Re: I think its really a shame, Apple dropped the Firewire bus. There are still a lot of people that require Firewire to digitize camera data. I believe Apple dropped Firewire because of their endless greed to get more money. Now people will have to by the the MacBook Pros! I am very disappointed in Mr. Steve Jobs. What a policy… What image you will get from this announcement…
I do not agree. Read John Gruber’s post about Tim Cooke. I think Apple is making business decisions based on the data they have. They say repeatedly that they are listening to their customers. Well just because you and I might want Firewire does not mean the MacBook folks are demanding it.
Here is the thing: Apple may be wrong. But it is not smart to bet against Apple. They have been correct far more than they have been incorrect.
Or another way to think about it is this: The diff between the low end MacBook and the low end MacBook Pro is $700 ($200 between the high end MacBook). If I need Firewire will I be impressed with the OTHER advances of the MacBook Pro (larger screen, higher resolution, extra graphic chip, larger hard drive, Express Card slot and illuminated keyboard)?
My thinking is Apple knows what it is doing. I do not like their choice to drop Firewire because I LOVE recommending the $1100 current MacBook for most folks (cuz it fits what they want to do perfectly). But every single one of them knows that if you get a cheaper (non-Pro) model you will have to give something up. Me thinks most folks will not mind giving up Firewire.
Side note: The film people I advise all require Firewire (Note: This is the much faster Firewire 800) and will now have to drop $2k instead of $1.3k. More money for Apple cuz those folks are >>NOT<< going to be purchasing any PC laptops.