Rubénerd!

It's time for everybody's favourite blog post series, This Week in Rubénerd Mobile Computing! Rolls off the tongue quite nicely, does it not? I'm Ruben Schade, and today's post features Apple's new line of MacBook computers, and a new ThinkPad tablet?

The MacBook

Apple continues their march for global domonation with their sudden drop in price of the MacBook Air, with the stated intention that "Everyone should have a notebook this advanced. And now everyone can.". While the author belives the the term "advanced" is in line with Apple's typical overhyped marketing, the form factor and the inclusion of i5 and i7 CPUs in said form factor is wonderous. The price is also low enough that he can't help but wonder why anyone in their right mind would pay the Microsoft Tax for a crappy plastic netbook in its place now.

More surprising still though is the dropping of the MacBook line altogether. The author always thought the MacBook and the MacBook Pro to be an awkward distinction from the start given they had so many parts in common, were both unibody machines at one point, and that the Pros didn't really have the high end features the real Dell and HP professional workstation laptops had.

The ThinkPad

The erosion of the once mighty bastion of advanced technology, quality and design continues in ernest with the annoucement of a ThinkPad branded tablet running Google's closed source Android Ice Cream Microsoft Long Name Envy Honeycomb operating system. One shouldn't get too emotionally attached to brands, but to see the ThinkPad line with a Lenovo badge was hard enough without seeing one running a Java iOS interface knockoff. Hey, but its open right, so no problem!

The author supposes if one could run MeeGo it would be infinitely more attractive, provided the build quality that the ThinkPad line has earned a reputation for will continue in this tablet form. He will be keeping a close eye on this, for despite having large amounts of Apple hardware and an iPad in the family he feels little desire to own one of the latter.

The End

And that concludes this installment of everybody's favourite blog post series, This Week in Rubénerd Mobile Computing! It was the first, and hopefully, will be the last. I'm Ruben Schade. Goodnight.

If you're interested in Apple hardware you're probably already well versed in the changes Apple announced and the last thing the blogosphere needs is another personal blog talking in detail about changes you could read about in hundreds of other sites.

What I will say is that it's fantastic that Apple listened to their customers and once again includes FireWire 400 or FireWire 800 on ALL their models now. If you recall late last year I had an entire series of posts tagged the MacBook FireWire Debacle where I was discussing what a terrible decision it was to remove FireWire from the MacBook at the time:

• Possible reason why there’s no MacBook FireWire
• MacBook a winner, unless you need FireWire
• The penultimate plus one MacBook FireWire post
• Addressing some MacBook FireWire arguments
• Apple still claims the MacBook includes FireWire
• Obituary for FireWire 1999-2008
• Apple’s tragic FireWire MacBook mistake

I seem to recall there were several people posting comments on my blog here disputing what I was saying by claiming FireWire isn't necessary anymore, and that Apple was removing a "legacy" port. I like Apple products but I'm not an apologist; I called them out for this bad decision and it's good to see they've corrected their mistake.

What I am disappointed about is despite the improved screen technology in the 15 inch MacBook Pro model, it is STILL only 1440x900 resolution. It baffles me that the 17 inch model was updated from 1680x1050 to 1920x1200 without problems, but the 15 inch model is still stuck with essentially the same resolution as the PowerBook line from years past. As I've said here, I'll upgrade when this changes.

Overall I'm impressed with the new lineup, but as a proud owner of a first generation MacBook Pro from 2006 with a 2.0GHz Core Duo CPU I still don't feel as though it's worth upgrading yet. Looking forward to Snow Leopard!

To say my sister is somewhat obsessed with The Sims 2 would be akin to implying that bridges are somewhat useful at allowing vechiles to cross bodies of water. The problem is, her pretty white MacBook's integrated Intel graphics system performs worse than a bridge that has suffered some form of structural damage and as a result is no longer safe for the aformentioned vechiles to cross.

Despite my MacBook Pro only having a 32 bit Core Duo [Wikipedia] chip and her MacBook having a 64 bit Core 2 Duo [Wikipedia], the discrete 256MiB ATI graphics chip in my MacBook Pro plays The Sims 2 and her other older 3D games blazingly fast. Despite not being able to compile complex application packages or process video quickly enough compared to the current generation Mac laptops, the graphics are still very good. I heart my 2006 vintange MacBook Pro, it's been a real trooper.

So I created a seperate account on Mac OS X for her on my MacBook Pro and created my own account on her MacBook. She installed The Sims 2 on mine, and I installed MacVim, The Gimp, Inkscape, Eclipse, Q and MacPorts with Python on her MacBook and we've been going just fine all weekend. I've been promised my baby back during the week so I can do work and assignments; I hope that proves true!

