“The MacBook Pro still has FireWire 800. The MacBook is now USB only. Pro buyers do get an ExpressCard/34 slot, to which they can add FireWire, but MacBook buyers have no such option. It’s not really a surprise: The old MacBook Pro shipped without FireWire 800 for a short while before it was added back, and the iPod line lost FireWire support bit by bit,” Charlie Sorrel reports for Wired in an article headlined “Apple Quietly Kills FireWire 400.”
Full article here.
First of all, Apple’s MacBook Air, introduced January 15, 2008, has never offered a FireWire port, so it can’t be “killed” — it never existed. Apple’s new aluminum MacBooks introduced yesterday, also do not offer FireWire ports – that’s the only Mac where FireWire 400 has been “killed.”
Now, in reality, there’s plenty of FireWire alive and kickin’ on Apple Macs. The company’s best-selling desktop line, iMac, offers a FireWire 400 port (and a FireWire 800 port, for that matter). Apple’s least-expensive Mac, the Mac mini, also offers a FireWire 400 port. Apple’s Mac Pro offers two FireWire 400 ports (and two FireWire 800 ports, for that matter). Apple’s $999 white MacBook still offers a FireWire 400 port, too. Finally, Apple’s new MacBook Pro offers a FireWire 800 port which, by the way, Charlie, is backwards compatible. An inexpensive adapter cable (here’s one by Belkin) for the FireWire 800 9-pin connector lets you use FireWire 400 products via the FireWire 800 port.
So, you see, Wired’s headline and Sorrel’s premise are erroneous; Apple hasn’t killed FireWire 400 at all.
If Wired’s headline had read “Apple Quietly Kills FireWire 400 on new MacBooks,” and Sorrel had written factually about that topic, this Take would’ve been quite different.
We’re still trying to figure out how Apple, among other concerns, plans to resolve the dichotomy between MacBooks that ship with iMovie and the lack of a FireWire port for DV cameras; the few relatively expensive solutions we’ve found so far (USB to FireWire DV Adapter) are all Windows-only. Surely Apple doesn’t expect hundreds of thousands of potential MacBook buyers who also own cameras equipped with FireWire to go buy new USB 2 cameras, right? Some other solution must exist or be in the works, right, Apple?
To anyone who remains confused about our stance on Apple dumping their own FireWire standard, please read what we’ve written here:
• Apple disrespects its own Mac users with iPod’s FireWire fiasco – February 24, 2005
• Apple should include a combo FireWire and USB 2.0 cable in every iPod box – February 24, 2005
• Apple knifing its own FireWire baby by pushing USB 2.0 as iPod’s primary connectivity option – February 23, 2005
And, by the way, if you think Apple began killing FireWire 400 yesterday, you’re wrong: Apple announced the end of FireWire 400 when they removed it from iPod in early 2005.
[UPDATE: 2:15pm EDT: Added to Take in order to clarify that our issue is with the Wired article’s headline and Sorrel’s inaccuracies amidst his flawed overall premise.]
Factually incorrect, but at least its drawing attention to the FW omission from the Macbooks
Someone yesterday had a question about connecting Firewire video cameras to the new MacBook with USB only ports. Has anyone come up with an adapter that will allow that connection?? I looked through the Apple store and on Belkin’s website and found nothing. Do you think Apple will come up with something so that those folks aren’t left out in the cold???
MDN, all of the products announced yesterday except for the MacBook Pro got rid of FireWire. The iMac and Mac mini have FireWire – for now. This isn’t a good sign. Consumers who want to put DV footage on their new MacBooks are getting the shaft here.
This is a deal breaker for anyone with a decent investment in firewire hard drives. I have several firewire HD enclosures including one i use for timemachine.
sucks
I’m sick of this “Apple can do no wrong” attitude.
Apple DID kill firewire in the macbook. Justifying that by saying that it’s ok because the iMac still has firewire might be the stupidest argument I’ve ever heard.
Those wishing to upgrade their macbooks and keep firewire are now forced to upgrade to macbook pros if they want to keep using their firewire devices.
I’m a long time Apple user and advocate, but this is totally unacceptable behavior from Apple and the MDN writers justifying it should start thinking about critically listening to themselves every now and then.
this is a terrible mistake for new mac books not to be able to connect anymore to DV camcorder.
what is the use of imovie and all the rest. no more video editing.
It is very difficult to understand such a terrible move
Notwithstanding the fact that Firewire is on all other Macs but the new MacBooks, many’s the time I have used it to transfer files, attach peripherals, and use Target Mode, which is essential. And I happen to like the plastic case, preference is for white, because the black version’s keys are harder to see in a dark room.
Many suspect that removing Firewire on the MacBooks is a marketing ploy to get people to buy the MacBook Pro line.
On the new HD video cameras, Firewire as been superseded by USB2, and flash card adapters fit into the USB slots so new users can get along just fine without Firewire. Except for fast file transfers and Target Mode. Unfortunately, Target Mode is an essential aspect of the Mac experience and is needed for maintenance and trouble shooting. Too bad the marketers are in charge of the cowshed.
For 12 bucks you can use your slower older 400 if you want on the MBP.
If Dell had done this, the “MDN Take” would have been much different.
