@ everyone quoting the graphs I posted from Bare Feats,
I get all your points! My point was that none of your points matter to the average MacBook buyer because otherwise....FIREWIRE 400 WOULD STILL BE ON NEW MACBOOKS! The demand simply was not there. That's why Apple killed iPod syncing and even charging over Firewire and why the original iPhone didn't ship with Firewire support from day one. This is Apple's own interface and it's superior to USB 2.0, do you really believe they'd drop it if they didn't have to?
But of course, Apple hasn't killed it off entirely, just on the consumer MacBook (because those customers overwhelmingly rejected it) and the ultraportable MacBook Air (due to size and power constraints).
@ CoreyMac,
Thanks for the comparison pictures, though I don't know how many people actually watch movies on their tiny 13" laptops. I'd say few. Still, you're helping me justify the purchase of an Air over a MacBook. Damn you!
First, there is plenty of room in the new unibody frame for a FireWire port on the MaacBook, if the Kensington lock port is moved to the other side, next to the optical drive slot. Where there isn't room is in the interior and in the budget. Apple is constructing machines to meet market price points. The unibody construction is more expensive than the plastic bodies. Something had to go. Given the disassembly photos, adding a FireWire controller chip to the MacBook main board would be difficult.
Also, the power requirements for FireWire would strain the MacBook's power budget. The lower power battery would need to be increased.
Dropping FireWire lets Apple produce a MacBook that fits in their chosen price point -- they aren't making Macs for a hobby.
I use FireWire 400 daily on my MacBook, for TimeMachine. I can understand Apple's decision, but can't see buying one of these machines, either. I haven't had good experiences with USB drives at all.
First, there is plenty of room in the new unibody frame for a FireWire port on the MaacBook, if the Kensington lock port is moved to the other side, next to the optical drive slot.
I don't see any room at all. The optical drive go right up to the edge of the removable panel. The Kensington lock was designed to prevent the bottom panel latch from engaging when a lock is in place so it can't move to another location. It has to be next to the latching mechanism.
Quote:
I use FireWire 400 daily on my MacBook, for TimeMachine. I can understand Apple's decision, but can't see buying one of these machines, either. I haven't had good experiences with USB drives at all.
I've had plenty of trouble with FW extrernal drive used for Time Machine. So much so, that I've moved all every machine to USB because I'd get errors that TM couldn't start, or that by having an external drive plugged in during an iMac startup it would freeze prior to the login screen. Switching from FW to USB resolved these issues while using the same external drives.
YOU DO NOT GET IT. I will only say one thing: Firewire is needed to repair and troubleshoot Macs via Target Disk Mode. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ANY MAC. No Firewire, no purchase!
Very easy way: Get a USB external HD, install clean OS on it. Boot from that if your Mac has trouble.
All Intel Macs can boot from USB (actually, even the older PowerMacs can, with a little bit OF typing). Somehow nobody knew about it?
I think in the old days, people have all the storage internally, so the target disk mode is necessary.
However, I don't know of anyone who don't have a couple of external drives these days. Simple install the OS on an external drive for troubleshooting... that's what we did before target disk mode became available.
A little bit history - target disk mode was first available on Powerbook 100, to boot PB100 as an external SCSI drive. It was extremely useful to transfer files, since at that time, the other option is to use AppleTalk through the slow serial cable, or floppy, or another external SCSI HD.
Today, there are so many other options - the simplest is Wifi, or wired ethernet, which has been standard on Macs for how many years? Another option is to use a USB key drive (don't Mac users use that?). 4GB USB costs like $30 these days, and an USB key drive is easier to carry in your backpack than a FW cable.
You can easily boot Mac from an external USB HD. Please don't pretend that you don't know that.
The only thing I wish Apple will do is to boot from USB key drive. With 8GB key drives available and getting cheaper, that would be the easiest way to keep a bootable volume.
You can easily boot Mac from an external USB HD. Please don't pretend that you don't know that.
The only thing I wish Apple will do is to boot from USB key drive. With 8GB key drives available and getting cheaper, that would be the easiest way to keep a bootable volume.
errr - i'm going to pretend...
have you ever tried booting from a USB drive?
yes it's theoretically possible but sketchy at best
most times i tried it hasn't worked...
(talking about my experience with a blackbook core duo...)
each time i tried it would just sit there with the grey entry screen and that little wheel turning...
