Steve responds to Mac user's email regarding lack of FW on new MBs

[Robert M]

Jeff,

During my time consulting and whenever someone asked me for advice about external drives, I always made sure to recommend drives that have both firewire and USB 2.0. It wasn't difficult to get them. I remember for a while it seemed like firewire only and firewire/USB 2.0 dual interface models was a norm. You could find both types at just about any online and local electronics shop. So, I wouldn't be surprised if many of those external drives are firewire and USB 2.0.

Although I didn't expect Apple to drop firewire on some of its models so soon, it seemed like it was bound to happen due to the popularity of USB 2.0. Then again, these days I recommend triple interface models - Firewire, USB 2.0 and eSATA. While eSATA may not be popular yet, It's nice to have it has an option. If the person can't afford a triple interface drive, then I recommend they stick with a dual interface model with firewire and USB 2.0.

Robert

[incognegro]

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html

[what4]

I still use the early 20G iPod that has a firewire port built into its top.

I replaced its battery this year. It runs for a really long time. I'd hate to replace it.

[Silencio]

samintx wrote:
I was mad when they didn't put 2 USB ports along with Firewire on macs. One USB and One Firewire.....My PCs have up to 4 USB ports and putting on the USB series plugin units makes my macs balk sometimes.

The truth is Apple is cutting costs. That is the reason. Why PCs can afford more than one USB AND a Firewire and apple can't has to be manfging costs. Apple is trying to get down to PC prices by hook or by crook. I say nutz to Steve (sorry to say this when he is a sick man but....)

If it's really about cost, then why do most $400 PC laptops have a billion and one USB ports, built-in card readers, &c? Apple certainly isn't selling any $400 laptops itself. It's more about "elegance" than cost IMO.

I think Apple looks long and hard at what features people actually use on their machines and aggressively strips out what doesn't get used often enough. It's comparatively rare that people plug in more than two USB devices to a laptop, so they don't build in more ports. If they came to the conclusion that most MacBook users don't use the Firewire given the emergence of MPG videocams that use USB or the cheap USB external hard drives that dominate the market, I guess I can understand that. Not that I'm happy about it since I too use Firewire very often.

Speaking of Firewire, my new (refurbed) BlackBook should be arriving real soon!

[Robert M]

Silencio,

Exactly. I think Apple took a look at the primary user of the Macbook and came to the conclusion that firewire wasn’t used enough to justify its inclusion. Will I miss it when the office gets the new Macbooks? Sure. Is the loss of firewire on Macbooks something that will make me lash out at Apple or buy different machines? Not at all. It’s not nearly enough of an issue to justify that kind of reaction. Besides, I’d rather save that energy for when Apple does something seriously horrendous.

Robert



> I think Apple looks long and hard at what features
> people actually use on their machines and aggressively
> strips out what doesn't get used often enough. It's
> comparatively rare that people plug in more than two
> USB devices to a laptop, so they don't build in more
> ports. If they came to the conclusion that most MacBook
> users don't use the Firewire given the emergence of MPG
> videocams that use USB or the cheap USB external hard
> drives that dominate the market, I guess I can
> understand that. Not that I'm happy about it since I
> too use Firewire very often.

[JEBB]

In my experience the USB2 ports on most Apple and PC laptops don't put out enough power to run bus-driven 2.5 inch external drives. That would make them unable to be used as bootable drives.

[Racer X]

the left side USB 2 ports on the MBPs power the keyboard and keyboard backlight. i think the right side port has more juice.

[Robert M]

JEBB,

Bus-powered firewire hard disk drives have proven unreliable for me in the past. I wouldn't consider one for a desktop or tower, let alone a notebook. That's just my experience, though. Based on that, I wouldn't use a bus-powered USB hard disk drive, either.

Robert

[Article Accelerator]

Robert M wrote:
Article,

All of the intel Macs are USB 2.0 bootable.

The poster I was questioning is using a 6 year old PowerBook.

[Article Accelerator]

samintx wrote:
I say nutz to Steve

On this point, I say nutz to Steve too, Suzanne.

(sorry to say this when he is a sick man but....)

Now I say nutz to you, Suzanne. WTH are you talking about?