It’s not the Firewire, it’s the Form-Factor
This isn’t another post about whether or not Apple should have left Firewire on the new Macbooks. If that’s what you’re looking for you’ll find about 600 comments on this AppleInsider post.
Instead, let’s look at how the lack of Firewire highlights a gap in Apple’s notebook lineup. The gap, introduced when Apple went to Intel, could have been closed last week. It wasn’t.
For some reason, Apple thinks “pro” notebook customers are defined by the physical dimensions of their machine. Years ago this wasn’t the case - when you could buy a 12″ Powerbook. Since the switch to Intel there isn’t a small form-factor Pro machine. Just the Macbook.
When the Macbook went aluminum its features started to merge with the Macbook Pro. Macbook got the nice case and a backlit keyboard (on the high end model). The Macbook Pro got the magnetic latch. The differences in the machines became more about the guts - and less about aesthetics. Seemed like the perfect opportunity to put Pro guts in a small machine.
And make no mistake, small is in. Look at netbook sales. Still, Apple decided against introducing anything smaller than the Macbook. Could it be they’re holding something back for Macworld? Five of the top ten laptops at Amazon are Apple machines. Along with a few netbooks.
Consumer video cameras requiring a Firewire port? Yes Steve, they exist in droves, not matter what you decided about the Macbook. Pro cameras and audio equipment - it’s out there too. And people that tote that stuff around value space in their work area, in their hardcases, in their bags. Maybe Firewire was slated to go, but it seems a little premature.
Apple should consider using a spec other than display size for determining whether or not a machine is pro caliber.
18. October 2008 at 5:49 pm :
People have been screaming for a 12″ Powerbook replacement since the switch to Intel. I think they’re working on something. They can’t ignore the netbook wave…
20. October 2008 at 8:10 pm :
Amen! My thoughts exactly.
Glad someone else said it too. Miss my 12″PB, but I don’t miss the speed………
I was ready to go down that day and buy a Macbook until I saw no firewire. Great, as an IT Professional managing 35 Macs and growing by about 60 every year, I have no love for a volume I can’t boot from. Yeah, you can boot from USB on the Intel Macs, but it’s slower. What about recovering data from a damaged machine without having to remove the drivel. Sorry, no Target Disc Mode for USB.
I think Jobs made and A**hole comment regarding USB being more popular on camcorders after he himself professed all of the attributes of FW almost 9 years ago. Now that we are all using it he yanks the rug out? Forget that.
Note to Apple. You’d better get FW back on a pro level machine that isn’t 15″. Just because we’re geeks doesn’t mean we like breaking our backs with bulky machines in our already heavy bags that are overkill (that graphics card won’t help me image a new Mac) for the day to day tasks of the Pro user.