbook Pro - for her to get pics out of her camera she has to tether the camera or card reader to a USB port!
I am confused, if she had the old MBP she would have to tether or use an expresscard card reader, what is the difference? Or is she a professional photographer that does not already have a usb/fw card reader and only had a $25 expresscard card reader?
SD Card can be used in a way floppy disks were used in the old days! Without a hassle of burning sliced donuts.