No Firewire ports!

Prosumer cameras don't connect via USB... this is not cool.

I own a Panasonic NV-GS35 wich has a mini-USB port. iMovie can import DV tape cameras via firewire only, but Windows Movie Maker likes the USB way too. I think this is concerned to drivers. Anyway, I just set my cam to "play mode", connect via USB, start parallels and Winxp, start Windows Movie Maker (part of XP) and it can import, play, fasforward, etc.

I'm with all of you. With my six-ish firewire hard drives and my Canon GL1, I cannot become a new MacBook customer.

Even in the new MacBook Pros would be a step down in convenience, as I find myself using both the firewire 400 and 800 ports on my current 15" Core 2 all the time.

This is like that Twilight Zone episode where the guy that never had time to read finally does, and then breaks his glasses…

We finally get a MacBook that can run Final Cut Pro, and you can't capture video on it. Brilliant.

Do you think they will drop firewire from the iMac when the refresh the desktop line?

seems like apple is trying to control its video market customers. requiring them to purchase a Pro Machine... but leaves out the home user in the process.. I guess my powerbook G4 isnt so bad afterall... at least it can run Studio 2.

Apple, this is a very premature port removal. Firewire is fully accepted, the standard method of importing video, the only way to do target disk mode and widely supported for external storage, many firewire only. Perhaps it is getting taken over by USB but there are still so many devices out there and the data rate has not been surpassed by USB. This is not the same as removing support for floppy drives.

WHY was this done?

I won't suggest ANY of my friends or family get a macbook at this point, for this issue alone.

Until such time as USB 3 comes out and it becomes the standard for HD video cameras you should most definitely continue to provide Firewire ports. Stop production now and put firewire ports on the new macbooks. The audio input is likely more disposable than firewire (as USB audio input can be added) or one usb port could also be removed to make room. Firewire 800 is a good port choice.

If the DVI connector can be made that small why arn't the USB ports tiny? They take yo way too much space.

This is a sad day for the state of MAC.

on a separate note I'd really like to see 2 FW 800 and an eSATA port on the 17in MBP
a 12 MPB would be really nice too

Please make a PUBIC explanation of what exactly HDV camera owners are to do to import their video from their firewire only cameras and how target disk mode is now to be accomplished? (on the new macbooks)

The problem is that I already have several FireWire hard drives. And a video camera that uses FireWire. It does not use USB because it is a good camera. And I still prefer iMovie HD over iMovie 08 any day. It's just better!

I am sitting here with nearly 3.000$ set aside for the purpose of buying a new notebook, and I find myself preferring the equipment I already own rather than desiring a new one.....

I was very disappointed when they took away the FW400 port.

Oh well, there's always revision 2 I suppose.

I must admit, that I was a little shocked to find out new Macbooks don't have firewire. You know what? I got over it. I'm a musician who uses firewire everyday with my ProTools Digirack on my Macbook, as well as my iMac. BUT, I must add that I've had some problems with firewire. My DIGIrack randomly shuts off and has trouble re-connecting sometimes, and my external Firewire drive has trouble mounting often. But I've learned to deal with it, and I usually my job got done. As for USB? I've never had a problem with any of my USB devices, including external hard drives, and other audio devices.

Let's face it, firewire is eventually gonna be replaced. Also, I find no need for me to go out and buy a brand new Macbook because Apple came out with a new one, and then, start to complain that it doesn't have firewire, when I already have a macbook WITH firewire! New products bring different solutions that eventually people learn to adjust to. My question should be to the people complaining... Isn't the Macbook you already own good enough for the products you already have? If you REALLY need firewire and you don't already have a Macbook, go for a refurbished or lower end White Macbook for $999 or less. It's a GREAT computer!!

Now, the thing that interests me more than firewire debate, is price. "Why are we getting a less tech product for same or more expensive price?" Apple has sacrificed going green, which is great IMO. I do however, believe the new Macbook SHOULD start at $999, leaving the OLD Macbooks starting at $799. That is something we should make an effort to report to Apple.

Overall, I have agreed with most of Apple's decisions in the last couple years when introducing all of their new products. They have products that fall within their means for customers needs and wants. I think the real problem lies with consumers becoming too greedy and obsessed with buying things they DON'T need, but want. When will we live within our means??? Right now, our economy is on life-support, and I find some relief to hear someone say "I'm not buying that, only because it doesn't have Firewire!". Good! Stop using credit cards when you don't need to! I know that eventually Apple will make a laptop that will have all bells and whistles that one could want for reasonable price. For now, enjoy and accept that what you already have is good enough.

