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So what!!!!! Big frickin' deal. If you don't want to spend the $20, buy last week's less featureful more expensive version with the "free" cable. Sheesh!

Gee, the Mac mini is "brilliant", yet has no included keyboard, mouse, or monitor.

Whatsamatta, zupchuck? Is MacDailyNews' solution making too much sense for ya?

This Apple combo cable is the perfect solution. Put it in the box Apple and we'll shut up about it!

Is anyone else tired of this argument?

We are quickly approaching "harping" level. Need to cool off...

Mike,

Do you object to getting more for your money (even if buying the cable and still spending less $$) than last week?

I don't like the combo cables. My dog has been known to chaw on loose cabling. Besides, someone is likely to plug both of them in and wonder why nothing is working. More tech support headaches for Apple I would imagine.

Would you just can it? You're acting like you got a cut of the money from every bundled firewire cable.


LET IT GO.

Stop beating a dead horse. FireWire has no advantages for the average Joe/Jo iPod user. Power users are going to spend the $19 to get the better Apple FireWire cable, or a cable of the choosing anyway!

Keep pounding on it, MDN! You are 100% right! Why ISN'T this combo cable in every iPod box?!

For crying out loud MDN, get over it already. This is like the 3rd or 4th story in a row about the SAME THING! Find something new to talk about, or just shut up.

geez

The marketing department probably made the final approval on the USB cable so it's understandable that they would "forget" that there might be another solution available. I bet someone is slapping their forehead right now after the negative feedback (which I think is totally unnecessary and misplaced).

Is it an Apple branded cable? If not then it brings up other issues that are easily dealt with, but again, the marketing department forgot this option.

It probably is an innocent mistake and not an indication of any of the grand conspiracies concerning this that Apple doesn't care about us or are cheapening up.

And by the way, if they sell more of them to Windoze users, it makes perfect sense to include a USB cable as opposed to firewire. Ultimately though, the dual use cable is the right answer and if I was Apple, I would offer a trade in. I would also turn it into an opportunity. A store event, free Apple Bag. iPod add-on reps there to sell their products.

Brought to you by the word products. As in "Insanely Great", no matter what cable they put in the box.

zupchuck,

Apple's prices are lower today, they could just have easily been lower last week. Apple's artificially-determined prices have zero bearing on the fact that they haven't had USB 2.0-capable Macs on the market long enough to cut out the FireWire option for Mac users. They are taxing Mac users for the cost of the FireWire cable - plain and simple. And it's not the Mac users' fault that Apple didn't add USB 2.0 to Macs earlier enough to make this a moot issue. It is Apple's fault. USB 2.0 was available on the market long before Apple decided to start adding it to Macs. Apple screwed up and I hope they have enough sense to fix this. The combo cable seems like a win, win solution for everybody.

A couple other things:

1) Apple will never budle a 2-1 cord with a product because it looks ugly as hell to have one connector plugged in and the other just hanging out.

2) MDN constantly compliments Apple on looking forward, then bitches in this instance about not offered enough backwards compatibility. All Macs manufactured today offer USB 2.0. Most PCs offer USB over Firewire. USB 2.0 is now bundled with iPods.

MOVE ON.

You can say MOVE ON all you want, but the question MDN asked remains, "Why isn't this cable in the iPod boxes instead of just a USB 2.0 cable, Apple?"

As someone who spent over $3000 on an Apple laptop less than two years ago, don't I have a right to expect to have a realistic connectivity cable included just like the common Gateway-using iPodder?

I think I actually deserve BETTER treatment from Apple than an Gateway-using iPodder. Imagine that.

You can say MOVE ON all you want, but the question MDN asked remains, "Why isn't this cable in the iPod boxes instead of just a USB 2.0 cable, Apple?"

1) Apple will never budle a 2-1 cord with a product because it looks ugly as hell to have one connector plugged in and the other just hanging out.

rageous:

It is uglier than forcing loyal customers to pay for a capable cable or using USB 1.1 to transfer 40GB's of music?

I can't figure out why they don't include a LVD SCSI cable either. Shame on Apple.

yes. yes it is.

Gee,

My Mac has only USB 1.1, they should upgrade my computer when I get the new iPod. Twenty dollars is too much too spend if I want the best transfer speeds even if I am paying less for my iPod than I was before the update.

I'm seeing "red" (and not because I'm mad....).

I'm with MDN. But I'll take them one further. Why stop at a stupid two-headed cable? There are plenty of other Mac and PC users who can't use the very latest iPods without buying an adapter because they don't have USB.

So I propose that Apple bundle a Medusa cable with each iPod. It would have separate connector for:

RS-422 DB9 (for Mac 128K/512K)
RS-422 DB8 (with the extra GeoPort pin of course)
PS/2
USB 1.0 & 2.0
Firewire 1 & 2

This would really be a smart move on Apple's part. Why are they always so damned insensitive to backward compatibility?

