I'm sorry Apple did this. I see no rhyme or reason for the Firewire omissions and just wonder what they can be thinking? I agree with the writer, that they value form over functionality. I've been disappointed for a long time with the relative fragility of the macbook pro case--no protection from bumping or scratching makes it much harder to use these laptops in the field. I also didn't appreciate the elimination of the floppy in desktop models, since it is still the most sensible medium for transporting less than a mb or so of info from one computer to another. I can understand eliminating it from a laptop, but a desktop should have more functionality. Dells have floppy drives and CD/DVD reader/burners--no problem. I still have a spare 12" macbook pro I use downstairs. Looks like it's going to be very useful for years to come!

A macbook pro without the FW400 port? Very bad for my hardware, and for all the DV camera owners out there. Maybe Apple think that we change cameras and bckup drives as often as we change computers?

Well,

Even the firewire 800 only is a limitation for me, for AV, when I play live ALL my ports are in use, with all my outboard gear powered by the Mac. Traveller, Keyboard, Monome, HDs, Killamix.

So, for this type of job an old 17" machine not yet updated seems better suited. It offers, along FW400 & 800, a "better" Intel motherboard (not that shitty nVidia toy thing), similar performances and "traditional" screen.

I am all but a "it was better before" type, but this time it must be said that for once it is true, until, hopefully, Apple comes back with a real Pro machine with a solid Intel Mobo and a proper southbridge that can manage multiple I/Os, in an eventual forthcoming update.

Cheers, Ulhuru

I Guess the question is, how many people use the Firewire ports? And if over 5% do, then why not make it an "option". And the people who do use the firewires, are they going to defect to another company if these options are unavailable?
Granted, having "options" like this would complicate manufacturing. But they could so it like the car companies and instead of getting each individual option, you have to buy a "bundle" of options. This way there are two or three versions of the computer, not a hundred.
They could have the Macbook Pro "Media", which would come with multiple firewire and max RAM for pushing the video.....

There is a cable made buy Belkin - Belkin 6' FireWire 800/400 9pin to 6pin Cable
that will allow you to connect your firewire 400 device to your firewire 800 port
on the new Macbook Pro. Unfortunately the new Macbook doesn't have an 800 port.
Here is the link where you can buy the cable.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP320LL/A#overview

It's not the first time apple has done this sort of thing. Does anyone else remember when they removed the ADB ports from their machines in exchange for USB ports in one fell swoop? I had to get rid of my favorite mouse (trackball) because the drivers wouldn't work with adapters. Thanks Apple, you've done it again. Design first, consumers second.

I would have liked a new Pro. But despite the lovely new screen and trackpad I'll have to keep my old one and look on eBay for another to keep as a spare. It's a pity -

I also have an Air and don't mind the missing stuff on that - it's designed for a specific job and does it very well.

For professional media work the Macbook Pro is indispensable, but not in its cut-down form. So, one new sale lost there I'm afraid.

This article really spells it out correctly. This little port is essentially a deal breaker for thousands of people just like me. People who can't really afford an apple but do so anyways because it has so vastly helped change the way they can work without it.

Nice to know I can get a cheap pc to function on OSX. I think I'll have to look into that. Essentially PC's have the processing but I guess know they have the brain and ports that I need to work.

This is unbelievable. I just converted over from a Lenovo Thinkpad. I don;t do heavy video or anything but I do have 2 kids and a DV Camcorder with firewire 4 pin. So this Camcorder is now essentially a paperweight? If I had known this I probably just would've bought the Pro rather than have to wait for a cabling solution like USB 2.0 to Firewire or buy a new camcorder. Worse yet I can;t return the macbook and purchase a Pro. This seems really strang given that the macbook whites and the pros both have at least some firewire.

Meh, you can buy yourself a USB to firewire adapter. USB2 is really fast, it ain't USB1's inferior 12Mbps, It's quite a bit faster than firewire 400. So it can supplant it simply and easily.

Running 400 speed devices on the 800 chain is fine. If you use a hub, you don't get rinsed speed. If you really use firewire to the max, you'll be using a PC card, or even a PCI chassis.

Why would you edit video on a macbook?

Why would you worry about a slower chain during video capture, what else should you do simultaneously? Is this a practical consideration? Power use indeed.

Sure, a macbook has a budget graphics card, no expansion card, small screen, blah blah. It's a budget laptop for doing simple things on. It's not a power use computer, it's an internet computer. Stop whinging. Get the quad core macbook pro 17 when it comes out.

OH NO and you have to buy an adapter to plug in a second monitor! Good lord.