Did you take that picture yourself? Sorry, but the Macbooks screens are nowhere near that bad in real world use.
I agree with this. The point is that new 13" MacBooks have better notably screens than the previous plastic version. I really cannot discern much difference between the Air's screen and the new MacBook's.
Is this really an issue? Or could just be an early production anomaly?
I am in awe at these machines, the glass is definitely half-full for me. The new MacBooks definitely take the game forward. Buy one of these things and it is going to last years.
To me the most significant thing about the MacBook is that what it offers has real commercial appeal for IT departments. Big companies are going to buy MacBooks for their employees. (And most corporate users really don't give a s**t about Firewire.)
My 1st gen MacBook screen isn't as bad as that pic seems to show. I would keep an open mind until you get a chance to look at the screen yourself. A photo taken at a weird angle can make all the difference in the world.
I've just noticed the new MacBooks don't come with a remote control as standard...
The screen is a deal breaker for me......I cant be bothered with such poor viewing angles and contrast / black levels. Its really a shame.
I am shocked by your pictures. I don't know if it's really as bad as the photos show but my 1st gen MacBook is NO WAY as bad as that MacBook screen in terms of black levels. I can watch dark movies on my MacBook no problem.
I've just noticed the new MacBooks don't come with a remote control as standard...
They've not been including one for a couple updates now. Which I'm happy about. Since I buy a new machine often, I have too many remotes sitting around and I'm tired of paying for something I am not using.
I just checked out the MacBook Alu. Wolverine trailer. It isn't as bad as in the photo posted, that's very extreme. But there is a slight blue-ish cast coming from the bottom of the screen that is washing out the black level somewhat.
I think this could be a quality control thing.
One more thing, why of late is all our forum-ing about complaining? It seems to be more on the hardware side. Software-wise and iPhone-wise things seem quite pleasing.
Comments
I get all your points!
But of course, Apple hasn't killed it off entirely, just on the consumer MacBook (because those customers overwhelmingly rejected it) and the ultraportable MacBook Air (due to size and power constraints).
@ CoreyMac,
Thanks for the comparison pictures, though I don't know how many people actually watch movies on their tiny 13" laptops. I'd say few. Still, you're helping me justify the purchase of an Air over a MacBook. Damn you!
Also, the power requirements for FireWire would strain the MacBook's power budget. The lower power battery would need to be increased.
Dropping FireWire lets Apple produce a MacBook that fits in their chosen price point -- they aren't making Macs for a hobby.
I use FireWire 400 daily on my MacBook, for TimeMachine. I can understand Apple's decision, but can't see buying one of these machines, either. I haven't had good experiences with USB drives at all.
First, there is plenty of room in the new unibody frame for a FireWire port on the MaacBook, if the Kensington lock port is moved to the other side, next to the optical drive slot.
I don't see any room at all. The optical drive go right up to the edge of the removable panel. The Kensington lock was designed to prevent the bottom panel latch from engaging when a lock is in place so it can't move to another location. It has to be next to the latching mechanism.
I use FireWire 400 daily on my MacBook, for TimeMachine. I can understand Apple's decision, but can't see buying one of these machines, either. I haven't had good experiences with USB drives at all.
I've had plenty of trouble with FW extrernal drive used for Time Machine. So much so, that I've moved all every machine to USB because I'd get errors that TM couldn't start, or that by having an external drive plugged in during an iMac startup it would freeze prior to the login screen. Switching from FW to USB resolved these issues while using the same external drives.
anyone wanting further info on FW compared to other techs should check out this whitepaper by the 1394 trade association
Great article!
It's a bummer, that as an apple customer and fan you will have to pay almost 1000$ to have a firewire port on a mobile device, and that's it!
Also companies look at those rates and ask why every time..
It really pisses you off when you have no viable alternative for the (price point of a) macbook with firewire.
I've seen TV stations use MB and not MBPs in their shows, for many.. its about money and not always about 'the' apple gadget or status!
It's not that Dell sells OSX on their latitude series
I do think that Apple will license their OS, but only when Win OS7 (and newer) kicks in and stops users from switching to OSX. Until then...
YOU DO NOT GET IT. I will only say one thing: Firewire is needed to repair and troubleshoot Macs via Target Disk Mode. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ANY MAC. No Firewire, no purchase!