For someone writing code, the only thing that's hard to get used to on a MacBook after using a MacBook Pro is the reduced screen resolution. Back in Singapore my FreeBSD desktop is connected to a 1680×1050 Samsung LCD, but I swear the difference between Elke's MacBook's 1280×800 and my MacBook Pro's 1440×900 seems infinitely bigger. When the new MacBooks came out with the new N'Vidia graphics (and before I realised they had no FireWire), I thought I could upgrade my MacBook Pro to a new little aluminium MacBook, but I'm just so used to having a larger workspace that prospect now seems frightening. I've been spoilt!

As you can see in the screenshot, I managed to recreate as much of my MacBook Pro on her MacBook as possible including software. This Code Geass background was sitting in my downloads folder on my external drive, and it's certainly more colourful and different to most of the Mac OS X default desktop backgrounds which I'm already sick of! I should SFTP my MacBook Pro and get some of the photos I took with my D60 recently and use them as backgrounds.

Now that Elke has created three families on The Sims 2 on my machine, I get the feeling I'll be using her MacBook a lot over the next few weeks. Aren't I a nice brother?

Still not quite there yet...

I haven't talked about this issue for at least several days, so an update is definitely in order. It's not that I'm obsessive, more that I tend to obsess about things. Wait, I did talk about this recently after all. Never mind my ramblings. I never do.

With all my squawking and ruffled feathers over Apple's decision to drop the FireWire 400 ports from their MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers, and with my last post talking about why I would love to get a new workhorse to complement my existing small laptop, I've been giving some thought to what Apple would have to release before I would think of upgrading. The thing is, shortly after their latest announcement I was all ready to start planning my next machine, but the more I learn about these the more I'm left thinking I might stick with my original generation early 2006 15 inch MacBook Pro I'm using now for the foreseeable future.

As I said previously, I'd love to get a 17 inch MacBook Pro, but realistically this isn't an option because of the prohibitive price. Unfortunately while faster, the new 15 inch MacBook Pro is simply not attractive enough to upgrade to yet. These are some ideas that I reckon would make a killer MacBook Pro:

0. Quad core processor

My current processor is a 32 bit 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo so really anything would be a great upgrade. What would be great is a quad core Core 2 Duo option which I can turn the cores on and off on easily within OS X using the Processor prefpane. Because I'd be using it mostly as a portable desktop replacement rather than a laptop, the battery life hit would be less important. At the very least a quad core version should be an option, especially considering Snow Leopard's supposed improved SMB support.

1. Higher physical RAM ceiling

This is the biggest bottleneck with my current system for video encoding and compiling giant projects, it can only support 2.0GiB. The new machines can tentatively support 6.0GiB, but there shouldn't be any reason why they can't support 8.0GiB or more. I certainly wouldn't need that much right now, but I'd like to have the peace of mind that I could add more in the future. I maxed out my current machine way too fast.

2. A higher resolution display with a matte option

The 17 inch MacBook Pro went from having a resolution of 1680x1050 to 1920x1200, but the 15 inch MacBook Pro still only has 1440x900 which is roughly what the line has had since even the PowerBook G4 days. They're clearly capable of bumping that up. And Apple, please listen to your customers... we want a matte screen option! Please, please, pretty please?

3. More FireWire and USB ports

I know they were both driven by a common bus in the older MacBook Pro, but only having one FireWire 800 port in the new MacBook Pro is a bit measly, and only two USBs is also silly for a so called "pro" machine. It was a bad idea moving the optical drive to the side again because now we have less space. Probably too late to make any changes structurally, but perhaps a few small ribbon cables leading to the other side so we can have a few more ports? I'm fed up with daisy chaining and using hubs.

4. A bundled grilled cheese sandwich maker

Each new MacBook Pro should come with a special extra metal plate so when you're computer is running hot, you can sit it on top of a cheese sandwich to make a grilled cheese sandwich. This is an absolute no brainer.

5. Blu-Ray burner

Frankly I don't care about playing Blu-Ray movies, but I would love to burn some backup discs. If Psystar can ship a hackintosh with a Blu-Ray burner, there's no reason Apple technically can't.

I've been told by people that the reason why Apple didn't include FireWire in their lastest MacBook computers was because they were phasing out support for a so called legacy port and that most video cameras and external hard drives use USB as well, amongst other reasons which I thoroughly debunked in a previous post.

Well we finally may have the real reason for why Apple removed the FireWire 400 port from the MacBook. As it turns out, it might not have been a decision by them after all, but one by NVidia who designed the new GeForce 9400M integrated chipset and graphics chip which the new MacBook uses.

Here's the kicker: according to several sites I've been reading, this chip was designed without a FireWire controller.

