I overheard a woman in the Apple store telling the Apple guy that speed was important to her, as he described features of a Macbook. She sounded like she had a clue. When he described the hard drive she said, "Hard drive - what does that do again?" No - you can't expect the customer to know their camera won't work. To you it's Firewire. To them it's a plug.
You are absolutely right on this point about FW. Makes me so angry Apple would pull a move like this... it's so... Apple!
3. I overheard a woman in the Apple store telling the Apple guy that speed was important to her, as he described features of a Macbook. She sounded like she had a clue. When he described the hard drive she said, "Hard drive - what does that do again?" No - you can't expect the customer to know their camera won't work. To you it's Firewire. To them it's a plug.
At the start of the digital video camera age, it was only the higher end DV cameras which used Firewire. The consumer level cams were still analog (tape/video out).
There was a brief period where a lot of consumer-level cameras had only Firewire/iLink, but nowadays most consumer-level cams tend to use memory cards and/or support both USB and Firewire. So again, there's a relatively small number of people who have the FW-only cams. A number which will decrease over time as people buy new cameras.
Apple has always been among the first to deprecate technology on their systems (floppy drive, pre-USB keyboard and mouse connectors), so it's not really a surprise.
At the start of the digital video camera age, it was only the higher end DV cameras which used Firewire. The consumer level cams were still analog (tape/video out).
There was a brief period where a lot of consumer-level cameras had only Firewire/iLink, but nowadays most consumer-level cams tend to use memory cards and/or support both USB and Firewire. So again, there's a relatively small number of people who have the FW-only cams. A number which will decrease over time as people buy new cameras.
Apple has always been among the first to deprecate technology on their systems (floppy drive, pre-USB keyboard and mouse connectors), so it's not really a surprise.
Agreed - Apple is great at deprecating old tech. In this case I think they were a year too early. I stick to my example of the disappointed first time Mac buyer.
And I know this can be argued all day, and I'm not really that interested in it, even though I'm one of the few with a FW only camera. btw - do you know what that "few" number actually is? Sony sold a hell of a lot of them. In fact, they still sell them.
That said, I'll probably buy a Macbook in the next month or two despite the FW thing. I'm lucky enough to have a MBP for video.
One more year of FW and this wouldn't be a discussion. But with Sony still cranking out the cameras I think it was premature.
Agreed - Apple is great at deprecating old tech. In this case I think they were a year too early. [...]
One more year of FW and this wouldn't be a discussion.
Judging from the longevity of the previous MacBook design, the new design will be around a lot longer than a year. For now, just buy the old design and save a few $hundred if you care that much.
Judging from the longevity of the previous MacBook design, the new design will be around a lot longer than a year. For now, just buy the old design and save a few $hundred if you care that much.
You're actually helping make another point. I want the aluminum case. Apple mistakenly thinks Pro means 15" or larger. Size is a strange place to divide pro and consumer.
And USB 3.0 will put the final nail into Firewire's coffin. I fully expect Macs to move to USB 3.0 as soon as possible. Yes, Firewire is not standing still, but it's too late I think.
Any reason Target Mode cannot be made to work by Apple using USB 2 or 3? It is the only reason I'd miss FW on a MacBook since I'd not use it for my FW HD Sony FX1 editing machine anyway.
You're actually helping make another point. I want the aluminum case. Apple mistakenly thinks Pro means 15" or larger. Size is a strange place to divide pro and consumer.
Comments
Then Jan-March sales would be down 'cause Dell would have its Chapter 11 sale and MS would do a Fire Sale on Zune with so many left overs after Xmas.
I overheard a woman in the Apple store telling the Apple guy that speed was important to her, as he described features of a Macbook. She sounded like she had a clue. When he described the hard drive she said, "Hard drive - what does that do again?" No - you can't expect the customer to know their camera won't work. To you it's Firewire. To them it's a plug.
You are absolutely right on this point about FW. Makes me so angry Apple would pull a move like this... it's so... Apple!
As for the Mac, I look forward to purchase a 2.4Ghz MacBook or go straight to the 2.53Ghz MBP before Christmas.
3. I overheard a woman in the Apple store telling the Apple guy that speed was important to her, as he described features of a Macbook. She sounded like she had a clue. When he described the hard drive she said, "Hard drive - what does that do again?" No - you can't expect the customer to know their camera won't work. To you it's Firewire. To them it's a plug.
At the start of the digital video camera age, it was only the higher end DV cameras which used Firewire. The consumer level cams were still analog (tape/video out).
There was a brief period where a lot of consumer-level cameras had only Firewire/iLink, but nowadays most consumer-level cams tend to use memory cards and/or support both USB and Firewire. So again, there's a relatively small number of people who have the FW-only cams. A number which will decrease over time as people buy new cameras.
Apple has always been among the first to deprecate technology on their systems (floppy drive, pre-USB keyboard and mouse connectors), so it's not really a surprise.
At the start of the digital video camera age, it was only the higher end DV cameras which used Firewire. The consumer level cams were still analog (tape/video out).
There was a brief period where a lot of consumer-level cameras had only Firewire/iLink, but nowadays most consumer-level cams tend to use memory cards and/or support both USB and Firewire. So again, there's a relatively small number of people who have the FW-only cams. A number which will decrease over time as people buy new cameras.
Apple has always been among the first to deprecate technology on their systems (floppy drive, pre-USB keyboard and mouse connectors), so it's not really a surprise.
Agreed - Apple is great at deprecating old tech. In this case I think they were a year too early. I stick to my example of the disappointed first time Mac buyer.
And I know this can be argued all day, and I'm not really that interested in it, even though I'm one of the few with a FW only camera. btw - do you know what that "few" number actually is? Sony sold a hell of a lot of them. In fact, they still sell them.
That said, I'll probably buy a Macbook in the next month or two despite the FW thing. I'm lucky enough to have a MBP for video.
One more year of FW and this wouldn't be a discussion. But with Sony still cranking out the cameras I think it was premature.
Agreed - Apple is great at deprecating old tech. In this case I think they were a year too early. [...]
One more year of FW and this wouldn't be a discussion.
Judging from the longevity of the previous MacBook design, the new design will be around a lot longer than a year. For now, just buy the old design and save a few $hundred if you care that much.
Judging from the longevity of the previous MacBook design, the new design will be around a lot longer than a year. For now, just buy the old design and save a few $hundred if you care that much.
You're actually helping make another point. I want the aluminum case. Apple mistakenly thinks Pro means 15" or larger. Size is a strange place to divide pro and consumer.
And USB 3.0 will put the final nail into Firewire's coffin. I fully expect Macs to move to USB 3.0 as soon as possible. Yes, Firewire is not standing still, but it's too late I think.
Any reason Target Mode cannot be made to work by Apple using USB 2 or 3? It is the only reason I'd miss FW on a MacBook since I'd not use it for my FW HD Sony FX1 editing machine anyway.
You're actually helping make another point. I want the aluminum case. Apple mistakenly thinks Pro means 15" or larger. Size is a strange place to divide pro and consumer.
Heh.
Lemon Bon Bon.