Apple announced some updated products today, including a new 13" white Macbook
this model is the smallest and most portable in their range, and so a favorite of photographers. BUT they have deleted the Firewire port...

they did that before with the Alu ones, and everyone shouted at them, so they put it back.
However, in the interest of saving $1, they have gone and done it again (and there's no card slot, so you cant put an adapter in either)

I'm off to the store to try and get one of the old versions for my studio, before they are gone.

But this is the MacBook and not the MacBook Pro, correct ?

right, but the outgoing model has a Firewire connector
its been a standard for nearly a decade now.

so why can't you get a 13" macbook pro?
it's lighter and more powerful

Previously it was an issue; you had to go to a 15 or 15 inch MBP to get a FW port. Almost all photogs wanting a smaller Macbook will go for the 13" MBP with FW.

Absolutely. Get the MacBook Pro. The book just doesn't have the horsepower.

For a photographer the 13" Macbook Pro is absolutely worth the additional price. I use one when I travel and I absolutely love it.

I use the 15" MacBook Pro. A little more visual real estate.

huh? have you looked at the specs of the new machines. the new 13" white model is identical to the base 13" alu 'pro' one, except for the firewire and SD card slot (and the pro costs $50 more for a 250gb drive)
Same processor, same LED screen, same drives, same graphic card, same memory, same size. you are just forced to pay $250 more for Firewire, that's it. shameful.
oh, and you get an alu shell, though I prefer the look of the white model. the alu housing is going to date very quickly just like all those stainless steel kitchens in 90's interiors.

the problem with Apple is just this - lack of choice. three machines that are what we tell you they are. that's it.
you want firewire - the bus we pushed hard at you 10 years ago? too bad. we've decided that you don't, or must pay hundreds $ extra to get it, and it alone.
its indefensible. let the customer choose.

I don't think the macbooks can run another monitor, but the macbook pro can.

...another myth.
my (early 2006) macbook can. i run a cinema display 23, no problem at all at 1920X1200.

even though, at this time i'd choose the pro in one second. at that time the price difference was more than 1000$.

forget (or better not) about firewire, the xpress card slot worth all the money.

Actually the new MacBook also offers a Mini-DisplayPort but it seems to lack a IR receiver.

We use the 15" pro version too, there is another thing: the case is extremly firm, as it is made of one block of aluminium. In rough surroundings this was very important for us. We use firewire to tether our digital back, the expresscard slot for double eSATA (mirrored drive for the shooting data) and the external mini dvi for the calibrated monitor attached to it, there also is a little UPS, alltogether in a box, ready to go...I never thought of the smaller white macbook. Wether you like the design or not it´s up to you, we don´t care about the design, we are working with the machines. I´m sure you won´t like your plastic white macbook in ten years. (BTW, noboby said, Ahhgr, what a ugly alucase macbookpro have you got)
We are very happy with the apple solutions. Did you see the new macmini? It has firewire, two harddisks inside (no need for an additional external mirrored setup perhaps).

Cheers

Ulf

Just because mac doesn't call a machine pro doesn't mean you can't use it as such, the macbook would be a perfect location laptop if it had firewire, seems to me mac is just forcing people to buy the pro version if you need firewire, not really cricket I say. I'd understand if it was an expensive part but it's not, seems mean.

I find this silly, there is a reason why different things cost differently. It's just like photography, many times a client pays more to get better work, I'm sure you guys have experienced that in your own business. I don't think the client would be complaining "I'm forced to pay for a better photographer because Vinnie down the street can't do as good a job."

But it's pretty much the same computer except the firewire port.

- look at the specs. Seriously: go to the apple site and look at the specs of the 13" macbook, compared to the $200 dollar more 13" Macbook pro.

they are 99% identical - processor, graphics card, LED screen, etc.
the 'non pro' white one actually has a bigger hard drive, which you must pay $50 more to match in the 'pro'.

both can run a 30" monitor.
both are unibody - cut from one piece.

the only thing they did was cut out the connectivity - a firewire port, and card slot. so they saved maybe $1? $3?

Apple are the ones who pumped Firewire at us - not PC, not Intel, remember? It was Apple's bus.
We all bought into it - Photographers, Musicians, Filmmakers, etc and now they release machines with only 2x USB, and no card slot to optionally add it if you want.

its just plain silly.

