Long time Users Facing yet Another Dope Slap From Apple?

A recently performed experiment involving a cat that had achieved thermodynamic equilibrium undergoing rhythmic gyrations at Apple Matters labs proved one thing: You can’t swing a dead cat without smacking into a rumor that Macs will slowly be losing FireWire support. Specifically, there are numerous reports that the next iteration of the iBook will lack FireWire connectivity. The Intel based PowerBooks, on the other hand, will supposedly feature a single FireWire 800 port as a nod to the pro users out there.

The idea that Apple is slowly going to be phasing out FireWire (and if it disappears on the portables you can bet it will soon follow on the desktop) is disagreeable to say the least. Judging by the recent lack of FireWire options on the newest iPods (shuffle, nano, iPod with video) while the notion may be disagreeable the change also seems likely.

At this point, the knee jerk reaction is to strenuously aver that Apple will never abandon FireWire. The astute will note that Apple actually earns money they on every FireWire connection sold whether it is on a third party hard drive enclosure, a digital video camera or customized Dell Computer. Yeah, and Apple will never switch to Intel.

The next argument against dropping FireWire will concern the performance of FireWire as compared to USB 2.0. There is a strong case to be made that FireWire is much better than USB 2.0 but there is also a strong case to be made that AMD chips, or even, gasp, PowerPC chips are better than Intel’s desktop offerings. So clearly, performance isn’t always the deciding factor for Apple.

Finally, a plea will be made that Apple must continue FireWire support to appease the owners of older digital gear that relies on FireWire for connectivity. Imagine, for example, you own a Canon GL2. If USB 2 is your only option, you might be tempted to buy a PC or something. Supporting legacy hardware is surely a great reason to keep FireWire around, right? Examine, if you will, the ports on the original iMac. In short, any argument as to why Apple will keep FireWire around to benefit current Apple users does not take into account that Apple ‘s recent history.

Someone out there is bound to defend Apple’s FireWire shedding move, much like some defend omitting FireWire from the new iPods. They’ll liken FireWire’s quick exit to he legacy ports the iMac once shed and opine that it is time for the Mac to get with the times. The iMac comparison, in this case, is wholly unworkable. When the iMac eschewed the conglomeration of ADB and GeoPorts there was a legitimate reason to do so: besides Apple and a scant few printer makers there was an ever-increasing dearth of peripherals available for the Mac. By wholly embracing USB Apple reinvigorated the Mac peripheral market and gave users more options in hardware than they had had for years. That is not the case with FireWire. The FireWire standard may not be as prevalent as USB but it certainly popular enough to be sustained.

Just discussing FireWire’s availability neglects the performance questions, which are just as relevant when comparing the current situation to that of the original iMac. USB was more technically advanced than the ports it replaced on the original iMac; this is not the case with FireWire and USB 2.0. FireWire is more capable than USB 2.0 so removing FireWire ports won’t be a technical hop forward but rather a largish step backwards. One comparison is valid: The switch to USB was originally greeted with caterwauling and hand wringing. Yet, the dispassionate observer could clearly discern the reasons behind the move. Such is not the case with FireWire.

You have to wonder why Apple would consider such a move. To save a few bucks is the most obvious reason but that doesn’t seem too likely when you remember that FireWire ports sell FireWire devices and that Apple gets some cash whenever someone uses the word FireWire (I think I owe Apple $90 for that last sentence). Hence, from a monetary point of view, the inclusion of FireWire ports is not a financial burden to Apple and may even make a little cash for Apple in the long run. Of course, people always want things smaller and lighter so perhaps it is an effort to slim down the profile of the next generation Apple portables. This seems unlikely as well. The PowerBook is rumored to retain one FireWire port and the PowerBook, if for no other reason than to justify the price premium, has to be a little thinner, a little smaller and a lot better looking than an iBook.

Whatever the reason, you can be assured that Steve will find a way to spin the exclusion of FireWire ports in a compelling manner. Likely, he’ll say that Apple’s research shows that no one really used the FireWire ports on the lower end Apple laptops and that USB is the industry standard. Two problems with that reasoning: First, Mac users are obviously not interested in what the industry standard is or they wouldn’t be using Macs. Secondly, a lot of people, creative people actually use the FireWire ports on their iBooks. You probably (fortunately) didn’t see The Transporter 2, and you probably (also fortunately) missed the pre-movie hype fest on one of the lesser-known cable channels. Those, like myself, unfortunate enough to see the hype fest recall that the show focused, predictably, on the hand-to-hand combat in the movie. The choreographer would take a digital camcorder, record himself performing the fight scene, edit the footage in iMovie and play it back for the actors on an Apple iBook to give them a sense of what he was looking for. That is but one high profile example, others abound. So remember this when you hear the spin: There are plenty of people who use iBooks for iMovie and those people depend on the FireWire port.

At the end of the day, one suspects, the likely exclusion of FireWire will cause a lot of consternation among Mac users but will go largely unnoticed in the end. The entire affair will be just another example of Apple telling the faithful how great a feature is, getting them dependent on said flower of technology, and then doing an about face and expecting the user to foot the bill. Apple might be well served to remember that these things build ill will over time, especially among people who have been faithful to the Mac for years.

The story of Burrell Smith leaving Apple comes to mind at this point. Burrell, the electronic savant behind the design of the original Mac, wanted to quit Apple but every time he attempted to leave Steve would convince him to stay. Finally, Burrell concocted a surefire scheme to leave Apple. He would walk into Steve’s office, release the hound (so to speak), and urinate atop Steve’s desk. Thus, Burrell felt, he would be assured of getting his release from Apple. Unfortunately, one of the greatest moments in the history of urination never took place. Steve had heard of Burrell’s plan and when he walked into Steve’s office Steve said “Are you gonna do it? Are you really gonna do it?” I’d like to ask that same question of Apple: “Are you gonna do it? Are you really gonna do it?” Thing is, the question really isn’t necessary, I’m pretty sure Mac users will end up being the desk in this situation.