P.S. You people are on crack.

Call me crazy, but I fail to see any problem with Apple including the combo cable. Sure it may be a tad "uglier," but do you think PeeCee users will notice that? Mac users, I would think would be happy to have the proper cable included. And Mac users who are very concerned about the "ugliness" of the Combo cable would be welcome to spend the $20 for the straight FireWire iPod cable.

Geeeeez - someone buy these guys a cable and shut 'em up!

Actually I've got a good idea. Let's start an appeal to get the 98% of all existing iPod Windows owners to send MDN their NINE AND A HALF MILLION Firewire cables that were destined for the trash and then our host can redistribute them to the whinging Mac users who can't afford $19 to buy their own!

Sum Yung Gai / Wise Ass:

Your argument only makes sense if Apple has offered USB 2.0 on their machines for longer than 18 months. That, dear Gai, is the issue. Apple hasn't offered USB 2.0 long enough on Macs to do this to Mac users, yet. MDN is right about this. It's not the price, it's the principle. We won't even get into how USB 2.0 is slower and buggier than FireWire 400. Bad choice, Apple.

Mac users, I would think would be happy to have the proper cable included. And Mac users who are very concerned about the "ugliness" of the Combo cable would be welcome to spend the $20 for the straight FireWire iPod cable.

Apparently you're wrong, because we have 3 dozen articles crying about the fact you have to buy a separate FireWire cable.

hey.... congrats to macnut222 for being mentioned in MDNs take....

But, even tho his suggestion was better than mine.... I do think I shoulda got an honorable mention .....



<just kidding>

Twenty Benson,

It's not the price that's the issue. But you already knew that, you're just ignoring it for some reason.

I have to say the FireWire cable just produces a better experience than the USB2. I've yet to have a USB2 cable hit its high transfer rate of 480Mbps, and a serious number of computers DON'T have USB2, which means those users are transferring files at insanely slow speeds, and asking questions in forums or complaining in their weblogs that iTunes/iPod combination isn't as great as everyone says it is.

But on the Mac side, FireWire just makes more sense. It's faster, more reliable, and has been available on most Macs for sometime. Mac users with 3rd generation iMacs have FireWire and USB slots, not USB2. So basically, if only a USB2 cable comes in the box, those users get to transfer files at 12Mbps. Sure that's the way to treat your core audience. If its that big of deal to box both cables, then just go back to offering two different boxes, FireWire or USB.

I agree with more and more PC users using the iPod, USB will outsell FireWire by a large margin, but why relegate Mac users to second class citizens. This is Apple, we're talking about, not Adobe or Macromedia.

I do agree with the person who said Apple would never ship the combo cable. I can't see it happening, they're practical but ugly, and distracting from the user experience. I'd rather go back to the select your box stage--do you want the box with USB2 or FireWire.

Your argument only makes sense if Apple has offered USB 2.0 on their machines for longer than 18 months.

This is the single largest problem with the Mac "faithful." No timeframe is ever long enough to justify a move like Apple made with this silly cable, or with dropping floppy support, etc.

They've offered USB 2.0 for a year and a half. The Firewire cable (needed by the minority of iPod consumers) is a measley $20 extra. Every Mac manufactured today has USB 2.0 ports standard.

Apple isn't oblighated to cater to everybody unwilling to upgrade their aging computer systems. That's microsoft territory.

raise your hand if you have posted in more than two threads on this topic. I'll go first.

rageous-
"aging" one year old emacs?

"Do you want the box with USB2 or FireWire?" The problem with that is that a lot of people (PC users mainly) have no idea which box to pick. They don't know USB or FireWire from their arsehole. It opens up a whole can of worms where a Combo wire doesn't. Only one plug will fit in the proper connector, USB or FireWire - even a Gateway user could figure it out.

hand

An 18 month old Mac can hardly be described as an "aging computer system." Any Mac user knows this to be the case. I have 3, 4 and 5 year old Macs working very productively today. Apple went a bit to fast on this, even for Apple. Apple can make a mistake and be called on it, you know?

Peter....

Sum Yung Gai was making a joke....
not to be taken quite so seriously !!

Sometimes, it seems, that some people cant recognize sarcasm !

And, given the outcries resulting from this one issue... methinks a little retrospective sarcasm might be just what the doctor ordered !!

Dont worry fellow Mac heads.... His Steveness will make it right !!
Keep the faith !!

b -

that's right. Apple needs to focus on making products that mesh well, first and foremost, for today and the future. Not yesterday. Yesterday must be the second consideration for Apple to remain innovative, competitive, and continually successful.

If Apple spent as much time worrying about one year old and older machinesn as some of you people, OS X would have gone the route of Longhorn. Consider that.