And...
Backlit keyboard
8GB vs 4GB RAM capacity

Also, Apple has a history of using lower-grade LCDs in the Macbook vs the MBP. It's not clear just from the provided specs if the panels are "The Same" or "Same-Same (but different)".

If it's not worth $200, don't buy it. It's certainly a better distinction than the Black vs White Macbooks were.

You are so right.
And again the MacbookPro has an Aluminium Unibody vs the MacBook is made of Polycarbonat. Why are you complaining? Because they make an additional entry-machine?

Cheers

Ulf

this is getting tedious.
the point is a good and valid one - they should have left Firewire on there.

both are unibodies. I prefer the white plastic unibody not the aluminium unibody, but of course, YMMV.
the option for 8Gb is nice, but I don't need that. I seriously doubt 0.1% of users max the RAM out.
you are scratching for reasons to separate the machines - basically there are none that are meaningful, apart from no Firewire or card slot.

do we all have firewire appliances? yes - because Apple encouraged us all to buy them.
does probably everyone who is on this forum have something Firewire?
is there a single digital back that is not Firewire?
same for Video people, same for musicians.

its a blatant attempt to strip something from the basic machine and upsell you, for $250 more.
oh and with an illuminated keyboard. great.

Apple do get things wrong sometimes you know. they are not Gods!

The only I have found to be worth from them their software which is way better than windows. Their hardware is just average. Not too good, not too bad. A little on the bad side, in my opinion. I agree that leaving out FW is pretty, lets be polite, rude on their customers.

Of course you are considering the current generation MacBook vs. the almost previous generation MacBook Pro, which most likely will be refreshed in the next few months. Traditionally this means the faster MacBook Pro moves down a notch with possibly a newer graphic card and a few other things (including a firewire port) - a couple of hundred dollars more than a MacBook and a substantial difference. For those needing to maximize their portable power you can upgrade to a faster MacBook Pro, and once the refresh comes along (January seems to be Apples favorite month to refresh some of the pro machines) rumors are it may include a quad core processor. If you don't wait, the current MacBook Pro still allows you to put in 8 gigs of RAM, has a faster model available if you want, and has a backlit keyboard which I personally hate to think of giving up.

I can't find the specs, but I also would need verification that they share the same "screen". While it might be true they are both LED backlit and the same size, and it seems logical they are the very same screen, it very well could be the actual panel uses different technologies.

As far as the firewire, the reality is only a miniscule number of users have a firewire device, or even a firewire cable. Firewire is rapidly moving into a niche market (of which we photographers are a part of). This machine is designed as a budget level entry machine for families and students. I believe the handwriting is on the wall for firewire ... even apple is aggressively working on next generation technology with Intel that would replace almost all of the connectors (USB, Firewire and display). Light Peak I'm sure others are working on better technology as well ... Firewire is actually getting a little long in the tooth and really not that impressive by todays standards.

As far as the stainless steel kitchens, they didn't go out of style ... stainless steel just got too expensive so it went out for a while. A majority of high end homes use brushed stainless steel for appliances now and have for some time - Just go take a look at companies like Sub Zero. The Aluminum Mac Pro I believe is now the longest running housing design of any mac model, and I don't think it is anywhere close to running out of steam ... (that's just my opinion, which last time i checked was worth at best a 2 bits on a good day)

Agreed but I'd bet FW400 is a thing of the past in under 18 months.

Last week I bought 2 more 1TB G-Tech external drives and FW 400 port is now gone-
2 FW 800,1 USB 2.0, 1eSata is the current connectivity setup

Mark

What amazes me, though, is that Firewire still is the fastest, most user-friendly and most versatile connection available for external devices - unless you are a big company and can afford and maintain more advanced technology.

USB is a dog, eSata never quite made it into mainstream, and wireless connections are buggy and slow.
There simply is no decent alternative to Firewire available .

True. So far ...

It doesn't matter that FW400 will die, FW800 and the future FW3200 or whatever it'll be called will still allow reverse compatibility with simple adapters. The main issue is just that manufacturers don't understand that having any firewire is still very important.

I gave up and bought one of the old machines on sale in apple store - they are now found under 'refurbished' though they are brand new.
a bargain at $699 for white one with 160Gb drive and the 2.16Ghz processor. am happy to have avoided the price bump and kept Firewire for my phase back.

also prefer the non unibody for a very good reason - removing the hard drive is really easy on the older (last month!) white model.
so when SSD drives become cheap and easy in good capacities, I can swap it out myself in 5 minutes.

that and the price!