Griffin Technology today announced the Griffin Technology Dock400. The Dock400 is a FireWire 400 cable for synching and charging your iPod with your FireWire-equipped Mac or PC.
The Dock400 cable is 4 feet in length and uses Apple-approved connectors. The griffin Dock400 can be used with Apple’s iPod Dock or plugged directly into your iPod’s Dock Connector port. The Griffin Dock400 cable costs $17.95 and will begin shipping the first week of March.
More info here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple should include a combo FireWire and USB 2.0 cable in every iPod box – February 24, 2005
Apple disrespects its own Mac users with iPod’s FireWire fiasco – February 24, 2005
Petition to Apple for iPod FireWire support posted online – February 23, 2005
Apple knifing its own FireWire baby by pushing USB 2.0 as iPod’s primary connectivity option – February 23, 2005
Griffin is quick to take advantage of the business opportunity resulting from Apple’s iPod policy change. This is an example of the private sector working efficiently.
Great, now Mac owners are only out $17.95 instead of $20, thanks to Griffin. Stupid move, Apple. Give us a choice at your online store at the very least. You should treat your Mac users like gold, not shit.
Yessssss. Leave it to Griffin to step in with de speed of Secretariat and fill an Apple hole. Yes. You’ve got to give it to them. I mean, you’re saving a whole $2.05 compared to Apple. $2.05!!! Wow. Griffin, I , I don’t know what to say. Another entry in your product matrix that seems like something I need, yet . . . yet it’s just a cable! I mean, that’s . . . that’s brilliant . . .
FOR ME TO POOP ON!
“Wonderful” – the Apple firewire cable costs $19, not $20. And it is a choice on the on-line store… for $19.
Question: Does your Mac not have a USB port? Just wondering.
Whoa!!! that’s a whole $1.05 savings off of Apple’s $19.00 iPod Firewire Cable… What a deal… OMIGHOD! My mind is reeling with with all the things I can do with my saved $1.05!!!
Thanks Griffin! NOT!
Knock $10.00 off of the price and then I’ll get excited.
Eh, fuggit, with that meager savings, I think I’ll just pay the extra $1.05 to have the bitchin’ Apple logo at the end of the connector.
Apple should not require users of Macs that are only a year or two old to purchase a FireWire cable. Why do that to your loyal users, Apple? Why cater to Windows ignoramuses and treat Mac users like second-class citizens?
http://www.petitiononline.com/firewire/petition.html
Did anyone notice that the Griffin cable is in “pre-order” status, while for just $1.01 more you can get the Apple version now.
MDN:
You should follow your own link and read the price. It’s $17.99, not $17.95.
I own a $4,500+ Mac that’s less than 18 months old that does not have USB 2.0, just USB 1.1.
This is what I deserve for being an Apple customer? “Go buy the FireWire cable since we only really care about Windows iPod users,” is what Apple seems to be telling me.
Why can’t Apple let iPod buyers choose between FireWire or USB 2.0 iPod cable on their online store at the very least?
Apple’s screwed up here.
Ummm, this doesn’t really address the issue does it? I think Apple should offer the buyers the choice of USB 2.0 or Firewire. At the very least on the Online Store site. This just makes sense.
Apple has one of the most loyal user bases of any company in the world, they should put forth at least some effort to respond to that communities needs. Other companies spend millions trying to achieve what Apple already has in the way of consumer loyalty and it takes much less effort to maintain something like this than to build it from the ground up.
What Apple should have done is put the FireWire+USB Combo cable in the iPod mini/photo’s box. It retails for $19 – the same price as the individual FW and USB cables. This way, Apple only has to provide ONE cable, but NO ONE is left out.
I have a 17″ PowerBook that I bought in 2003. I have Firewire 800 but no USB 2.0. Totally not cool on Apple’s part.
Here is one for 11.99 and it is even retractable. They have a shipping charge of 5 dollars though so order in bulk with your friends.
http://store.yahoo.com/ibizpda/apple.html
For anyone who may not know about the cable I’m talking about, here it is: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/72503/wo/d53MfENiPvOD2rdUAqyfbpQXRNo/1.0.11.1.0.6.25.7.11.1.3
Good solution Macnut222. That is what Apple should do.
Regarding the “Does your Mac not have a USB port? Just wondering.” question… Yes, my G5 does… it has two on the back and one in the front… I’m not going to have a permanent cable stuck to the front, ’cause that’s ugly and annoying, and my Keyboard and Printer take up the two on the back… So, I’m either buying a cable or a hub, either way, I’m out some dough and left with an open Firewire port.
And my condolences to all the poor people with older machines without USB 2.
Steve Jobs screwed up here. I have a very expensive Mac, no, make that three very expensive Macs, that are all less than 24 months old. No USB 2.0. I want my frigin’ FireWire cable. It’s the principle, not the price. Why kow tow to Wintel customers who’ve ignored you for decades and screw people like me who’ve invested heavily in the platform? I am very disappointed, pissed off, and I’m not going away, either. I’m going to keep complaining until Jobs wakes the fsck up on this one.
“This is an example of the private sector working efficiently.”
Maybe it’s an example of third party suppliers asking Apple for more business opportunities and getting them.
Secret word: half, as in “We don’t know the half of it.”
Does the firewire cable provide power to the iPod? I was going to buy an iPod shuffle last week until I heard about the rumors of the new iPod minis. At $199, I might was well buy a 4GB mini, but I would need to use firewire because I own a Ti PowerBook (hence no USB 2.0).
Wow, sour grapes anyone… look the new Ipod may not come with firewire standard but come on… its substantially cheaper, comes with a cable that works with your macs and uses Itunes. You guys have been harping about it being the software for ages, now act like you belive it. Yeah it takes up a port, but so what,.. if you use a mac keyboard (not a bluetooth one) then you have one in the keyboard. Otherwise you’ll plug it into the back (side of a laptop) or a hub. Yeah thats right a hub, because macs dont have nearly enough ports for all the stuff you want to plug in. Hell most computers dont have enough ports. The issue isnt wether or not Apple has “forgotten” Mac users by not including firewire, but rather that the tech works and that they dont have to manufacture extra connectors that just get thrown away. Its frugal, it doesnt inconvinence anyone with an older Ipod, or a newer computer. Plus you can buy a flipping firewire cable and still get the Ipod cheaper than the price it was a week ago.
Macnut,
Good find. However, it must cost more to make one of those than it does the individual FW and USB cables even though the retail price is the same. But since it seems to solve the whole issue for all consumers, why isn’t Apple shipping that instead? Nobody would be complaining if they would just give everyone a cable that works for everyone. Just shows that here Apple is thinking more about the cost savings for Apple than what’s best for the consumer.
Welcome to capitalism and the bottom line, everybody. If your computer isn’t new enough to have USB 2.0, Apple wants to sell you a new box…they don’t give a flying f*ck about “loyal users.”
Yes, they have great products compared to the competition, but stop expecting them to love you back. They’re a CORPORATION!!!!!
still waaaaay overpriced
Agree that its totally uncool of Apple to just remove the firewire cable this quickly! When Apple first introduced iPods to the Wintel market, they included a 6 pin to 4 pin Firewire converter to make sure that those wintel people without the proper firewire slot was able to connect the iPod to their machines.
Looks like more a more companies are gonna want to join in the Apple iPod users tax scheme that SJ has so kindly introduced.
Want to make a bit more money out of your iPod users – sell them Firewire cables, but only to the Mac lot as they have NO CHOICE.