People complain that MDN is a fan site and then when they legitimately criticize Apple, people complain that they're criticizing Apple. Guess what? Apple is wrong on this issue and MDN is right to point it out.

My Mac is not old. I should not have to pay Apple for proper connectivity when a Gateway owner gets connectivity free in the box. Period. And the price is meaningless to me, it's the principle.

OK, I think the only way this argument is going to end is if Apple hurries up with its wireless capabilities. Maybe not as fast of a transfer rate, but a lot easier and no cables is a lot prettier.

If I was a billionaire like Steve Jobs, I'd probably be out of touch, too, and expect everyone to be able to buy a new Mac every 6 months in order to keep up with whatever connectivity standards they feel like using today. Watch it, Apple. We Mac users are watching how you respond to this issue and how you treat us in the future.

What good is having a Mac's longevity if Apple's going to diminish its value with stupid decisions?

But Mike - Apple hasn't made a mistake - the company is simply removing a redundant bit of kit from the iPod package - redundant to 98% of its market. Where's the mistake in that? I admire Apple - they've been running a very tight ship, cutting away all the wasteful fat and - unfortunately for you - a firewire cable in a box which sells in huge quantities to a market which doesn't even know what Firewire is... is wasteful. Even more wasteful would be for Apple to package two boxed versions of its products. This is a healthy move by Apple.

My Mac is not old. I should not have to pay Apple for proper connectivity when a Gateway owner gets connectivity free in the box. Period. And the price is meaningless to me, it's the principle.

Yes, but between Gateway and Apple, who now offers the broadest compatibility out of the box? Before yesterday, it was Gateway.

What good is having a Mac's longevity if Apple's going to diminish its value with stupid decisions?

Now there's a suminabitchin' good question!

rageous,

Apple had a transition period for OS X. And OS X 10.1 was released September 2001, the minimum requirement was a G3. Then the 3 year old original iMac (released August 1998 - 3 years earlier) satisfied the requirements.

Uh, it seems pretty obvious that Apple really should include a combo FireWire and USB 2.0 cable in every iPod box for the time being. At least include such a cable solution until an Apple Mac without USB 2.0 can actually realistically be considered somewhat "middle aged," at the very least. I'm with MDN on this one. Apple could fix this easily, too.

This is a good thread. The best thread I've read on this subject. I came in here thinking, what's the big deal about a $20 cable and realized that Apple has messed up a little bit here. Recent Mac buyers, Apple customers, are being left out by Apple. Where's the sense in that?

"...Recent Mac buyers, Apple customers, are being left out by Apple." - Ed

All "recent" Macs have USB 2.0. They are clearly not being left out.

recent mac buyers have USB 2.0

Apple customers aren't ebing left out because FireWire connectivity is still available. If Apple dropped FireWire connectivity all together, I'd be with you folks 100%

The only place I do agree here is that you should have the option of which cable you want when buying online direct from Apple. Otherwise, I support Apple's decision here and it was the right decision.

I guess it depends totally on your definition of "recent," but doesn't Apple tout the Mac's longevity? So, what's the value of a Mac's longevity if Apple expects you to buy a new one every 18 or less months to "keep up?"

I await your answers with bated breath.

Apple doesn't expect everyone to keep up with their purchases. Got a Mac with FireWire and no USB 2.0? Simply prefer FireWire? Buy the FireWire cable. You're covered.

Apple has 2 choices here:
1) Make the majority of the iPod consumers, the people without FireWire, pay an additional $20 to downgrade their cable to make their iPod useable.

2) Make the minority of the iPod consumers, the people without USB 2.0, pay to upgrade their cable to make the iPod work as fast as possible.

Anyone with any business sense knows which choice is the correct choice.

Only Mac users would whine that a reduction in price (regardless of whether you have to buy a cable) and an increase in features and functionality, and a lengthening of operation between recharges is affront, a 'dis", a "knifing of the baby".

You know what? When you buy your new iPod, ask to replace the USB cable for a FireWire one.

I do wish it were made-to-order option to swap it out (as I did state in one of my earliest posts on the first of these innane articles.

I think if MCN hadn't put it such black-and-white, I'm-right-you're-wrong language, we'd be yawning. It only took MDN four article posts to get to the combo-cable idea. It's not like they presented that as an alternative in the beginning. Don't give MDN too much credit.

"...expects you to buy a new one every 18 or less months to "keep up?" - Ed

Huh? Is USB 3.0 coming out soon? What the hell does that mean?

If you want to use Firewire, go ahead. If you don't have a Fw cable, then buy one.

Why the hell are people whining so much? I have a couple of extra iPod Fw cables laying around, so if you can't afford the $19 it costs to pick one up then let me know and I'll send you one.