Very easy way: Get a USB external HD, install clean OS on it. Boot from that if your Mac has trouble.
All Intel Macs can boot from USB (actually, even the older PowerMacs can, with a little bit OF typing). Somehow nobody knew about it?
However, I don't know of anyone who don't have a couple of external drives these days. Simple install the OS on an external drive for troubleshooting... that's what we did before target disk mode became available.
A little bit history - target disk mode was first available on Powerbook 100, to boot PB100 as an external SCSI drive. It was extremely useful to transfer files, since at that time, the other option is to use AppleTalk through the slow serial cable, or floppy, or another external SCSI HD.
Today, there are so many other options - the simplest is Wifi, or wired ethernet, which has been standard on Macs for how many years? Another option is to use a USB key drive (don't Mac users use that?). 4GB USB costs like $30 these days, and an USB key drive is easier to carry in your backpack than a FW cable.
You can easily boot Mac from an external USB HD. Please don't pretend that you don't know that.
The only thing I wish Apple will do is to boot from USB key drive. With 8GB key drives available and getting cheaper, that would be the easiest way to keep a bootable volume.
You can easily boot Mac from an external USB HD. Please don't pretend that you don't know that.
The only thing I wish Apple will do is to boot from USB key drive. With 8GB key drives available and getting cheaper, that would be the easiest way to keep a bootable volume.
errr - i'm going to pretend...
have you ever tried booting from a USB drive?
yes it's theoretically possible but sketchy at best
most times i tried it hasn't worked...
(talking about my experience with a blackbook core duo...)
each time i tried it would just sit there with the grey entry screen and that little wheel turning...
errr - i'm going to pretend...
have you ever tried booting from a USB drive?
yes it's theoretically possible but sketchy at best
most times i tried it hasn't worked...
(talking about my experience with a blackbook core duo...)
each time i tried it would just sit there with the grey entry screen and that little wheel turning...
I have tried it several times and never, ever, had a single problem...with 3 different Macs (iMac late 2007, Mac mini Core Duo, Macbook first gen)
Did you take that picture yourself? Sorry, but the Macbooks screens are nowhere near that bad in real world use.
I agree with this. The point is that new 13" MacBooks have better notably screens than the previous plastic version. I really cannot discern much difference between the Air's screen and the new MacBook's.
Is this really an issue? Or could just be an early production anomaly?
I am in awe at these machines, the glass is definitely half-full for me. The new MacBooks definitely take the game forward. Buy one of these things and it is going to last years.
To me the most significant thing about the MacBook is that what it offers has real commercial appeal for IT departments. Big companies are going to buy MacBooks for their employees. (And most corporate users really don't give a s**t about Firewire.)
I'm officially shocked
There's no way I'm getting a new Apple laptop now, no way. This is unacceptable. Terrible. This has actually pissed me off.
The point is that new 13" MacBooks have better notably screens than the previous plastic version.
The point might also be that they have notably worse screens than countless sub-$1k PC notebooks.
Some of us have this funny issue about not wanting to pay $1,600 for a computer that screams "rip-off" everytime we look at it.
The point might also be that they have notably worse screens than countless sub-$1k PC notebooks.
Some of us have this funny issue about not wanting to pay $1,600 for a computer that screams "rip-off" everytime we look at it.
So don't pay for it. I'm not, and I'm getting an air.
I've just noticed the new MacBooks don't come with a remote control as standard...
The screen is a deal breaker for me......I cant be bothered with such poor viewing angles and contrast / black levels. Its really a shame.
I am shocked by your pictures. I don't know if it's really as bad as the photos show but my 1st gen MacBook is NO WAY as bad as that MacBook screen in terms of black levels. I can watch dark movies on my MacBook no problem.
I've just noticed the new MacBooks don't come with a remote control as standard...
They've not been including one for a couple updates now. Which I'm happy about. Since I buy a new machine often, I have too many remotes sitting around and I'm tired of paying for something I am not using.
So don't pay for it. I'm not, and I'm getting an air.
Paying even more for even less. Good strategy.
Paying even more for even less. Good strategy.
Best less ever.
I think this could be a quality control thing.
One more thing, why of late is all our forum-ing about complaining? It seems to be more on the hardware side. Software-wise and iPhone-wise things seem quite pleasing.
This Mac hardware thing though...
I don't know. I'm officially very confused.