I have no idea why you guys are so upset. Why not just get the MBP if you need Firewire?

I use Firewire on my last-gen Blackbook for TimeMachine, but it's hardly a deal-breaker for the new Macbook. After all, most ext. drives (like my Maxtor 500GB) are USB 2.0 and FireWire, so it makes little difference to me which one I use.

As far as Target Disk mode, it's pretty much obsolete since you can quite easily take the drive out of the computer. Personally, I'd rather swap data over Gigabit speed than 400Mbps over FireWire; moreover, you can use Migration Assistant over WiFi or Gigabit...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2288 << This is for the MBA, but should be the same for MB and MBP

For DV cameras, I hate to burst your bubble but most of the consumer cams (esp. Canon) are going to SSD and utilize USB 2.0. I like Firewire, but you're not going to use a $4000 Canon XH A1 w/ anything but a Macbook Pro.


My guess is Apple did the research, and found that less than 20% (speculating) of the people who bought Macbooks used Firewire; therefore, they took the $$$ they saved from taking out Firewire and put it towards something that the other 80% would in fact notice and make use of (GPU, DisplayPort, DDR3, etc.).

I am the only person I know that still uses FireWire, most everyone I know buys USB drives and peripherals. I've got another 3-4 years before I buy another portable, and USB 3.0 will probably be all the rage.

I agree that removing the Firewire port was just plain bad decision of Apple.
WWTT (What Were They Thinking)

Please, if you agree that the cost-effective MacBook line needs Firewire, please post to Apple: www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html

For those who suggest that we just 'buy a MacBook Pro' to get Firewire ... well, that means spending about $1000 more for a Firewire port.
For those who suggest that we get the alleged Ethernet to Firewire... well, that means (based on device I saw) you loose use of Ethernet while Firewire adapter is plugged in. Plus it is YAD! (Yet Another Dongle... to lose, break, etc)

A very sad day ... Apple has disenfranchised a huge part of their existing user base with this new model.

Its obvious you don't work in the video industry or realize how much firewire is used in the industry between camera's, hard drives, capture devices etc.. granite the macbook isnt designed for the industry but it was a key way to get into the industry. I use a Canon XH-A1 with a Powerbook G4 and trust me thats a hassle... the idea behind the new HDV format is that its accessible for the consumer to produce professional quality video on their own. the new generation of students wont have this opportunity without spending a lot of money for a macbook pro. As a college student myself I will have to either buy an iMac before they upgrade them without firewire or try to buy a used machine off ebay. I cant afford or get a loan for $2000 especially in this economy. I spent $2300 on my powerbook which i will continue to use as a capture device.

TILB wrote:
Its obvious you don't work in the video industry or realize how much firewire is used in the industry between camera's, hard drives, capture devices etc.. granite the macbook isnt designed for the industry but it was a key way to get into the industry. I use a Canon XH-A1 with a Powerbook G4 and trust me thats a hassle... the idea behind the new HDV format is that its accessible for the consumer to produce professional quality video on their own. the new generation of students wont have this opportunity without spending a lot of money for a macbook pro. As a college student myself I will have to either buy an iMac before they upgrade them without firewire or try to buy a used machine off ebay. I cant afford or get a loan for $2000 especially in this economy. I spent $2300 on my powerbook which i will continue to use as a capture device.

You bought a Powerbook (not an iBook) several years ago to do video editing, and you're unhappy because you can't get by on a Macbook...? You do realize that whole post makes no sense.

Firewire is simply an interface, not a format. If I can click/drag/drop a video clip from a camera onto my desktop from a SSD HD Camcorder than have to stream it in real-time from a 1394 DV camcorder, I'm all the happier.

Like I said, I use Firewire...I like Firewire, but it's hardly a deal-breaker on a Macbook. If I needed to buy today and find myself needing Firewire, I'd just get a Macbook Pro.

Leigh L Pang wrote:
Even in the new MacBook Pros would be a step down in convenience, as I find myself using both the firewire 400 and 800 ports on my current 15" Core 2 all the time.

You could probably daisy-chain your devices. My understanding is that, on a MacBook Pro, when the FW400 port is used, the FW800 port will switch to FW400 speed, as both ports share the same bus (I may be mistaken). So, if I ma not mistaken, when using both ports, it's like the devices are all daisy-chained anyway.

Agreed, this is outrageous no Firewire 400 on either the macbook or macbook pro. DV aside, this causes tremendous problems for me because my whole audio studio (like many) connects to the audio i/o via firewire - nearly all audio interfaces do! I was ready to by a new machine, but this is a total dealbreaker. Bring the 400 port back and I'll buy one.