Puts me out of the running for a new MacBook. Too bad. This makes no sense whatsoever.
What’s next, take it off the iMacs?
Where was the article, ‘PC makers kill USB 1.0?
Does Apple know something we don’t? Is USB 2.0 getting a bump in speed? This is a mistake Apple, and MDN you can’t make a silk purse out of this.
Wired Magazine doesn’t know how to wire their peripherals to their laptops?
That’s not a good sign.
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So Apple doesn’t include FireWire on all its Macs. But neither does any other computer company.
How long a period of time did macbook pros not have, then have firewire 800? 6 months? 12?
How long a period of time did macbook pros not have, then have firewire 800? 6 months? 12?
Lots of heat today. LOL
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I am curious as to the firewire issue though. Does anyone here know if there is a converter that will tie into firewire. I know that I use firewire with my DV camcorder to bring video into my iMac G5 and Intel MacBook.
What are my options for the future? Is USB2 fast enough to handle video??? I know that firewire 400 sure beats USB2 when moving files!!!!!
So, any technical people in the know out there???
en
What infuriates me the most is that Firewire is Apple’s own standard! Talk about “knifing the baby”…
From wikipedia (look at all the references to digital audio, digital video, HD audio-video. This is the meat of the digital consumer market, Apple. Why are you upselling to the MBP?):
FireWire is Apple Inc.’s name for the IEEE 1394 High Speed Serial Bus. It was initiated by Apple and developed by the IEEE P1394 Working Group, largely driven by contributions from Apple, although major contributions were also made by engineers from Texas Instruments, Sony, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, and INMOS/SGS Thomson (now STMicroelectronics).
Apple intended FireWire to be a serial replacement for the parallel SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) bus while also providing connectivity for digital audio and video equipment. Apple’s development began in the late 1980s, later presented to the IEEE[2], and was completed in 1995.
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The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used in a personal computer (and digital audio and digital video). The interface is also known by the brand names of FireWire (Apple Inc.), i.LINK (Sony), and Lynx (Texas Instruments). The 1394 standard also defines a backplane interface, though this is not as widely used.
FireWire has replaced Parallel SCSI in many applications, due to lower implementation costs and a simplified, more adaptable cabling system. IEEE 1394 has been adopted as the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual) component communication and control[1]. FireWire is also available in wireless, fiber optic, and coaxial versions using the isochronous protocols.
Almost all digital camcorders have included this connection since 1995, as have the vast majority of high end professional audio interfaces. Since 2003 many computers intended for home or professional audio/video use have built-in FireWire/i.LINK ports, including all Sony computers, all but two of Apple’s computers (the MacBook Air and new MacBook Late 2008), and many of its older iPods. It is also available on many retail motherboards.
FireWire is more stable, Apple fans said. So i bought a back up FireWire LaCie HD just in case of …. soon it will be shit. Never needed it so far because Mac’s are stable !
For me, it stopped me cold. I was going to get a new MacBook. But I have FW400 hardware. I need to have that connection. Too bad, I wanted the smaller profile like the old 12 I used to drag around for so long. I do not want to tote a 15 inch around- 13 inch to really to big itself for me.
Oh well.
MDN is full of CRAP. All the computers you mentioned, with the exception of the MBP are older models that should soon be getting refreshed. The trend is clear with the MB update. Only Apple sycophants like MDN could just pretend it isn’t happening. Given what happened with the MB, do you actually think the Mac mini is going to retain its firewire port when it gets its next update (if it’s not killed off, that it)? The trend is clear; Apple is redefining firewire as a “pro” luxury (and don’t point to the iMac as a “consumer” computer; it’s more of a “pro-sumer” computer). What Apple is doing with firewire is despicable.
Two days ago every Mac notebook (minus the Air) supported FW. Today half of them (minus the Air) don’t. Stupid. And USB2 on a Mac is NOT as fast as FW400. Just look at your CPU-usage when trying to crunch on files on both types. Now maybe those USB ports are really sleeping USB3 ports? Has anyone looked?
Firewire is integral for Audio and Video users. This protocol is ‘better’ than USB because of multiplexing. To handle data bi-directionally between an interface and the computer. Sure, USB 2.0 is 480 mb/sec and FW is 400mb/sec, but thats in one direction.
Point being, that Apple is shutting out a large percentage of mobile media people at the sub 2000.00 price point.
I’m w/ you Chuck U Farley. I was ready to get the MacBook (need the form factor.) I still use my 12″ Alum Powerbook. Without firewire, I’m holding off. Not sure what to do here…. Don’t want the 15″, too big…. I’ll probably end up getting the MacBook, but not until my little powerbook kicks the bucket. GRRRRRR
NO FIREWIRE FOR YOU!
Well, then, Apple… I was all prepared to shell out some hard-earned bucks for one of them fancy, new, shiny MacBooks, but since alot of my stuff is Firewire (ext. drives, DV camcorder, etc.)…
NO MONEY FOR YOU!!!
Apple… listen to the people who buy your products.
We DON’T WANT GLOSSY SCREENS!! (Maybe some do, but at least give us the option for Matte)
We DO WANT FIREWIRE!!
I’ve been an Apple fanatic since 1987… I’m starting to lose faith!!