The GeForce 9400M does not include a Firewire controller. When asked, Rene Hass mentioned that during the design of this chips, this function was not part of the feature list.
~ HardMac.com

This seems to change my perceptions somewhat. Given Intel's lackluster onboard graphics, I can understand Apple's decision to move to a NVidia's chipset and graphics solution, especially in a computer like the MacBook. I can't help but think though that they could have at least included a separate FireWire controller, granted they are substantially bigger than controllers for USB, but if my Sony Vaio PCG-C1VM ultraportable from 2001 could include one there's no reason why Apple in 2008 couldn't.

Promotional image for the new NVidia chip comparing sizes with Intel's integrated graphics

I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself posting a screenshot of this Finder window this afternoon. Could you imagine transferring that much data through USB 2.0? Yuk!

I guess their argument would be that I'm a MacBook Pro user and not the target market for the MacBook. It's a shame because I've always wanted to return to a souped up desktop and a smaller, more lightweight notebook computer combo again at some point, just like I used to have with my PowerMac G5 and my iBook G3.

I think I'll be sticking with MacBook Pros now. Well look at that, their tactic worked!

When I claimed this was going to be the last post on the MacBook FireWire Debacle, I didn't think another writer would share a similar view to me on this issue. This will be the last post! Ironically, I found about this USAToday article through Apple's official start page which chose to summarise the article as such:

Apple, says Edward C. Baig (usatoday.com), “has fashioned a winner with the new MacBook.” The new model features a “bold new metal design with a glossy backlit widescreen LED display, spacious buttonless trackpad and souped-up Nvidia graphics for gamers.” In fact, Baig reports being “pleased with the detail and fluid motion as I played Spore from Electronic Arts and Call of Duty 4 from Activision.

Conveniently they didn't disclose any of Edward's comments regarding the lack of a FireWire port, and the less than adequate number of USB ports as replacements:

But Apple risks ticking off users who rely on FireWire. Like many people, I still have a FireWire camcorder, not to mention an external FireWire hard drive. Apple may want to drive customers to the FireWire-capable MacBook Pro — models that start at $1,999 — which are certainly better equipped for video editing.

The company also figures many of the folks who would do a lot of video editing own newer camcorders that more likely use USB rather than FireWire. Apple isn't generous there, either: There are just two USB ports on the new MacBooks.

You can still get FireWire on the entry-level plastic MacBook, but it doesn't have the muscle for heavy-duty video editing.

Exactly! I am so fed up with reading comments from people that tell people who can't afford a MacBook Pro to buy an older MacBook that still has FireWire for video editing, or that people who need FireWire should buy a MacBook Pro. Not everyone is swimming in money.

If you think I've started to dislike Apple though over this hiccup, the last line of Edward's article pretty much sums up my own opinion:

Apple has fashioned a winner with the new MacBook. Unless you can't live without FireWire.

Much to delight of most of the people who read this blog I'm sure, we've come to the end of my coverage of the MacBook FireWire Debacle. I've learned so much over the last few days about the FireWire 400 standard, especially with regards to it's uses in audio and video production that I knew very little about. The removal of this port from MacBooks is a real shame, though it's probably time to face the facts and admit that the MacBook won't ever have FireWire again; it's future in the Mac Mini and iMac are probably also shady.

At least I can tell people they can still buy svelte new Japanese laptops and load them up with FreeBSD if they need a current and inexpensive FireWire solution.

As I said I could easily post dozens more posts on this subject, but I think I've already said enough. If you're still interested though, there's still some extremely active discussion (more active than I've ever seen before after an Apple product launch) going on across web forums, blogs and news sites which I've linked to below.

Don't forgot, if you want FireWire in the MacBooks again, you can send feedback directly to Apple. Steve Jobs has already responded to at least two comments sent, so let's raise some more hell!

News and articles

• FireWire's MacBook absence a fatal flaw?
• PC World: Apple Users Rage Over Missing FireWire
• TidBITS - On the Way Out: FireWire and Matte Screens?
• Missing Firewire Angers MacBook Customers - Headline Watch
• BLOG: Why musicians shouldn't buy Apple's new MacBook | musicradar.com
• "Put FireWire back in the MacBook", demands petition | musicradar.com
• Obituary: FireWire - Nillabyte

Web forums

• Macbook Pro now uses agere firewire chipset - MacRumors Forums
• Steve Jobs on Lack of Firewire in MacBooks - MacRumors Forums
• Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks - MacRumours Forums
• Apple Discussions - No Firewire; many possible problems (18,000+ views!)
• Apple Discussions - No Firewire ports!
• Apple Discussions - MacBook = no iMovie for most camcorders?
• Apple Discussions - How do I connect my stuff on a new MacBook?
• Apple Discussions - Couple of Perspectives on Lost Firewire
• Apple Discussions - Firewire on the new Aluminum MacBooks?!
• Jobs responds to outrage over missing FireWire - AppleInsider Forums

MacBook FireWire Debacle posts

• Addressing some MacBook FireWire arguments (2008.10.22)
• Apple still claims the MacBook includes FireWire (2008.10.21)
• Obituary for FireWire 1999-2008 (2008.10.21)
• Apple’s tragic FireWire MacBook mistake (2008.10.20)

ASIDE: I had not intended my critique of Apple's disastrous decision not to include FireWire on their MacBooks to become a multiple post saga, but the more I learn about this decision and the more I read up upon it, the more I think this really is a mistake.

