Worse screens, no FW, Apple is moving mainstream.
Edmund
Yup, on
Apple Insider you have some
Emails by Steve Jobs himself stating that clearly. All in all, mainstream consumers, who are the target for the MacBook, don't have a need for FW, they'll simply jump into USB. In an example from a user asking what should he do to edit his Firewire camcorder videos in a MacBook, Jobs simply implied that he should buy a new HD USB camcorder, as they're under US$500 now.
What still disturbs me, is why not give the MBP a second FW800 port, replacing the old FW400. The controller is already there, you cut down the need for two devices fighting over one single port on an extension hub. Or I'd be pretty happy with an optional eSata port. It's not only photographers who will miss it, but also musicians and pretty much everyone who needs to move large ammounts of data in a notebook with real power.
As for me ( current white MacBook user ), my target is to use this notebook for as long as possible, and move straight into the MBP when possible, instead of jumping to the next MB sooner. I guess many people will have to do that, and apple won't care much about changing their plans. All their consumer devices are USB and USB is cheaper to implement. Firewire failed as a popular interface, and everything, from the iPod to most cheaper external HDs and consumer cameras. As my loved one says, regular consumers only need to play video games and access the web, and write text on a notebook, and those are at least 80% of the people who buy the macbooks.
If you're a professional who needs more powerful hardware, and claim apple should change their lineup for your needs, they'll simply state they already have a pro lineup, and you should move into that lineup. Despite the fact the MacBook and MacBook pro now look almost as diferent sized versions of the same computer, the MacBook is all aimed at consumers, and I doubt apple will listen on changes to a line they took months to plan.
PS: If you'll run a petition, why not one to offer the Core2 Duo 3.06Ghz CPU on the next gen MacBook Pro 17"? And dual FW800 ports? Or optional matte screens?
