New MacBooks add metal cases, power to burn but no FireWire

As far as the firewire debate, please let Apple know how you feel, I've given it alot of thought and the lack of support for cameras that use firewire combined with the absence of Target Disk mode makes the new Macbook line very unattractive.

If you feel Apple should bring back firewire, sign the petition I've started at..

www.bringbackfirewire.com

They must have researched & made a very conscious decision to remove all firewire from the MacBook, I just can't understand why, surely there'll be hoards of people put out by this.

Having to pay another $700 dollars just to have a firewire port on a computer, that may otherwise be above any spec needed by some users, seems pretty harsh on those with the more restricted budget.

Come on Apple sort it out! We don't want to have to pay out an extra $700 or renew all our video cameras, audio interfaces, etc. just because you've decided to remove a port which is still better than USB 2 anyway.

Seems like 2 steps forward 1 step in some respects back for the MacBook

This is a very bad move for Apple. The use of Firewire and Target Disk Mode, allows the user to update and re-image large numbers of Macs in a very short time. This is particularly useful and necessary for school districts and companies that manage large numbers os Macs. There is currently no other process out there, that I am aware of, that can do this in the time that the Firewire/TDM process does. Nothing even comes close. A typical Intel Mac can be reimaged in about 15 to 25 minutes time. Any other process will take 4 to 5 times as long.

If you are truly outraged about Apple dropping the Firewire and Target Disk Mode from the new MacBooks, you can provide feedback to Apple on their bonehead decision by going to: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html

Go there and register your complaint about the Firewire issue. If enough people complain about it, they will fix it. It happened with the iMac G5 and the Ambient Light Sensor issue. It sucked, enough people complained and they dropped the ALS in the next design revision.

Pass this URL on to everyone that is concerned and have them provide input. When enough people make enough noise, Apple will fix the problem.

The wouldn't alienate their education market, WOULD THEY???!!!

-dp

Just for the record -- I stand corrected about target disk mode. I was thinking of USB booting, which does work.

Hello all... I am new here. Today I filed a complaint with Apple's Consumer Relations Division. I feel I have a merited reason being that I am an Audio professional. I DO have a Mac Pro "tower" but like editing and mixing on a Macbook when I travel. A lot of audio applications require a FW400 device to be attached while in use which makes wonder what Apple is thinking...
THE RESPONSE: The response I recieved was in conversation with Apple tech support was, "I am actaully not sure what Apple was thinking, I just found out yesterday myself. I don't understand because we use it for troubleshooting and diagnostics ourselves..." So even the people at APPLE are not happy...
The person with Apple's Consumer Relation's division said if Apple gets enough viable complaints they may change the design of the products... Posting on this forum may do very little good, that's why WE must file with Apple's Consumer Relations Division which you can speak with by calling the main number and requesting to file a complaint with Apple's Consumer Relation's division...
I like Apple, I think they are a great company, I think they make good products... I mean, I have an Apple Logo on my car!! BUT many of US are AUDIO and VISUAL professional who need products with Firewire 400!
I intend no harm to Apple and want them to succeed in their endeavors... But this was a very poor decision that MANY of us will agree on...

To file a complaint about the exclusion of FIREWIRE in Macbooks you can simply click here... very simple.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html



Or call 1800-MYAPPLE and ask for the Conumser Relations Division...

Blu-ray?

What has happened to Apple? Are they only interested in iPhone/iPod sales these days and have they forgotten that they used to make cutting edge computers?

Still no Blu-ray (The same old 8x SuperDrive, seriously?). Removal of FireWire (on non-Pros). Questionable aesthetic design. The entire thing seems designed mainly to silence Apple's environmental critics. I still need a new Mac laptop, and I now I still can't get one.

Why Apple, why?

boo! no firewire!!

Fix that Apple by MacWorld 2009! Steve, you just ripped out part of what made a Mac special!

Firewire is so not pro tech, its consumer tech for camcorders/HDDs and most importantly 'Target Disk Mode'!!!!

I have to say, as a first-gen MBP 17" user, I've had nothing but frustrations with Apple's implementation of FireWire. Even with both FW400 and 800 ports, the MBP's only had one FW bus, making it impossible to use multiple ports simultaneously, and the flimsy FW400 port barely holds a connector in place.

If anything, I was hoping for an *improvement* in FireWire support on MBP models, not phasing it out starting with the MacBooks.

I also am ashamed they replaced the comfortable MPB keyboards with the awkward, sticky black plastic ones from the previous MacBooks. I was hoping to see a move in the other direction.

The most important thing for me to note, however, is the removal of matte displays on MBPs. Glossy displays are the bane of my existence, as they render the screen nearly unusable. Hopefully, using an anti-glare screen protector, such as the one installed on my girlfriend's black MacBook will work on these excessively shiny glass displays.

Looks like I may need to upgrade my MBP before this design spreads to the 17" model. It's a shame, as I was anticipating a positive change.

What are you talking about "Audio moving to USB2"?

All high end audio interfaces are FireWire, only low end devices from respectable pro audio companies are USB.

I have a ProjectMix from M-Audio, and I was about to switch from Windows to Mac, to run Logic 8, so I was going to get a MB .....well, not anymore.

Lets see .....Apple saved about 5 dollars taking off that port.
As I can read on all these comments, they are loosing quite a bunch of would-be "upgraders" and a few "switchers" like me.
MacBook $1,300 + $500 Logic Pro .....that's what they are losing with me, at least.

just because that stupid, very stupid decision.

Folks, I am sure a Mac-compatible FireWire-to-USB adapter is in the works as we speak. Not necessarily an Apple-made one, but surely a third party item is in the works.

By the time one comes out, the MacBook retail "public beta" will be 1-2 months old and you will have both the adaptor to purchase and any revision 1 bugs worked out with a firmware/software update.

So, not a deal breaker just yet, just delayed gratification with the extra expense of an adaptor.