We love Apple's products and we want them to succeed, so we think this really is a terrible decision. We know Apple will probably ignore us, but it's worth a shot generating some noise right?

In today's investigation of the MacBook FireWire Debacle, I'll be looking into some of the arguments that seem to appear time and time again in every 600 page MacBook FireWire removal forum thread across the intertubes.

Removing FireWire it is the same as removing the floppy drive on the iMac.

This question went first, because I can tell rebuttals of my responses below would probably discuss obsolescence and the idea you can still buy older versions.

That there is a substantial difference between getting rid of a floppy drive or other legacy devices, and getting rid of FireWire. In the case of the floppy drive, CD burners and the "super floppies" (LZ120, Zip) were clearly superior replacements, and you could buy inexpensive USB floppy drives. With these MacBooks, USB 2.0 is the only possible replacement, and it's not superior.

Most people I know have never heard of FireWire

Most people I know have. And if they haven't, tech savvy friends or family have bought them FireWire drives for use with Time Machine, camcorders for iMovie etc. Would the removal of a port to save a few dollars make up for the money they would lose from customers holding off purchases?

You can just buy a USB 2.0 to FireWire cable

Even if we assumed such devices for Mac exist (and I'm not sure they do), they would not address the underlying problem. Serial and ADB to USB adaptors worked because USB is an improvement.

Grilled cheese sandwiches taste great with maple syrup and hot fudge

I'll have to take your word on that.

If you can afford expensive FireWire cameras, you can afford to buy the MacBook Pro which has FireWire.

Many professional users use powerful desktop computers, and a more lightweight laptop for when they need to go. For many, the MacBook Pro is simply too big and heavy.

The statement is a tad arrogant. Given people who buy MacBooks are buying them because they're cheaper, doesn't it make sense that said customers would also be less able to buy new audio and video equipment too that might be older and only have FireWire ports? The primary school right here in my suburb use MacBooks and MiniDV video cameras. MiniDV cameras can only use FireWire. What about them?

It also amounts to false advertising: Apple bundles their machines with iLife which include two consumer-grade video editing applications. Their prosumer Final Cut Express is also targeted at a similar market. What about the thousands of consumer video cameras that use FireWire?

This really isn't a big deal. The financial crisis, world hunger, hello?

True. But as a person who knows about, endorses and uses this standard I feel as though I'm in the position of letting people know. And by that definition, really nothing else matters right now!

Apple still sells the older MacBook with FireWire

The older, heavier hardware version with the 5x slower graphics performance and slower front-side bus? For how long will they be available? And isn't it ironic and counter intuitive that someone would tell you to buy an older version of a product because it has faster ports than the newer one?

Complaining on your blog or on forums isn't going to make Apple change.

This is probably the only argument that makes some sense. It's true Apple probably doesn't care. This is why it's important to have as many people as possible talking about it, and more importantly sending feedback to Apple. Even gigantic corporations such as Apple aren't completely immune from the demands of their customers.

As I've prefaced most of my Apple posts, I love my MacBook Pro, I love Mac OS X, I love my iPods and my iPhone is the greatest portable device I've ever owned. This isn't to say I blindly approve of everything Apple does. For example I can't over emphasise what a bad idea ditching FireWire in their MacBook line is.

Despite their decision, they are still claiming on their Developer Connection website that not only is FireWire a fast and generally super duper standard, but that it's bundled with nearly all their computers including the MacBook:

FireWire is one of the fastest peripheral standards ever developed, which makes it great for use with multimedia peripherals such as digital video cameras and other high-speed devices like the latest hard disk drives and printers.

FireWire is integrated into Power Macs, iMacs, eMacs, MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and the iPod. FireWire ports were also integrated into many other computer products dating back to the Power Macintosh G3 "Blue & White" computers. All these machines include FireWire ports that operate at up to 400 megabits per second and the latest machines include FireWire ports that support 1394b and operate at up to 800 megabits per second.

Major manufacturers of multimedia devices have been adopting the FireWire technology, and for good reason. FireWire speeds up the movement of multimedia data and large files and enables easy connection of digital consumer products -- including digital camcorders, digital video tapes, digital video disks, set-top boxes, and music systems -- directly to a personal computer.

In fact, Apple's FireWire technology was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, receiving a 2001 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award for FireWire's impact on the television industry.

It all is quite ironic to read now given Apple's current stance on FireWire ;-).